Dr. Robert M Miller DVM
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert M. Miller DVM (born March 4, 1927) is an equine behaviorist
and veterinarian
, best recognized for his system of training newborn foals known as imprint training. Dr. Miller is also one of the early adopters and promoters of Natural horsemanship
. His work is often referred to by natural horsemanship clinicians. He has served as a judge in the annual "Road to the Horse" competition, and also is a co-founder of the "Light Hands Horsemanship" concept and annual clinic.
in 1956. He established the Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California
in 1959. Miller's experience with horses dates to his childhood and included work as a wrangler
, trail guide, and rodeo
hand.
Miller has received numerous professional awards for his achievements in both veterinary medicine and equine behavior. In 2004, Dr. Miller was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Western States Horse Expo, and is a recipient of the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1995.
Dr. Miller retired from practice in 1987, in order to devote himself full-time to the teaching of equine behavior and to support the Natural horsemanship
movement. He continues to travel and lecture, and lives on his ranch in Thousand Oaks, California
with his wife, Debby, where they raise American Quarter Horse
s and mule
s.
Videos
Horse behavior
Horse behavior is best understood from the perspective that horses are prey animals with a well-developed fight-or-flight instinct. Their first response to a threat is to flee, although they are known to stand their ground and defend themselves or their offspring in cases where flight is...
and veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, best recognized for his system of training newborn foals known as imprint training. Dr. Miller is also one of the early adopters and promoters of Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship is the philosophy of working with horses by appealing to their instincts and herd instincts. It involves communication techniques derived from wild horse observation in order to build a partnership that closely resembles the relationships that exist between horses.- Basic ideas...
. His work is often referred to by natural horsemanship clinicians. He has served as a judge in the annual "Road to the Horse" competition, and also is a co-founder of the "Light Hands Horsemanship" concept and annual clinic.
Early life
Dr. Miller was born in New York on March 4, 1927, and raised in Tucson, Arizona. After serving in the infantry overseas in World War II, he attended and graduated from the veterinary school at Colorado State UniversityColorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
in 1956. He established the Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
in 1959. Miller's experience with horses dates to his childhood and included work as a wrangler
Wrangler
At the University of Cambridge in England, a 'Wrangler' is a student who gains first-class honours in the third year of the University's undergraduate degree in mathematics. The highest-scoring student is the Senior Wrangler, the second highest is the Second Wrangler, and so on...
, trail guide, and rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
hand.
Career highlights
Miller has authored a significant number scientific papers and magazine articles for both veterinary journals and equine publications, and has published four books and six videos on equine behavior, health, and horsemanship. He has served on the editorial staff of Veterinary Medicine, for which he is best known for his long-running “Mind Over Miller” column, as well as Modern Veterinary Practice, Veterinary Forum, and Western Horseman magazines. He is also a cartoonist who has published seven cartoon books under the moniker "RMM".Miller has received numerous professional awards for his achievements in both veterinary medicine and equine behavior. In 2004, Dr. Miller was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Western States Horse Expo, and is a recipient of the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1995.
Dr. Miller retired from practice in 1987, in order to devote himself full-time to the teaching of equine behavior and to support the Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship is the philosophy of working with horses by appealing to their instincts and herd instincts. It involves communication techniques derived from wild horse observation in order to build a partnership that closely resembles the relationships that exist between horses.- Basic ideas...
movement. He continues to travel and lecture, and lives on his ranch in Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Thousand Oaks is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak....
with his wife, Debby, where they raise American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
s and mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
s.
Works
Books- The Passion For Horses & Artistic Talent - An Unrecognized Connection, (self-published) 2010 Robert M Miller Communications ISBN 9780984462001
- Yes, We Treat Aardvarks - Stories From An Extraordinary Veterinary Practice, (self-published) 2010 Robert M Miller Communications ISBN 9780984462018
- Handling Equine Patients - A Handbook For Veterinary Students & Veterinary Technicians, (self-published) 2010 Robert M Miller Communications ISBN 9780984462025
- Ranchin', Ropin' an' Doctorin', (self-published) 2011 Robert M Miller Communications ISBN 9780984462032
- Natural Horsemanship Explained, 2007 The Lyons Press ISBN 9781599212340
- The Revolution in Horsemanship (and What It Means to Mankind), with Rick Lamb 2005 The Lyons Press ISBN 159228387X
- Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horse’s Mind, 2000, Russel Meerdink Co.ISBN 0929346653
- Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal, 1991, Western Horseman Publishing
- Most of My Patients Are Animals, 1987, Paul Eriksson Publishing Co.
- Health Problems of the Horse,1967. Revised 1988; Western Horseman Publishing
Videos
- Safer Horsemanship, Video Velocity, 1999
- Understanding Horses, Video Velocity, 1999
- Early Learning, Video Velocity, 1995
- Control of the Horse - The Art Of Restraint, Video Horse World, 1994
- Imprint Training of the Foal. Palomine Productions, 1986
- Influencing the Horse's Mind, Palomine Productions, 1984