Monty Roberts is the cowboy who single-handedly revolutionised the way humans 'break in' wild horses. The best-selling The Man Who Listens to Horses told how Roberts was brought up on a ranch by a brutal father who used horrendous methods to tame both his horses and his children. As a young man, Roberts watched these horses in the wild and quite literally learned their language, how they communicated with each other and how he, by copying, could communicate with them and thus earn their trust to the point of saddling up and riding them. He tried to tell people but was universally ridiculed. Shy Boy takes us fifty years on to the plains of the high Nevada desert where, under the scrutiny of a BBC documentary team, he builds a relationship with a feral Mustang over the course of three days, demonstrating his amazing technique of 'join-up' by emulating the actions of the matriarch of the herd.

This is a very personal and affecting book packed with over fifty exquisite colour photos documenting Roberts' progress with Shy Boy. That old-hands still doubt his discovery is astounding. Here is proof, if proof be needed, that the man--he would argue anyone--can tame the wildest of horses without the slightest hint of force. Inspirational. --Jim Rickards

2005-05-15 Amazing Read

I've already read Monty Roberts' Man Who Listens To Horses book where he mentions Shy Boy so I just had to read the Shy Boy book to read more. I highly recommend reading both books, Shy Boy is such a great read, I could hardly put it down. The work of Monty Roberts is so amazing, and his journey with Shy Boy really is fancinating, he does what you think cannot be done, but he has.