Can you really learn leadership lessons from a horse? I had my doubts as I walked with my Dion Leadership colleagues toward a barn and adjoining corral to meet the Courses with Horses facilitators.
Professionally, I’m always looking for new and interesting learning options to add to our leadership curriculum, so this unique “course” certainly caught my attention. But I was skeptical that a morning of horse encounters could result in anything relevant or transferable to leading people, teams, and organizations. And I wasn’t sure it would be the right fit for Dion Leadership and our clients.
At the same time, I’m keenly aware that getting people out of the classroom can have a big impact. When done right, experiential learning fosters high engagement, provides a real-world perspective, and can make leadership models and content come alive with immediate application and results.
Personally, it was the “horse” part that was making me a little uneasy and skeptical. My experience with horses was limited to one short, tearful trail ride when I was a Girl Scout. I admit, even after all these years, I was a little afraid of these large four-legged creatures. Although I was pretty sure I’d be able to refrain from crying in front of my peers this time around, I didn’t really know if this experience was for me—or others with the same apprehension.
My time at the barn with the Courses with Horses team (both human and equine) made it clear that my doubts were unfounded. The experience was built on a series of deceptively simple but substantive individual and team activities involving varying levels of horse proximity and interaction.
The opening assignment, to observe the horses in the corral and select the one you’d most trust to lead a critical project (and the horse you’d be least inclined to pick), seemed absurd on the surface. But it not only put us at ease with the animals—it also revealed the various ways we observe, interpret, and prioritize leadership behavior.
We then went back into a cozy farm-style room with mismatched couches and recliners to process the exercise with a team of trained equine facilitators. Their deep understanding of how horses think, feel, and relate to humans and each other, along with their expertise with corporate training, prompted a rich discussion about assumptions and bias. With each subsequent activity, the focus became less about the horses (who were in turns stoic and playful) and more about personal discovery and self-awareness.
And then there were the vibes. Horses are all about vibes, and their feedback is immediate. Even basic tasks become opportunities for vulnerability and introspection. These are the kinds of thoughts and questions that were running through my head during our session:
- How do I need to be to gain this horse’s trust?
- How do I signal confidence and authority, so he follows my lead across the barn?
- What is my headspace and posture? Is it working?
- What is my partner doing? Is it better than what I’m doing, or just different?
- Is my team communicating well enough to synchronize our movements?
- Is our plan to circle that barrel going to work?
The horses let you know the answers, with complete honesty. The workplace parallels for both individuals and teams resonate loud and clear. As Åsa Björnberg said in CLO magazine, “Like people, horses follow energy and intention more than words, but to a much greater extent. Learning to move a horse using energy alone, one begins to be motivated from a place of embodied wisdom. What’s more, horses don’t read business cards and could not care less if someone is the CEO or the janitor. Hence, people must rely entirely on in-the-moment, pure communication.”
By the end of the morning, I was eager to bring Courses with Horses into our curriculum. As either a singular team experience or part of a larger leadership development program, it offers a unique, profound, and thoroughly enjoyable way to gain new perspective on foundational skills and behaviors. Individual leaders and entire teams will be reengaged and reenergized by their time with each other—and the horses, of course.
If you’d like to learn more about our new Courses with Horses offering, please check out the web page that describes our offerings. We are also devoting our March webinar to this innovative approach to leadership developments.
Read Next
Conquering Conflict in the Workplace
Many of our clients face challenges with workplace conflict, a common yet complex issue...
The Power of Passion
Most founders start a business because they are passionate about something quite...
The Future of Coaching
Digital coaching platforms. You’ve likely seen the advertisements or perhaps a gigantic...