Horse Whisperer

Until I moved four years ago I didn't give much thought to horses. In fact, I had never even been on one. A couple of summers ago, my kids had the opportunity to ride. Last summer, I got up the courage to get on one myself. I climbed on to the saddle and then my friend handed me the reigns. I was scared to death.

At first I started out really slow. Then I started to trot a little bit. Before I was done with the ride I was galloping with the horse. I loved it. It was amazing to ride through that beautiful pasture. I can't wait for all of this snow to go away so I can ride again.

Yesterday I got the opportunity from Litfuse Publicity to read the book Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer by Dr. Lew Sterrett.


I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to read about his experiences with the horses he trained and how he has been able to use those experiences in life as well. I would love to see one of his Sermon on the Mount presentations some day.

He gives a lot of credit to his success in life to the time others invested in him. He says, "I know that any success I have in life, I owe to the many people who invested their lives in me when I was growing up." That really made me stop and think of some the people in my own life that have helped shape me into the person that I am today. It also makes me think about the children that I have the opportunity to touch.

He also talks about the power of small successes. I think that sometimes in life we focus on an ultimate goal and we don't celebrate all of the steps it takes to get there. Or we get overwhelmed by the end goal and we give up.

In the book he talks about leadership. Although it has been years since I have been in the workforce in a management position, I still think about how to become a better leader in the volunteer realm. He had one statement that I have never really thought about in leadership. "Being a leader often involves disappointing people. It goes with the territory. But honest disappointment beats false hope any day." Leadership is hard. I am a people pleaser. I don't want anyone to be upset with the decisions that are made. However, you can never please everyone. It is better to be honest.

This is a great book on leadership and faith. Below is a little more information on the book and the author from Litfuse.

About Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer:
A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. In this book, Lew tells the stories of his work with these horses and the lessons each one has taught him. Sometimes heartbreaking and often uplifting, Lew has condensed his lifetime of learning into messages for the Christian life. Today, Lew shares these messages with more than 50,000 people each year through horse training presentations at Miracle Mountain Ranch and nationally through his Sermon on the Mount Ministry.

The author's engaging style and adroit mixture of well-tested anecdotes and thoughtful instruction make this a winning read-and not just for horse lovers.

About Lew:
Lew Street (Ph. D) had little idea that his boyhood interest in horses would open doors internationally for speaking and training. During his years in 4-H, he savored many opportunities to train and show horses and earn national recognition. As a student leader at Penn State University he benefited from many mentoring relationships from which he received valuable training, experience and honors. This foundation provided a basis for an extensive horse career with a unique emphasis on training youth and community leaders.

Lew has served as the Executive Director of Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions, Inc. (MMRM) since 1977. MMRM, located in northwestern Pennsylvania, is home for a summer youth camp, and a leadership training center for youth, adult, and family groups. He has also promoted safety in public riding programs, serving as President of the Certified Horse Association for 7 years. A licensed pastor, certified Youth, Marriage and Family Counselor, he earned his PhD from North Tennessee Seminary in 2007.

It is from this broad perspective of training and experience, that Dr. Street has readily gained a hearing from audiences internationally teaching lessons for life and leadership from the language of the horse.
In addition to a host of published resources and regular T.V. programs, Lew travels extensively presenting his horse training messages under the banners of Principle Based Training, Leaders by Heart, and Sermon on the Mount.