Book Review: ‘It’s Not About the Horse’ by Wyatt Webb

This book is really compelling, I read it from start to finish in one day. Wyatt described his journey that led him to opening ‘The Equine Experience’, an equine therapy program in Tucson Arizona. Wyatt’s life had so many twists and turns that it would make an intriguing screenplay. From professional athlete and College graduate, to being a Father, an alcoholic and drug addict, to becoming an entertainer.

Eventually, Wyatt woke from what he calls his “sleep”, he came clean and turned his life around. He began helping others and started on a gratifying path that eventually led him to Tucson and his horse stable and therapy clinic.

The book, however is more than just a biography, Webb shares his learnings from his life, his experiences with horses and his clients’ emotional stories. As you read the book it becomes clear how any lessons learned by working with horses also apply to human relationships.

This above quote is so important as a universal lesson. Connecting with another human or with an animal is essential for emotional intimacy and trust.

The quote below was Webb’s response to a client who came to the equine experience and was over zealous with affection for his assigned steed. Webb urges the young man to look deeper into his behavior with the horses to learn more about himself.

In the passage below, Webb talks about his personal experience in recovery and therapy. He notes later in the book how many people, even those who appear successful in life, are merely surviving. When you are in a crisis or feeling deeply insecure, what age do you revert to?

Webb’s point below about how human’s use verbal communication to basically mask their true feeling rings so true. I guess this is where the saying comes from that an animal can always tell if you’re afraid.

Webb’s book is filled with so many interesting stories and lessons to live by. Here are a few more examples that I’d like to share with you.