Wild and problem horses from across Bradford are being given a second chance by a horse whisperer and an Argentinian polo-pony trainer.

Carole Taylor, who learnt the art of communicating with horses from the godfather of whispering - American Monty Roberts - has become nationally famous for her work curing animals with psychological problems.

The uncanny American art of "speaking" to horses was made famous in the movie The Horse Whisperer, with Robert Redford taking the role of Monty Roberts.

Next month Carole's stables, the Yorkshire Equine Clinic at Gildersome, will take on a new challenge when partner and international polo trainer Adalberto Barberini flies in six wild Argentinian ponies to be prepared as top-class polo ponies.

He learned his trade working for the likes of the Sultan of Brunei and Prince Charles.

Carole, 34, said: "Horses come to us with all sorts of problems and we take them back to square one to find out what's wrong.

"Some horses won't let themselves be ridden and they can be dangerous when they arrive.

"Horses have natural instincts and I communicate with them in their own language. I take the role of the lead horse in a herd.

"A young horse is like a young child - it doesn't want to go to school because it's used to having its own way."

Carole works horses in an enclosed round pen where the animal can run free.

Using body language alone, she dominates a horse so it submits to her authority, allowing her to lead and teach it.

Adalberto, 29, who came to England to train polo ponies for Prince Charles, takes charge of horses deemed unridable, using riding skills learned on his family's ranch.

After demonstrating his prowess on Two-twenty - a three-quarter ton gelding from Cleckheaton which fears being ridden - he revealed he had suffered numerous broken ribs and joints while training horses.

He said: "Horses can be brutes. They get frightened and it can be frightening for me.

"They never lose their instincts and that's what we work on. In South America wild ponies stay within a group and feed at night because of predators like pumas. When you get them alone, you can work on them. I've worked all over the world. I trained ponies for Donald Trump in America and I worked for Kerry Packer in Australia.

"When we get the ponies from Argentina next month it will be very exciting for us. When they leave they will be top-class animals."

Karen McTiffin, of Holdsworth Court, Cleckheaton, said she had used the Gildersome clinic to remedy problems with two of her horses.

She said: "What they have is special.

"I've ridden horses for 30 years but I just love to watch them - their skills are incredible."

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