Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer [Paperback]

Dr. Lew Sterrett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 2010

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lew Sterrett is executive director of the Miracle Mountain Ranch near Erie, Pennsylvania. He is a licensed pastor and a certified youth, marriage, and family counselor through the United Association of Christian Counselors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Monarch (January 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825463165
• ISBN-13: 978-0825463167
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,652 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sage Wisdom, March 29, 2010

By 

C. Polczynski (PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer (Paperback)

As homeschoolers who have children who love horses, my husband and I went to a session of Lew Sterret's at our state homeschool fair. I'm pretty sure one of the stories he mentions in this book we witnessed! This book is not isolated to teaching about horse training - but if that's your interest, you'll have it fed; and it's not solely about life lessons but if that's what you're looking for, you also will be fed. I purchased this book to give to a young believer in the Lord who trains horses in much the same style as Lew - using biblical wisdom, coupled with a foundational knowledge of the way God designed a horse. I decided to check it out first and was brought to tears as I read Lew's transparent stories from his own life as parallels to horse training. It was a refreshing, inspiring, provoking read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Principles of Human Relationships from a Horse Trainer's Perspective - Helpful and Effective!, February 26, 2010

By 

Andrea Schultz "Ponderings by Andrea" (Detroit MI area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer (Paperback)

Dr. Lew Sterrett has an interesting combination of skills. Dr. Sterrett has a ministry called Sermon on the Mount ([...]). He also runs the Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions ([...]), which is in Spring Creek, PA, in northwestern Pennsylvania. This ranch hosts summer camps, retreats, and apprenticeship programs for all ages. In addition, Dr. Sterrett runs Leaders by H.E.A.R.T. ([...]). Its tagline is `Human Equine Analogies in Relational Training. He has also promoted safety in public riding programs, serving as President of the Certified Horse Association for 7 years. Alicensed pastor, certified Youth, Marriage and Family Counselor, he earned his PhD from North Tennessee Seminary in 2007.

A video of Dr. Sterrett talking about his Sermon on the Mount Ministry is available here: [...]

This is my first exposure to Dr. Sterrett and his various ministries. I am so impressed! I am seriously considering visiting the Miracle Mountain Ranch this summer!

Dr. Sterrett, along with Bob Smietana, has written his first book, entitled `Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer.'

I was intrigued how a champion horse trainer would parallel horse training techniques to our relationship with God - but he pulls it off! I have never seen such a powerful illustration. I would have never compared the two, but it makes sense that there are comparisons between these two creatures that the Lord has created!

Early on in his life, Lew made some observations about behaviors that motivate (and demoralize) people. He came up with these simply truths for how to properly deal with people:

1. Communicate clearly
2. Prepare people for change, don't spring it on them.
3. Correct people in private, not in public.
4. Deal with conflict immediately
(p. 210)

It seems apparent from this book that Dr. Sterrett is a wonderful boss. I think some of my previous bosses could learn some things from these simple guidelines!
Dr. Sterrett provides numerous examples of problem behavior in horses and how he dealt with those problems, and how they applied to our interactions as humans. As a young man, he incorrectly dealt with the bad behavior of a three year old mare named Nava Rose. He lost his temper and threw this 1,000 pound horse to the ground. He later apologized to her and realized the error of his ways:
"That day was a breakthrough for me. Nava Rose didn't have a problem. I had a problem. I'd asked her to do too much, too fast, and punished her when she couldn't keep up. That's a problem many of us face - when someone won't do what we say, we try to force them to comply. Nava Rose made me look bad, and I couldn't handle it." (p. 22)

In this chapter on trust, he goes on to say:

"Nava Rose helped me learn how to capture the "want to." I had to re-earn her trust and rebuild her confidence. She was afraid to fail because she knew that if she failed, I would punish her. So I stopped trying to lead by fear and intimidation, and looked for ways to build her confidence." (p. 23)

In the chapter entitled `Responsible Choice,' Dr. Sterrett made this observation about how Jesus chooses to treat people:

"I had a need and I couldn't meet it, and so I needed help, just like a horse who can't do it on his own. I realized that Jesus came into my arena, like a trainer comes in to work with a horse, so that I would come to know and trust him. He didn't make me come to him, and require that I clean myself up and make myself worthy of his attention. He came into my life, as messy and unruly as it was, and embraced me just as I was. Just as I want a horse to take the initiative and move towards me, God wanted me to move towards him, and trust him." (p. 201)

Dr. Sterrett chose to follow the example of Jesus. Here are a last few passages to that effect:

"For more than thirty years, I've been preaching and practicing what's known as servant leadership. Rather than barking orders and expecting people to jump at my commands, I try to understand the needs of my staff first. Knowing their needs and personalities allows me to better serve them." (p. 205)
"Join me on my journey of knowing the greatest trainer of all time - Jesus Christ." (p. 218)

I found this to be a very valuable book. Although I have only had a few encounters with horses in my life (city slicker that I am!), I was able to relate to Lew's examples, and believe they will be helpful in the home and in the workplace. Dr. Sterrett uses a lot of common sense and Godly wisdom. I will be referencing this book often.

This book was published by Monarch Books/Kregel Publications and provided to me for review purposes by the Litfuse Publicity Group.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book that animal lovers will enjoy, February 22, 2010

By 

Cafe Lily (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer (Paperback)

Being an animal lover, I was intrigued by Lew Sterrett's story when the offer came to review this book.

Not only is Dr. Sterrett a grisly old cowboy who can tame wild horses, he is also a licensed pastor and certified counselor. He has successfully combined his two passions (horses and people) and uses his talents to minister to others, worldwide. I wasn't aware of his Sermon on the Mount program prior to this review, but after reading this book I would love to see a live presentation.

Life Lessons From A Horse Whisperer shares the many life lessons Lew has learned from his time spent training horses. Lessons of faith, trust, hope and transformation, which are inspiring and motivational. Some are deep and thought provoking - others are simple yet powerful. This book made me laugh AND cry at times - some of the stories he shares of horses that have been broken in spirit by harsh trainers broke my heart......and yet at the same time it was easy to parallel those examples to people who have been broken in spirit by the harsh things in life.

I enjoyed reading about Lew's ideas on leadership (which make a lot of sense!) and how he took a run down, falling apart ranch, saved it from closing and turned it into the Sermon on the Mount ministry which blesses so many lives today. All throughout the book, Lew is very clear about his faith in Christ and his personal relationship with Jesus, which is the "icing on the cake" for this book.