When Business Bottlenecks Meet 1000 Pound Teachers

Let me take you back to a particularly memorable session in 2009, not long after I began integrating horses into my coaching and therapy practice. My colleague Tim Brock and I were working with Jim, a high-performing, Type A business owner from the West Coast who ran a successful environmental company. Jim came to us looking to improve communication and productivity within his team—something we hear from business leaders often.

After some discovery work, we moved into the arena—where the horses do what they do best: reflect the human condition. We had set up a course using simple barn items and other props like barrels, cones, and hula hoops. Jim’s objective was to move three horses, each weighing over 1,000 pounds, through the course—without force, commands, or ropes.

Now, here’s the twist. Horses don’t speak English, they don’t follow job descriptions, and they certainly don’t respond to titles or resumes. What they do respond to is energy, intention, and congruence.

It didn’t take long before the arena filled with dust—literally. The horses were galloping in circles, and Jim was right behind them, trying to wrangle some sort of order into the chaos. His dominant, get-it-done energy filled the space. I found myself chuckling inwardly as the scene looked more like a NASCAR race than a leadership session. All I could think was, “It’s another left turn!”

Tim, the horseman among us, remained calm and observant. Eventually, we called time-out.

“What’s happening here, Jim?” we asked.

“They won’t do what I want them to!” he replied, pointing toward the horses.

And that’s when the real learning began.

Jim admitted that he often felt like he was chasing his own employees around at work. Suddenly, the dust, the frustration, the constant movement—it all made sense. He wasn’t leading. He was chasing.

Here’s where it gets even more powerful: About 95% of communication is non-verbal, and in that arena, Jim had the rare opportunity to see how his non-verbal communication—his energy, posture, facial expressions, even his unspoken thoughts—was impacting his “team” through the immediate feedback the horses gave him.

You see, horses are biologically wired to connect with our internal environment. Research shows that when we get close to them, they can sync with our heart rate and read our emotional state like we’d read a book. Horses are constantly scanning for congruence: Is what you're projecting on the outside a match for what's going on inside?

They don't lie. They don't judge. But they do respond.

Their responses are always non-verbal—maybe it's a flick of an ear, a walk-away, a refusal to engage, or, in Jim’s case, running in circles. As trained facilitators, my team and I help decode this feedback so humans can connect the dots between their leadership style and how it's landing with others.

To his credit, Jim took a break, got a drink of water, and came back to the horses with a different presence. He softened, focused, and adjusted his energy. What happened next was remarkable: the horses began to engage, follow, and respond to him—not out of fear or force, but from clarity and connection.

After the session, Jim shared something we’ve heard many times since: “I learned more today about communication than I ever did in a classroom.”

Why? Because experiential learning sticks. When you can practice a strategy and receive instant, honest, four-dimensional feedback, you shortcut months—sometimes years—of guessing, coaching, and trial and error.

If you’re facing bottlenecks in your business—whether it’s communication breakdowns, disengaged teams, or productivity issues—what if the solution isn’t another meeting or webinar?

What if the real insight is waiting in the arena?

We offer complimentary consultations to explore whether equine-assisted learning might be the missing piece in your leadership development journey. No pressure—just a conversation. And maybe, just maybe, a few horses.

Ready to stop chasing and start leading?

Let’s explore if the herd has the feedback you need.