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by Judith Martin Woodall
In the old part of the city, in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge, there is a block on Elizabeth Street between Hester and Canal, lined with tenements, Chinese restaurants, and a parking garage whose 18th century past is evident only in the block’s boundaries. There was no Canal Street then; it was St. Nicholas or Pump Street. Hester was Eagle Street on some maps, and Bowery Lane, the block’s easterly boundary, cut through open land, farms, orchards, and estates, as it proceeded up the island. The nearby Bull’s Head Tavern,[i] gave its name to the cattle markets, slaughterhouses and tanneries situated to the south of the block. The tavern, a stop for stage coaches traveling the Post Road from New York to Boston, was a popular gathering place providing important word-of-mouth advertising for the trick riders who found space nearby to set up their manèges.
On December 16, 1771, New-Yorkers paid four shillings to head uptown to an “inclos’d Piece of Ground, at the Back [Elizabeth Street] of the Wind-Mill in Bowery lane,” above the slaughter-house to watch “Mr. Faulks, the noted Performer in Horsemanship,” [ii] canter into the ring, standing upright on the back of his horse while playing a French horn. The tune was not mentioned, but Faulks claimed “the Honour of performing before their Majesties, and most of the Nobility in England, Ireland and Scotland.” Never mind, that of late, their Majesties and most of the nobility had been losing their luster in the Thirteen Colonies.
Feats of daring on horseback are very nearly irresistible at one time in a rider’s life and have been a source of fun likely from the moment when Central Asians decided that horses could transport people as well as goods. Vaulting on and off horses was the first method of mounting and dismounting before stirrups became an essential piece of tack. More than two millenniums ago, Xenophon––Greek historian, general, philosopher, and author of On Horsemanship––described the correct method for a rider to spring onto a horse’s back. He recommended that all riders practice springing up from the near (left) and off (right) sides of the horse, a skill necessary for rapid mounting in the face of an approaching enemy and a horse cavalry requirement ever since.
From these early practices, vaulting at speed with more complicated movements became a component of cavalry exercises and existed alongside the elaborate and formal horsemanship displays in the courts of Europe in the 17th century. These two faces of horsemanship came to represent the training integral to the aristocracy and the forces they led––a marriage whose descendants are the equestrian sports of today.
[i] The name lived on as the markets migrated uptown to the East Twenties, the area where major horse dealers maintained large stables. The original tavern was located at what is now approximately 50-52 Bowery in 2013.
[ii] New York Journal, or, the General Advertiser. December 12, 1771.
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All photos courtesy of Judith Martin Woodall.
There are more fascinating stories in our section on Recreation & Lifestyle.
Dave Dellin, the Director of Judges for the American Paint Horse Association, gives educational tips on the fundamentals of showmanship.
by Kristin Pitzer
Whether you’re a young horseman coming up through school or a seasoned veteran of the workforce looking to change careers, it’s never too early — or too late – to consider a job in the equine industry. If horses and the Western way of life are your passions, a career that allows you to promote them to others just like you can be very fulfilling.
“I think people should consider careers in the equine industry because for many people, horses are their passion, and we tend to be the happiest when we’re working for, toward, and within the elements we’re most passionate about,” said Jessie Jarvis, founder and CEO at Of The West, the job platform for the agriculture and Western industries. “For many young adults, owning their own horse isn’t always feasible, and [a job in the industry] allows them to still be involved in some way. For those who are more established and possibly looking for a career change, the equine industry is a great sector to consider because nothing is more rewarding than knowing your daily efforts are working toward building a stronger, more robust equine industry.”
Quarter Horse News put together some information on different careers in the industry to help you know where to begin.
There are two main options for careers in the horse industry: those that work directly with horses, and those that support the industry but don’t involve a person getting their hands on a horse every day. Jobs working with horses can be very rewarding and enjoyable, but they are also usually physically difficult, time-consuming and, without boundaries, can blur the line between work and play. For those willing to work hard, these jobs can lead to fulfilling careers.
“The equine industry is growing at a rate like never before, and due to that, the need for equine professionals is only going to increase as time goes on,” Jarvis said. “In addition to that growing number, I think we are also going to see an increase in the number of education pathways and trade programs focused on equine industry careers, allowing the sector to continue to grow and meet that future demand for equine industry jobs.”
As long as horses can become sick or injured, there will be a need for equine veterinarians. People who become veterinarians tend to have good communication skills and are likely science- and math-minded. A love for animals is certainly necessary, but keep in mind you’ll be working with people just as much as horses. Compassion is a key element, as you’ll likely have to help owners face difficult situations and hard decisions.
