10 Reasons You Should Definitely NOT Do Leadership Training With Horses

Let’s be honest. Your corporate retreat calendar is usually filled with things that are safe. You know the drill. A nice hotel ballroom, some lukewarm coffee, a few dozen PowerPoint slides, and a trust fall that everyone secretly hates. It’s comfortable. It’s predictable. And most importantly, it doesn’t involve a 1,200-pound animal that hasn’t read your company’s mission statement.

If you are looking to maintain the status quo and keep your “Executive of the Year” ego fully intact, then horse leadership training is a terrible idea. In fact, we’ve put together a list of why you should stay far away from the arena.

Here are ten reasons why leadership training with horses is definitely not for you.

1. They Have Zero Respect for Your VP Title

In the office, people listen to you because your door has a nameplate and your LinkedIn profile is impressive. In an equine leadership program, the horse does not care about your MBA or your corner office.

A horse reacts to who you are in the moment, not who you are on paper. If you try to lead with an air of “do you know who I am,” the horse will likely just continue eating grass or walk in the opposite direction. For anyone who relies solely on their title to get things done, this is a total disaster.

2. They Give Honest Feedback Without an HR-Approved Filter

We all love a good performance review where the criticism is “sandwiched” between two compliments. Horses don’t do that. They don’t have a filter, and they haven’t been coached on how to deliver “constructive” feedback.

If you are communicating poorly, the horse will respond immediately by checking out. If you are being aggressive, they will become defensive. It is instant, non-judgmental, and incredibly annoying for anyone who prefers to hide behind corporate jargon.

3. You’ll Get Dirt on Your Fancy Boots

Leadership training with horses happens on the ground. There is no riding involved, but there is plenty of sand, dust, and the occasional hoof print. If your idea of a “breakthrough” requires climate control and Italian leather loafers, you are going to be very disappointed.

Getting your hands dirty is part of the process. You’ll be working in an arena, navigating obstacles, and physically moving with the horse. It’s hard to maintain a “detached executive” vibe when you’re trying to figure out why a horse named Luke won’t walk over a blue pole for you.

4. You Might Actually Have to Put Your Phone Down

There is no “checking your emails real quick” when you are in the middle of a ground-based activity with a horse. Horses require your full presence. If your mind is on that 2:00 PM conference call, the horse will know you aren’t mentally checked in before you do.

For the chronic multi-tasker, this is a nightmare. You are forced to be in the moment, focused, and aware of your surroundings. It’s a digital detox that actually requires you to talk to your teammates and pay attention to a living, breathing creature.

5. Your “Alpha” Strategy Won’t Work

Many leaders think leadership is about dominance. They want to “take charge” and “command the room.” Try that with a horse, and you’ll quickly realize that dominance is not leadership.

Horses look for a leader who is calm, clear, and consistent. If you try to bully a horse into cooperation, they will simply stop trusting you. Leadership training with horses forces you to find a way to inspire movement through connection rather than force. It’s an ego-deflating experience for the “boss” who is used to getting their way just by being the loudest person in the room.

6. You Can’t Fake Authentic Vulnerability

In a boardroom, you can put on a “mask.” You can pretend you have all the answers and that everything is under control. Horses, however, are experts at reading non-verbal cues. They can sense your heart rate and your true emotional state.

If you are feeling anxious but trying to act confident, the horse will react to the underlying anxiety. This forces a level of authenticity that can be quite uncomfortable. You have to be real to get results. If you prefer keeping your “corporate armor” on at all times, the arena is the last place you want to be.

7. Teamwork Isn’t Optional

In most offices, “teamwork” means sitting in the same room while everyone works on their own laptop. In horse leadership training, if the team isn’t aligned, the horse stays put.

We use activities that require groups to communicate clearly and move in sync to guide the horse through challenges. If one person is pulling left while the other is pushing right, the horse will just stand there looking at you like you’ve lost your mind. It exposes every crack in your team’s communication style in about five minutes.

8. Non-Verbal Communication is Loud

We spend so much time worrying about the “perfect” email or the right words for a presentation. But research shows that a huge chunk of our communication is non-verbal. Horses don’t speak English, but they are masters of body language.

They respond to your posture, your energy, and your intent. You’ll quickly learn that what you think you’re communicating and what you are actually communicating are two very different things. It’s a wake-up call that makes you realize why your team might be misinterpreting your “open door policy.”

9. There’s No “Skip” Button for the Hard Parts

In a seminar, you can zone out during the parts that don’t interest you. In the arena, you are the active participant. You are the one holding the lead rope or guiding the horse through a series of gates.

There is no hiding in the back row. You have to engage. This experiential approach means you are learning by doing, which is much more effective than listening, but also much more demanding. It’s a “terrible” thing for anyone who was hoping for an afternoon nap during the keynote speaker.

10. The Lessons Actually Stick

The worst part about leadership training with horses? You won’t forget it. Unlike that online course you clicked through last month, the experience of connecting with a horse and leading a team through a physical challenge stays with you.

You’ll go back to the office and find yourself thinking about how you’re standing, how you’re breathing, and why your “horse sense” is telling you that a meeting is going off the rails. It’s a transformational experience that changes how you lead forever. If you’re happy being an average leader, definitely don’t sign up.

The Dreamwinds Advantage: Where the “Terrible” Happens Daily

At Dreamwinds Equine Assisted Learning Centre, we specialize in exactly these kinds of “terrible” experiences. We believe that the best leadership development happens outside the comfort zone.

Our programs are led by me, Tracey Evans, a former corporate executive. I spent years in the high-stakes world of business before moving into the arena. I have walked in your shoes. I know the corporate struggle. I know the jargon, the politics, and the pressure. I also know that a horse can teach you more about leadership in three hours than a textbook can in three years…ask me how I know 😉

Our horse leadership training is strictly ground-based. You don’t need to be a “horse person” to succeed here. In fact, some of our best breakthroughs come from people who have never stood next to a horse in their life.

Don’t just take my word for how “awful” it is to have a life-changing breakthrough. Here is what some of our corporate partners have said about their time at Dreamwinds:

“Your program encouraged team members to be creative, become self-aware, and take opportunities to lead. It is truly amazing what we learn from their gentle traits, about ourselves. Thank you for showing us what we may not see through your wonderful horses!.”

“This unique experience created an environment for our strategy session that inspired innovation, collaboration and action. The ROI on the program was not only immediate, it was sustained and we continue to reference the learnings a year later and continue to grow as leaders and deliver exceptional results. Thank you!”

Ready to Ruin Your Comfort Zone?

If you are tired of the same old training and you’re ready for a leadership program that actually makes an impact, it’s time to head to the arena. We promise you’ll get some dirt on your boots, you’ll lose your “VP mask,” and you’ll leave with a level of self-awareness you didn’t think was possible.

Stop playing it safe. Chase the kind of leadership that is authentic, clear, and effective. Let’s build the team you were meant to lead, together.

Are you ready to see what the horses have to say about your leadership? Book your team discovery call today and let’s get to work.