From time to time, new families ask thoughtful questions about how horses are trained and why the horses at WildeWood Farm respond the way they do. To answer that, it helps to begin with someone who changed the horse world in a profound way: Monty Roberts.
Who Is Monty Roberts?
Monty Roberts is an internationally respected horseman often known as “the man who listens to horses.”
Through decades of observation, he studied how horses communicate naturally with one another in herds. He recognized patterns in their body language – signals of trust, leadership, and cooperation – that humans had largely overlooked.
His work helped translate what is often called the language of the horse.
Rather than relying on force, fear, or dominance, Monty demonstrated that horses and humans could work together through understanding, timing, and clear communication.
He introduced methods showing that partnership could replace confrontation, allowing horses to learn willingly instead of defensively.
Today, his approach is widely credited with helping shift modern horsemanship toward more humane, nonviolent training practices around the world.
A Personal Connection to This Work
My own journey with horses changed when I began studying Monty Roberts’ methods in 1995.
The philosophy immediately resonated with what I hoped horsemanship could be – calm, respectful, and built on communication rather than force.
In 2000, I became one of the first officially certified Monty Roberts instructors.
Since then, I have continued using and teaching these nonviolent methods every day at WildeWood Farm.
Experience Over Time
Over the years, I have had the privilege of:
- Training more than 2,000 horses using these methods
- Touring throughout the Southeast alongside Monty Roberts
- Teaching at his ranch in California on numerous occasions
- Working as part of a small group of certified instructors in the United States – fewer than 100 worldwide
These experiences shaped not only how I train horses, but how I teach riders to understand them.
Why This Matters for Students and Horses
Most visitors notice something before they understand why.
The horses appear relaxed.
They seek interaction.
They respond quietly rather than reactively.
This is not accidental.
When horses are trained through understanding instead of pressure, they learn to feel safe and confident in their work. That confidence carries into lessons, helping riders feel secure as well.
The same philosophy guides how we teach people:
- patience over force
- clarity over correction
- partnership over control
A Philosophy That Continues Every Day
Credentials are meaningful, but what matters most is how those lessons are applied daily – in every interaction between horse and human.
At WildeWood Farm, the goal has always been simple:
To create an environment where horses are understood and riders learn through kindness, patience, and communication.
The methods developed by Monty Roberts continue to influence every horse we train and every student we teach.
Because when horses feel heard, they become willing partners.
And willing partners create confident riders.
Ms. Hannah teaches.