To become a veterinarian requires extensive education: four-and-a-half years of undergraduate education, followed by four years of veterinary school, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. All of that schooling isn’t cheap — the average cost of veterinary school in the U.S. is $200,000 — so many young veterinarians go into the workforce with lots of student loan debt in tow. There is, however, a shortage of equine veterinarians around the country, so if it’s a career path you’re interested in, you’ll certainly find a demand for it.
If patience and an ability to think outside the box are traits you possess and you have good business sense, people skills and riding abilities, you might think about becoming a horse trainer. There’s no doubt it takes a lot of work to become a successful trainer — many riders don’t realize how many hours their coaches put in every day. If you work hard and find your niche in the industry, though, you might find yourself eventually working with the industry’s nicest horses, most well-known owners and other top-level trainers.
You don’t need a degree to become a trainer — many would argue that apprenticeships under other trainers provide the best education — but some colleges offer equine science programs, while others have certificate programs in horse starting and horsemanship. It doesn’t hurt to take business classes, either, and having a degree to fall back on should you change your mind is never a bad thing.
Another job that gets lots of hands-on experience with horses is that of the farrier. Farriers are specialists that trim, balance and shoe horses’ feet. Being a farrier is physically demanding — most of your day is spent bent over while holding a horse’s foot up, after all — and without proper equipment, it can be hard on your body. Once you get established in a location, though, you can often pick and choose the hours, days and clients you want to work with.
Apprenticeships with veteran farriers are a great way to learn, and as your business grows, there are programs through organizations like the American Farrier’s Association (AFA) that will test you on your ability to perform the work to a prescribed standard. The AFA offers several levels of certification, from Certified Farrier, to Certified Tradesman Farrier, to Certified Journeyman Farrier. Some farriers go beyond even that and become specialists for certain breeds, activities and disciplines. Since most farriers are self-employed, business classes can be useful.
If you are interested in a career in the industry but don’t necessarily have to be around horses every day, there are many different options to look into. While these jobs don’t involve riding or caring for horses, they often allow you to talk about horses — or something related to horses — every day, scratching the horse bug itch.
“While there isn’t any kind of study I can quote numbers from, I can confidently say that the majority of careers in the equine industry do not work directly with horses,” Jarvis said.
Monty Roberts passed away July 31, 2026 at 91 years old. This video is from his appearance at the Barretos Rodeo Festival in 2023.
Sao Paulo, Brazil: American Trainer, Monty Roberts, is known worldwide for his gentle taming method which establishes a connection with the animal and does not require brute force.
Under the eyes of the audience at the largest event of its kind in the world, the “horse gentler” American trainer Monty Roberts took approximately one hour to tame a horse which had never been ridden, on the opening night of the Rodeo International in Barretos, Brazil.
The approximately four-year-old horse was only trained to lead before this night. The wild animal came from the Northeast territories of Brazil and the American trainer noted that he had never seen horses of this type in his life.
But he wasn’t daunted by the challenge. His gentle taming method proved, once again, to be effective, precisely opposing the aggressive methods used by his father. “My father was much harsher than any father should be,” said the trainer before starting the presentation.
His father used abusive techniques to tame the horses on the ranch where they lived in California. Unlike him, Monty Roberts never wanted to impose himself on the animal.
“I don’t want to be the boss, I want to be the partner”, he said.
Precisely for this reason, the trainer dedicated himself to understanding the communication system of the horses which is gestural using body language to train them. He calls this Equus and it sets up trust with the animal, creating a connection and cooperation.
To perform the presentation, the team of Certified Instructors, Brazilians Waldo Franco and Miguel Lupiano as well as German Denise Heinlein set up a round in the middle of the arena for the trainer to demonstrate his methods.
“I want Canário to be happy here”, he said of the horse.
The noise from the huge Festival Park was a factor that made the task difficult, as it scared the animal. “I would like everyone to be very quiet, but that may be impossible in Brazil”, the trainer said with a smile.
Though it was never completely quiet, the audience, or a good part of it, collaborated and even adopted the “claps” by shaking their hands instead of clapping them.
Join-Up® The Method developed by the American Monty Roberts to tame horses in a gentle way; without using violence
The taming began with a small caress on the animal’s fore head. The first phase is called the ‘Join-Up’ and starts with the trainer near the round pen’s fence, releasing the lead rope from the horse’s halter. He let Canário go freely around the pen. The aim of this stage is to gain the trust of the horse.
