The late Queen Elizabeth II and American horse trainer Monty Roberts, known as the 'horse whisperer,' collaborated to establish a pioneering program for British military veterans and emergency workers grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The initiative, named Warrior Equine, utilizes equine-assisted therapy to support the mental well-being of individuals who have experienced trauma.
Roberts, who died at age 91, was a regular visitor to the Royal stables for 35 years. His unconventional methods of horse training, which emphasize gentle persuasion over brutality, gained significant admiration from the Queen. Their friendship deepened over the years, leading to a documentary film about Roberts's work titled "The Cowboy And The Queen," which was one of the last films the Queen made.
Roberts had previously used his horses to help thousands of traumatized U.S. servicemen at his California ranch. Upon learning of this, Queen Elizabeth II expressed a strong desire for a similar scheme to be established in Britain, according to historian and royal biographer Hugo Vickers. "The Queen wanted this to develop in the United Kingdom and across the world," Vickers stated.
Roberts's initial involvement with British soldiers began in 2014 with a series of courses through the Help For Heroes charity, which proved successful. The Queen took a private interest in the program, receiving reports after each session. In 2017, she requested Major-General Sir Redmond Watt to become involved, securing support and access to military personnel.
In 2019, the Queen hosted a private demonstration at the Royal Mews at Windsor Castle. She instructed her groom, Terry Pendry, to allow the use of her horses and invited veterans who had completed the course to participate. During a subsequent tea, which lasted significantly longer than the planned 15 minutes, the Queen listened to the veterans' stories, showing "joy in her face" as she heard accounts of lives being positively impacted, including one from a man who attributed the program to saving him from suicidal thoughts.
Ele Milwright, who organized Roberts's British clinics, established Warrior Equine in 2019 with the Queen's endorsement. The charity now collaborates with various military branches, including the Household Cavalry and the Royal Horse Artillery, as well as emergency services. Milwright noted the Queen's significant role as a catalyst, stating, "I know that the Queen very much wanted this to happen." The Queen's vision was to expand the program beyond veterans to include serving personnel and emergency workers, recognizing the unique psychological pressures they face.
The relationship between Roberts and the Queen was almost hampered at the outset. The Queen had initially sent her retired Crown Equerry, Sir John Miller, to visit Roberts's ranch in California. Roberts mistook Miller for an actor, while Miller was skeptical of Roberts's methods. However, their mutual respect for equestrian knowledge grew, leading to a positive report from Miller and Roberts's subsequent invitation to Windsor in 1989. There, Roberts demonstrated his ability to train horses quickly, impressing the Queen, Queen Mother, and Prince Philip.