Monty Roberts is narrator of The Man Who Listens to Horses. The book is based on his life, spanning from his early childhood to the present day. Monty is called "The Horse Whisperer," due to his unique ability to train and communicate with horses. Monty is raised in Salinas, California in a family that is involved with horses. As a young boy, Monty experiences various trials and tribulations. Although he learns a great deal about communicating with horses, he suffers at the hands of his physically abusive father. However, Monty is still able to explore his entrepreneurial side, as he works to bring back horses for the local Salinas rodeo. Once Monty cultivates his techniques for working effectively with horses, he finds that his father resents his work. Monty vows to keep his practices private until he gets older.