With his body posture, Monty Roberts was convincing the horse to travel one direction and then the other. He noted that one of the animal’s ears was “locked” on Roberts, which indicated that the animal was paying attention to the trainer. Gradually, the horse slowed down, starting to relax and lower its head toward the ground.
Soon came what the gentler explained were the main signs that the horse was relaxed: he began to lick and chew. “I’ll walk away, and he’ll follow,” said Monty Roberts. No sooner said than done. The audience began to applaud, but the trainer reminded them that it was necessary to be silent, not to scare the horse.
The trainer started the second part of the gentling and asked the team to bring plastic bags on a handle to carry out the desensitization process. This step consists of causing the horse to lose its fear of objects approaching it.
Monty Roberts lightly passed the object on both sides of the animal so that he understood that no violence would be used there. “It’s to show him that I mean no harm,” explained the trainer.
With the object, he simulated movements of a rider climbing and jumping on his back. Soon, Monty Roberts requested a saddle, the first of the horse’s life.
With the help of Denise Heinlein, the main instructor at the Monty Roberts method teaching center in Europe, the horse was soon saddled. The process, which usually takes a few weeks, with the American happened in minutes.
After a few laps, Monty Roberts requested light reins and a leather piece to hold the stirrups to show the horse how to follow the eventual rider’s directions. Meanwhile, the trainer walked the horse around the circle, and with each ‘cluck’ the animal trotted faster.
After Monty Roberts taught the rein cues, it was time for Canário to receive his first rider. The volunteer was Thiago Mega, a bucking horse champion from Barretos. He wore a helmet, at the horse gentler’s request for safety.
The rider, guided by the trainer, caressed the horse between the eyes and the trainer started to lift the rider, up and down, but not yet mounting, “To show him that climbing on won’t hurt him,” explained the American.
In a short time, Thiago was mounted on the horse. However, as expected, the horse got scared and kicked a few times. The experienced rider did not take long to see that it was time to slide off and reassure the animal.
It wasn’t time to give up. The first rider ended up being Zé, a mannequin rider made and named for the Barretos Equine Event by Monty Roberts himself. After tying Zé to the saddle, he released the animal to walk freely and to understand that none of this would hurt him.
After a few minutes with the first crash-proof rider, Thiago Mega was able to mount again and take the horse for a quiet ride around the pen, easily.
This time, it wasn’t just the horse that was delighted: the audience held back the applause until the animal exited the round pen, and then the applause was only briefly interrupted when Monty Roberts did 88 push-ups – one for each year of his life, while the audience counted along.
MONTY ROBERTS AVAILABLE FOR SELECT INTERVIEWS:
The New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned horse trainer Monty Roberts is available for interviews.
MONTY ROBERTS first gained widespread fame with the release of his New York Times Best Selling book, The Man Who Listens To Horses; a chronicle of his life and development of his non-violent horse training methods called Join-Up®.
Monty grew up on a working horse farm as a firsthand witness to traditional, often violent methods of horse training and breaking the spirit with an abusive hand. Rejecting that, he went on to win nine world’s championships in the show ring. Today, Monty’s goal is to share his message that “Violensace is never the answer.”
Roberts has been encouraged by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the award of the Membership in The Royal Victorian Order, as well as becoming Patron of Join-Up International. Other honors received were the ASPCA “Founders” award and the MSPCA George T. Angell Humanitarian Award and FEI’s Man of the Year.
Monty was recently included as Horse and Hound Magazine’s Top 50 Horsemen of All Time. Monty is credited with launching the first of its kind Equus Online University; an interactive online lesson site that is the definitive learning tool for violence-free training.
JOIN-UP philosophies can be seen at work with both humans and horses across the world, from farms to major corporations. To learn more about Monty Roberts or the many applications of his Join-Up training methods, visit www.montyroberts.com.
Horse Sense and Soldiers aired on Discovery Military in 2010 highlighting the therapeutic effect horses and Monty Roberts’ Join-Up® have on PTSD. Soon after Monty and his team developed the Horse Sense & Healing program for veterans and first responders.
Lead-Up International was officially launched worldwide at the Monty Roberts International Learning Center in Solvang, California, in February 2017. The purpose of Lead-Up International is to reduce violence in the community by creating peaceful leaders from vulnerable youth utilizing equine-assisted therapy and non-verbal communication, building trust-based relationships.
This article originally appeared on MontyRoberts.com and is published here with permission.
There are more interesting articles in our section on Clinicians & Trainers.
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