Philosophy of a Horse Whisperer

In Think Like a Horse: Lessons in Life, Leadership, and Empathy from an Unconventional Cowboy, author and horse whisperer Grant Golliher shares insights into how to be a better person through what he has learned in his many years of horse whispering. Each chapter is named with one of his philosophical guiding principles for horse rearing and in life, which he expands upon with anecdotes of experiences he has had with people and horses teaching him the lesson, or learning the lesson and putting it into practice.

            Golliher grew up in the western United States on a ranch with horses. Starting at a young age, he helped his parents take care of his family’s horses. In is young adult life, Golliher trained horses for polo and played some polo himself. Now, he is an accomplished horse whisperer who gives demonstrations to many types of people, including corporate executives and groups on applying his horse philosophy to make them better leaders and better people. Golliher and his second wife, Jane, own and operate the Diamond Cross Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

            In chapter seven, entitled “It’s Not About Today, It’s About the Rest of Her Life,” Golliher starts off the same way as all the other chapters, with a quote. This one is from Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address: “Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time.” Golliher illustrates this point with stories of horses who he had to teach boundaries and lessons so that they could be better off in the rest of their lives. Golliher talks about how the lesson is important, and how it can apply not just to training horses, but to people’s lives in how they treat other people.

            Throughout the book, Golliher shares important insights into how to be a better person through his main philosophical guiding principles. Each principle has a complete chapter dedicated to it, in which the principle is fully explained. Examples of how the principle has proven itself as important in horse whispering are used multiple times in each chapter, and the reader gains an extensive understanding of how the principle can apply to their life.

            Golliher does an exceptional job explaining the principles and why they are important. Think Like a Horse is a book that is not only interesting but can be beneficial to a person’s personal growth. Think Like a Horse is a book I would recommend to anyone interested in learning how to be a better leader, and a better person.

 

- Roxxy R.