The Heart of a Cowboy

“I’ve been going to Cottage in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez since 1966 to keep my health as good as possible.
They’re 100% successful for me!” – Monty Roberts, 89, Solvang

Monty Roberts (whom some call “the Horse Whisperer”) has lived a life that seems like it could only be in a movie: multiple World Rodeo Championships, a bestselling book, world travels and a 30-year friendship with Queen Elizabeth II, who contacted Monty after learning about his gentle, non-violent methods of horse training. The two are the subject of the recent documentary, The Cowboy and the Queen.

In fact, this friendship was so strong that Monty and his wife of 68 years, Pat, were invited guests at the Queen’s funeral, alongside hundreds of heads of state.

Monty’s autobiography, The Man Who Listens to Horses, sold six million copies touching a chord with people who appreciate kinder ways to communicate with animals and with each other.

Then, a few years ago, Monty faced a challenging new chapter in his life.

“I was having a scan for a health issue, and the doctor noticed a potential problem with my aortic valve,” Monty said. Monty was referred to the Cottage Structural Heart Clinic in Santa Barbara, where he saw Dr. Michael Shenoda, an interventional cardiologist.

Monty was diagnosed with aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve is thickened and calcified, so it does not open fully.

The aorta is the largest artery in the body -- the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Aortic stenosis limits blood flow and can result in chest pain, fatigue, fainting, leg swelling and shortness of breath.

Fortunately, tests at Cottage revealed that he was a good candidate for a medical breakthrough called TAVR.

TAVR stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement and is a minimally invasive heart procedure to replace a damaged aortic valve. This breakthrough technology does not require open-heart surgery and means a much smaller incision and quicker recovery time.

“After my procedure, I felt better right away,” Monty said. “I can’t imagine a better team to care for me. The people at Cottage are incredibly talented, and they’re like family to me.”

These days, Monty continues his mission of non-violent horse training on his 100-acre ranch in Solvang. “My greatest accomplishment was learning to be gentle,” he said. “Without that I feel I would have achieved nothing.”

Monty will turn 90 in May.