Horsing Around with Leadership: What Equines Can Teach Us About Connection

In a fascinating journey of self-discovery, Jennifer Schramm turns to horses for lessons in effective leadership. What she found was both surprising and profoundly eye-opening: the key to leading isn’t about exerting control but rather about fostering genuine connections. As prey animals, horses possess an exceptional ability to sense their surroundings, and they reflected Schramm’s own emotions during her attempts to lead.

Instead of bending the will of her equine companions, Jennifer came to realize that maintaining her own state of coherence—aligning her body, mind, and intention—was essential. When she shifted her focus from control to presence, trust began to blossom. As Schramm succinctly puts it,“Real leadership is not about control; it is about connection.”Who knew that the secret to effective leadership could trot right into the barn?

Bringing these lessons from the pasture to the boardroom could change our approach to leadership dramatically. Just like a horse requires a safe space to thrive, employees need the same to bring their authentic selves to work. Perhaps it’s time we started listening to our four-legged friends a bit more closely!