# 39 The Great Trial

Monty Roberts wanted to test his knowledge of horses. He had just founded up 150 mustangs and felt this was his chance. He asked Ray Hackworth to watch him "talk" to the horses.

Roberts moved to the middle of a small round corral. A colt was let in, and Roberts took a bold step toward it. The colt took flight, cantering around the corral as close to the wall as it could. Roberts fixed his eyes on the colt's, keeping direct eye contact. The colt kept trotting.

Since the signals were working, Roberts took the next step. He slid his eyes back to the colt's neck, and the colt slowed. Roberts let his eyes drop back farther, and the colt slowed a bit more. Roberts was elated so far so good. He then moved his eyes back to the colt's eyes, and they locked. Quickly the colt's pace increased. Roberts was sure they were "talking."

Roberts now waited for the final sign. If the colt start licking and chewing, this would be the signal that it wanted to come to Roberts. The colt had already trotted around eight times. Roberts saw its tongue briefly. Its jaws showed chewing action. It kept one ear fixed on the man's position. Would it make the final move? Yes! The colt's nose dropped to an inch above the ground. Roberts's heart was racing. He moved his eyes 20 feet in front of the colt and turned his shoulders to a 45 degree angle. The colt stopped, but Roberts did not look. Would the colt come to him? There was one step, then another. It seemed forever. Then Roberts sensed the colt's nose inches from his shoulder. He slowly turned and stroked the colt between the eyes, and the colt followed him around the corral. Roberts was overwhelmed: he knew how to "talk" to horses.

# 39 重大試驗

蒙蒂·羅伯茨想測試他對馬的瞭解。他剛圍捕了150匹野馬，覺得這是他的機會。他請雷·哈克沃斯觀看他如何與馬「交談」。

羅伯茨走到一個小型圓形圍欄的中央。一匹小公馬被放進來，羅伯茨向牠大膽地邁出一步。小公馬驚跑起來，盡可能貼近圍牆繞著圍欄慢跑。羅伯茨緊盯著小公馬的眼睛，保持直接的眼神接觸。小公馬繼續小跑。

既然信號起作用了，羅伯茨採取了下一步。他將目光滑回小公馬的脖子，小公馬慢了下來。羅伯茨讓目光再往後移一點，小公馬又慢了一些。羅伯茨欣喜若狂，到目前為止一切順利。然後他將目光移回小公馬的眼睛，他們對視了。小公馬的步伐迅速加快。羅伯茨確信他們在「交談」。

羅伯茨現在等待最後的信號。如果小公馬開始舔舌和咀嚼，這將是牠想靠近羅伯茨的信號。小公馬已經繞著跑了八圈。羅伯茨瞥見了牠的舌頭。牠的下顎顯示出咀嚼的動作。牠的一隻耳朵一直固定朝向男子的位置。牠會做出最後的行動嗎？是的！小公馬的鼻子垂到離地只有一英寸的高度。羅伯茨的心跳加速。他將目光移到小公馬前方20英尺處，並將肩膀轉成45度角。小公馬停了下來，但羅伯茨沒有看。小公馬會走向他嗎？一步，又一步。彷彿過了永遠。然後羅伯茨感覺到小公馬的鼻子離他的肩膀只有幾英寸遠。他慢慢轉身，撫摸小公馬的眉間，小公馬跟著他在圍欄裡走動。羅伯茨激動不已：他知道如何「與馬交談」了。