The phrase “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” is so true. But, have you considered how the act of leading a horse can bring personal insights for the person doing the leading?
Recently, I met with several new volunteers to conduct their barn team training, which includes the essential tasks to care for our horses. These volunteers will work by themselves, so this role requires responsibility and good judgment. It also requires basic horsemanship skills such as haltering and leading. These volunteers come to us with varying horse experience; no experience is required at the beginning, as we will teach what is needed. While good haltering and leading include techniques which can be learned by demonstration and practice, there is also the key element of relationship between each human and horse that is even more important.
The horses respond to us as individuals, as they do other members of their herd.
They learn who we “be”.
A reliance on just technique is very limiting as what works on one day for one horse may not be effective on the same horse the next day. Or a different horse on the same day. Like us, and other mammals, horses experience emotions and moods. For example, several of our herd members really slow down when the weather gets hot, and perhaps even get “cranky”, something some of us can relate to! If the technique is not working, just trying harder or becoming forceful can result in frustration and reduced trust.
What is being called for when the haltering/leading is not going smoothly, is awareness and adaptivity and shifting to another approach. I have seen this lesson unfold differently for each volunteer, and delight in witnessing the “lightbulb” that goes off as the volunteer tries, learns, adjusts, and tries again. And the horse too, almost as if saying “oh, so that is what you want, okay”.
One horse could be led by a feather. Another horse, our lead mare, is looking for the leader in the relationship. What makes a good leader? Qualities include quiet confidence, clear communication, being present and attentive, showing respect, and gaining trust. Giving timely praise is also important! All of these qualities are effective and enhance our human relationships too.
An equine experience is a potent opportunity to gain awareness about your own leadership style, to practice showing up in a way that is more effective while also being authentic to who you are, all while being with a non-judgmental and responsive 4-legged partner.
Intrigued? - take a step now and contact me to see how this opportunity can support you.
In-person sessions at our beautiful facility in the Longmont, CO area.