A Fine Equine Dine

More than 200 guests turned out for the Channel City Club’s lunch at the Hilton featuring international horse whisperer 87-year-old Monty Roberts, a resident of Solvang, who became an intimate of the late Queen Elizabeth given his unique training methods with equines.

The Reagan Room lunch, hosted by his longtime friends Peter and Gerd Jordano, was presided over by Professor Colleen Graffy, founder of Pepperdine University’s London Law Program and a barrister in London for many years, who now teaches international law at the Malibu college’s Caruso School of Law.

Roberts, who was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order, a gift from the monarch for personal services rendered, recounted more than 200 phone conversations with the late sovereign over 33 years of their extraordinary relationship.

He was named Horse & Hound magazine’s Top 50 Horsemen of All Time and launched the first of its kind Monty Roberts Online University, an interactive online lesson site that is the definitive learning tool for violence-free training of horses.

Roberts recounted one encounter with the long-reigning monarch when he trained 23 of her horses in just five days at Windsor, most impressive by any standards. He was also invited to her funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey in September.

Among the equestrian fans turning out were members of Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub with Maria McCall, Hiroko Benko, Dana Newquist, Si Jenkins, Paul Didier, Barbara Burger, Stephanie Petlow, and Bill Van Horn.