Help us produce a book telling the story of Tom Roberts horse training principles, and how one man’s vision for a kinder approach to training continues to help horses world-wide.

Discussing Roberts’ visionary approach, Dr Andrew McLean of the Australian Equine Behavior Centre says “He was the first person I have ever known who correctly described negative reinforcement in user-friendly terms of ‘profit’ and ‘profit you not’, as an integral part of his horse training principles.”

During his lifetime, Roberts produced a priceless body of work about horse training that includes four ground breaking books, photographs, films, articles and lecture notes. He made a significant contribution to Australia ’s development as an equestrian country through horse training and rider education from pony club to dressage, polo, hunting and Police horses.

Help the non-profit organisation Horse SA to both preserve and bring his legacy to a wider audience by producing a book detailing the contribution he has made to gentler, more thoughtful horse training method, and by digitizing Roberts’ precious supporting materials, donated to Horse SA to care for and share with the public.

The book will be co-authored by internationally renowned horse training and behaviour modification expert Dr. Andrew McLean. Winner of the highest Australian Science award, the Eureka Prize for Science, Andrew McLean developed and manages the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre, specialising in horse training and behaviour modification.
Andrew McLean holds a Ph.D. in equine cognition and learning, has been an accredited horse riding coach for over 30 years and has written numerous books (including an International Best Seller) and authored 35 peer-reviewed journal articles.

To be available for purchase as an e-book or hard copy.


Photo credit: Tom Roberts and Spring Song demonstrate ‘feeling for the mouth’ to Virginia Batten, Coromandel Valley , South Australia, 1972. Photograph by Webb McKelvey. Published in Tom Roberts, Horse Control – The Young Horse.

Link to the National Museum of Australia who recognised Tom Robert's contribution earlier this year as part of the "Horses in Australia' exhibition: http://www.nma.gov.au/online_features/horses/featu...
 
       
Left: Dr Andrew McLean    Right: Julie Fiedler

Link to Dr Andrew McLean's work: http://www.aebc.com.au/   and http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/?s=andrew+mclean
Fundraising or promotional events linked to this campaign will be uploaded to: http://www.horsesa.asn.au/events/event/
Main photo: iStock

How the funds will be used: 

$ 10,800 Book writing, editing and graphic design
$ 8,700  Film preservation, photographing, cataloguing and preparation of Tom Roberts’s personal lecture room objects for the book plus fees & GST / storage fees etc.

If funds raised exceed the goal set we will be able to prepare a bonus benefits for book purchasers, establish a dedicated website for horse training principles, including Tom Robert's philosophies, and provide preservation treatments to the more articles and objects in the Tom Robert's collection.