The Soul of a Horse by Joe Camp Read Free Book Online Page A

wanted to find out. He now loved this horse. But persistence from TV producers convinced him. And, again with cameras rolling, they found the herd and released Shy Boy.
    The mustang took one look at the herd and loped off to join them. They were last seen that evening literally racing off into the sunset. Monty stayed awake most of the night. He had lookouts positioned all over the place with radios, watching for the herd. Around nine o’clock the next morning, a radio crackled and blared that the herd was in sight, headed more or less their way. Shy Boy was out front.
    At the bottom of the ridge that separated the horses from Monty’s encampment, the herd stopped and Shy Boy climbed to the top of the ridge. He stood for quite some time looking first at the herd, then at the camp. Finally, he turned and galloped down the ridge toward the camp, weaving in and out of tall brush, slowing to a trot, then a walk, stopping only when he was nose-to-nose with Monty. I cried like a baby when I read that story. Imagine how you would feel if that was your horse, turned loose to make his own choice, to run free with his herd or come back to you. You would surely know that you had been doing something right.
    We were finally able to meet Monty about a year ago when we got together at his ranch to discuss his possible involvement in an upcoming Benji movie. But it was difficult for me to stay focused. This man is an icon in the horse world, and I had read his every book and seen all of his DVDs. I was mesmerized.
    Just listening firsthand to Monty speak of his experiences, and twisting and pulling ideas with him, made it a very special encounter. But the highlight of the day—sorry, Monty—was meeting and being able to Join-Up with Shy Boy himself.
    Seeing our twins, Allegra and Dylan, then twelve, Join-Up with this famous horse as if they had been doing it all their lives confirmed forever the simplicity and value of the process. They did a much better job than I did. With the master himself barking directions and correcting my body positions, I felt like a bumbling buffoon.
    But Shy Boy made up for all of our shortcomings and was having a terrific time showing us the ropes. There was no question that this was one happy horse.
    I am quite certain that when he was turned back out into the wild, Shy Boy would never have returned to the cowboy who sold us Mariah. Or the trainer mentioned at the beginning of this chapter.
    But he returned to Monty Roberts.
    I tell everyone Shy Boy’s story. I tell it over and over again.
    It’s the way it should be. And it doesn’t have to be any other way.
    It’s what happens when you begin at the beginning.

7
    To Sleep Perchance to Dream

    B y human standards it had been a very short nap, but it was deep REM sleep, and it was all the stallion needed. He had dreamed about the humans on horses who had been chasing the herd. One had gotten close, and the stallion had turned and confronted the horse, who then reared, threw his rider, and raced off with the stallion to rejoin the herd. As it should be.
    The herd had encircled him while he was sleeping, protecting their protector. The sentinel was on duty. It’s the same anytime any horse lies down. The herd gathers and guards. The sentinel watches and listens. Horses need REM sleep and cannot get it standing up. But on the ground they are more vulnerable to predators, so most horses will not lie down unless guarded by the herd. One of the many reasons why nature never intended horses to live in isolation.
    It was dark now, and the golden stallion was up and about, fully refreshed. It was time to change locations. Move away from where they were last seen by man. He nudged the mare and she wandered through the herd, nuzzling and growling. Calling the troops to order.
Time to move on.
And they did.
    The herd would move seven miles to the south before stopping again. A small stand of spruce along the edge of a ridge would provide all the cover they needed