5 Secrets to Leadership with Horses
Like 4 Dislike 0 Published on 15 Sep 2014
Hi, I’m Caroline Rider of Rider Horsemanship. This month’s Holistic Horse “Ask the Expert” Q&A is about leadership with your horse, specifically the qualities or attributes of leadership and how leadership needs to show up in us – how we need to act in order for our horse to notice us, take us seriously, trust and respect us.
In this video I will be discussing, and demonstrating, the following 5 attributes of leadership as well as what leadership means to our horse. The first attribute of leadership is purpose or focus. The second attribute is clarity. The third is fairness, the fourth is congruency and the fifth is consistency. All of these attributes are equally important to our horse and contribute to the overall emotional and societal welfare of our horses. Each of these attributes develops us into the leader our horse will recognize, take seriously (not challenge), trust and respect.
Let’s now discuss the attributes, how they show up in us and why they are important to our horse. The first attribute, purpose and/or focus, is about having direction – a goal in mind.
The second attribute is clarity and being clear. Horses are transparent meaning their actions reflect how they think and feel. This is what I refer to as the “Language of Equus.” Horses respond to humans the same way and if we are not sure about something the horse perceives this as uncertainty and becomes distrustful. Another way to look at clarity and the meaning of being clear is to have purpose - a goal in mind as well as fluidity, harmony, congruency.
The third attribute is about being fair. Fairness means being free form bias, judgment or discrimination. It also means having objectivity and not being personally attached to an outcome.
The fourth attribute is about being congruent. Congruency means “whatever you are thinking your body embodies.” This is another form of being harmonious and fluid. Your thoughts, feelings, are compatible with your actions. Meaning, you don’t think one thing and do another. This is very important to a horse as it represents clarity and consistency which are the building blocks of trust.
The fifth attribute is consistency. Consistency builds accountability and trust with your horse. They can count on you which in turn helps our horse to feel safe.
These five attributes are the building blocks of leadership and what makes our horse not only want to be with they are what our horse needs.
Thank you and may you always be one with your horse! Caroline
Please visit www.riderhorsemanship.com for more education materials, DVD's, clinic opportunities, training and the TAO of Horsemanship Online Foundation Course.