Issue 1.2: Me? A Horse Whisperer?
What I've learned from the horses in my life
There’s something about a horse that stops you in your tracks.
Maybe it’s the way their muscles ripple beneath a smooth coat.
Or the way they can run wild — wind in their mane — and still respond to a whisper. Or maybe it’s the eyes… deep, dark, and wide open. Horses don’t fake anything. They don’t perform. They just are.
And that’s part of what makes them such incredible teachers.
Yes — I used to train them.
Before I ever became a coach, business owner, a speaker or a guy writing newsletters like this one, I was a professional horse trainer.
I worked with young horses, tough horses, show horses, and spent time around Olympic ones, too!
Eventually, I became a horse show judge, walking through barns and arenas where skill, beauty, trust, and competition all collided.
And I’ll tell you something most people don’t know:
You don’t train a horse by yelling louder.
You don’t win a ribbon by intimidation.
And you don’t get a horse to trust you by forcing it to.
The best training — the kind that sticks — is built on relationship, understanding, and trust.
🗣️ What is a Horse Whisperer?
It’s not a fantasy. It’s not a cowboy fairytale. And no, I didn’t talk to horses like Doctor Dolittle.
But I did meet the man who brought the term to life: Monty Roberts, the original horse whisperer.
Monty’s approach revolutionized horsemanship by doing one radical thing:
He stopped trying to dominate the horse…
And started learning its language.
🧠 What Monty Taught Me (and What You Need to Know)
Monty showed that horses could be trained without fear.
Without pain.
Without “breaking” them.
He called it Join-Up — an approach where the horse chooses to follow the trainer willingly, after sensing consistency, presence, and respect.
You can’t fake that with a horse.
You either earn their trust… or you don’t.
Sound familiar?
🙏 Let’s Talk Faith
How many people have been “led” in their lives through guilt, shame, or fear?
Maybe by a boss.
A parent.
A church.
Or even a voice in their own head.
But here’s the thing:
It might produce short-term obedience, but it never creates transformation.
“Perfect love drives out fear…”
— 1 John 4:18
Jesus didn’t manipulate.
He didn’t coerce.
He looked people in the eye, told the truth in love, and waited for them to say,
“I’ll follow you.”
🐎 The Refiner’s Edge Is About Trust, Not Control
Whether you're leading a team, raising a child, or trying to quiet the chaos in your own heart — remember this:
People aren’t meant to be broken.
They’re meant to be seen, understood, and invited into something better.
And that starts with how we lead ourselves.
So take a breath.
Let go of the whip — the one you’ve been using on yourself.
Slow down, and listen for the quiet wisdom underneath the noise.
The horse isn’t running from you.
It’s waiting for you to show up differently.
✨ Something to Think About:
What’s one area of your life where you’ve been trying to lead with control — instead of trust?
Is it time to change your approach?
Drop a thought in the comments — or just take it to prayer.
Until next time,
John Henry
Founder, The Refiner’s Edge
Mastery in Motion | Faith-Led Growth