All in a day’s work Natural horsemanship expert Joanna Lowes

Joanna Lowes, 31, on the ‘extreme learning curve’ of being Monty Roberts’ right-hand woman

Experience was a bonus, but willingness to learn was mandatory

when I became Monty Roberts’ assistant three years ago. At 80 years old, he was finding his hectic schedule and substantial correspondence increasingly difficult to keep up with and needed someone as equally at home around horses as with modern technology.

I grew up near Cardiff in a very unhorsey family.

I went for a riding lesson as a child and was hooked, but heeded advice to aim for a well-paid job where I could afford horses as a hobby. I naturally gravitated to horses everywhere I went, and eventually realised I should give up following advice and follow my heart.

When I read Monty’s first autobiography,

I never imagined I would end up helping him write his second. The learning curve has been extreme — I went from being pretty “lucky” with horses to getting tutelage from one of the world’s foremost trainers, working as far afield as Brazil and South Africa. I now ride first-timers and remedial horses in demos, and have “gentled” wild mustangs at Flag Is Up Farms, Monty’s California home.

The most fulfilling part of my job has been my involvement with Monty’s non-profit work

with military veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress. Participants, who have usually never been near a horse, are coached through the process of join-up. The effects can be transformational. I have met some true heroes and witnessed incredible changes.

The biggest highlight of my job was in July last year,

when Monty was invited by the Spanish Riding School to demonstrate his techniques in their historic marble hall in the centre of Vienna. Being part of this was a huge privilege but, as rider, I had nightmares about face-planting while being watched by some of the world’s most highly trained classical dressage riders. It all went well on the night, thankfully.

Another proud moment was when I organised an event to introduce Monty’s principles in Wales.

I put a call out for problematic horses, and was stunned by the response. But it doesn’t always go smoothly — I fell off once during a demo when the owner’s saddle slipped on a bucking horse. It was an important lesson to use equipment you trust.

I fall in love with horses wherever I go.

There has only been one semi-accidental purchase, of a sensitive warmblood youngster who was explosive at the mounting block. The demands of the job make keeping my own horse tricky, but our British Showjumping debut last year was a resounding success.

‘Working so closely alongside a living legend can be quite overwhelming, especially as Monty has some very enthusiastic fans’

Working alongside a legend can be quite overwhelming.

I love the demonstrations where owners turn up with horror stories but leave full of gratitude; they all promise to learn and apply the new concepts, but I wonder how many slip back into their comfort zone.

My dream eventually is to have my own training facility

and continue to promote non-violent methods. I have learned so much from my travels with Monty and I aim to put these skills to good use.