A good trainer can hear a horse speak to him. A great trainer can hear him whisper.
I had been riding horses before my memory kicked in, so my life with horses had no beginning. It simply appeared from the fog of infancy. I survived a difficult childhood by traveling on the backs of horses, and in adulthood the pattern didn't change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the deep connection and reliance on horses throughout the speaker's life, illustrating how they provided solace and escape during challenging times.
Monty Roberts shares his profound relationship with horses, which he feels has been an integral part of his existence since early childhood. He suggests that this connection transcends conventional memory, indicating that horses provided comfort and strength during his turbulent formative years. As he transitioned into adulthood, this bond with horses remained a constant source of security, highlighting the significant role they played in shaping his life experiences and emotional well-being.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to illustrate resilience and finding solace in nature.
More from Monty Roberts
All quotes →You must somehow understand that we as horsemen can do very little to teach the horse. What we can do is to create an environment in which he can learn.
For centuries, humans have said to horses, 'You do what I tell you or I'll hurt you.' Humans still say that to each other -- still threaten, force and intimidate. I'm convinced that my discoveries with horses have value in the workplace, in the educational and penal systems, and in the raising of children. At heart, I'm saying that no one else has the right to say 'you must' to an animal -- or to another human.
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It hurt, and that is not a euphemism. It hurt like a beating.
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People who mattered could not take the humdrum world. But this was not the world, it was enchantment; and all of it was mine.
I always say I hope to God I die in a town with a good tailor, a good shoemaker, and perhaps someone who's interested in a little quelque chose d'autre.
I'm drawn to write about upstate New York in the way in which a dreamer might have recurring dreams. My childhood and girlhood were spent in upstate New York, in the country north of Buffalo and West of Rochester. So this part of New York state is very familiar to me and, with its economic difficulties, has become emblematic of much of American life.
My life is one demd horrid grind.