Monty Roberts, award-winning trainer of championship horses including some for Queen Elizabeth II, best-selling author, Hollywood stunt man, foster dad to 47 children (in addition to three of his own) and creator of the equine training technique called Join~Up®, will be the guest speaker at a reception to introduce this year’s recipients of scholarships from The Race For Education, the Kentucky Equine Education Program (KEEP), and the Kentucky Horse Council.

The reception, which is sponsored by Stockplace, Blood-Horse Publications, The Kentucky Horse Council and KEEP, will be held Saturday, July 14, at Victorian Square in downtown, Lexington, Ky. The reception begins at 6:30.Roberts has won countless awards and received immense worldwide press coverage, put three books on the New York Times best-seller list, trained some of Queen Elizabeth II equestrian team in London and been awarded honorary doctorates from the Universities of Zurich and Parma.

Monty first developed his concepts while observing wild mustangs in Nevada at the age of thirteen. Sent there to round up horses for the Salinas Rodeo Association’s Wild Horse Race, he spent hours silently watching the feral horses interact with each other. Soon he realized that they used a discernable, effective and predictable body language to communicate, set boundaries, show fear and express annoyance, relaxation or affection. In a moment that would change his life and the lives of horses and people forever, Roberts understood that utilizing this silent language would allow training to commence in a much more effective and humane manner, encouraging true partnership between horses and humans. Later, he would name this moment of partnership “Join~Up,” and it would become the foundation of all his work with horses and people.

Monty later became a champion Western horseman. Hollywood hired him as a “stand in” rider and stunt double for stars such as Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet and many other films. He also worked with James Dean during the pre-production and filming of East of Eden.

He and his wife, Pat, enjoyed immense success training Thoroughbreds, becoming the leading consigner of two-year-olds-in-training at the Hollywood Park Racetrack for 18 years. Throughout the years he worked with many champions (including Alleged and Dajur) and opened a training facility, Flag Is Up Farms, on 154 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1966.

Then a phone call came that once again changed the direction of Monty’s life forever.

The call was from the offices of Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning monarch of England and an avid horsewoman. She had heard about Roberts’ work and invited him to come to her country and show her staff his Join~Up® method. The Queen was so impressed by his demonstration she urged him to write a book. That book became Monty’s first and most famous, “The Man Who Listens to Horses”.

Over the past several years, Monty has toured the United States and has raised over $1.6 million for horse-related charities, including 4-H and therapeutic riding organizations.

This year, The Race For Education awarded $340,000 to young people from low-income families involved in the horse industry or who want to pursue a career in the horse industry. Another $80,000 will be awarded from a federal grant for students who are financially eligible. For the first time this year, The Race For Education also administered the scholarship programs for KEEP and the Kentucky Horse Council. Those recipients also will be introduced at the reception. In all, 40 scholarships have been awarded this year by the three organizations.

The reception is open to the public, and tickets are $25. KEEP and Kentucky Horse Council members receive a $5 discount. To reserve your spot, call The Race For Education at 859-252-8648.

For more information on The Race For Education’s scholarship program, visit www.racingscholarships.com.

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Press contact: Debbie Loucks
(805) 688-6288
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