Queen Elizabeth’s “Horse Whisperer” Talks About Their “Close as Possible” Relationship

One of the constants throughout Queen Elizabeth II’s long life was her love for horses, and her enthusiasm for breeding, riding, and racing gave her the opportunity to bond with people from all walks of life. In the 1980s, she connected with a California-born horse trainer named Monty Roberts, and a new documentary called The Cowboy and The Queen explains how their shared love of horses bonded them in friendship.

In an interview with People, Roberts explains that he got to know the queen by introducing her to his training methods as he was spreading them throughout the UK. “I started all of her horses and I trained her people and her horses. It was a fantastic relationship—as close as it could possibly be,” said Roberts, whose methods earned him the nickname “Horse Whisperer.” After hearing of his reputation, the queen invited him to her Windsor stables to learn about his techniques. Roberts added, “You always say ‘yes’ to the Queen.”

The documentary, which will be released in theaters on September 6, examines Roberts’ personal history and his philosophy towards animals. His methods centered on a desire to treat horses more humanely, a goal he shared with the late queen. “You have no idea how long I have felt that it’s important that horses live with us human beings without violence,” he said. “And that goes back to early teenage years. The world thought you had to break horses, and the Queen didn’t think that.”

In 2011, Roberts was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order for his service to the royal family and their horses. The trainer, now 89, and the queen grew so close that he was invited to the portion of her funeral service for family and friends that took place in Windsor’s St George Chapel on September 9. “Our relationship was as close as it could possibly be,” he told People. “She had her husband and all of that, so it wasn’t that kind of relationship. I loved her to death, and I think she loved me too.”