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,[1] and also is a co-founder of the "Light Hands Horsemanship" concept and annual clinic.[2]
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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 University 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.[3][4]
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.[5] He has served on the editorial staff of Veterinary Medicine,[6] 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".[7]
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,[8] and is a recipient of the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1995.[9]
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 Horses and mules.