| You can't prove to your horse that you are a leader | | | | when we don't establish and maintain the ground rules |
| by being a nice guy. When people work with my | | | | because we want to be perceived as that 'nice guy'. |
| horses they immediately want to become their friend. | | | | People are unclear of the rules or they may |
| They feel it is important that their horse like them. This | | | | consciously choose to push the boundaries. These |
| is a perfectly logical human reaction but it is not | | | | behaviors lead to conflicts and rivalries that necessitate |
| effective with a horse. It is difficult for humans to | | | | those difficult conversations we would all rather avoid. |
| accept the fact that horses really only care about a | | | | The truth is that most people are happier and more |
| person's leadership capabilities. | | | | secure if rules are clearly spelled out. I have a large |
| To assert leadership over a horse we must control its | | | | Clydesdale mare who is a very intelligent alpha horse. |
| mind and to do that we must control its movement. | | | | She is a very likeable girl and people usually choose to |
| Control is a leadership issue that makes many of us | | | | handle her in a friendly and gentle manner often |
| uncomfortable. Authority and control often carry a | | | | deferring to her wishes. Her response is to either tune |
| negative connotation. The reality however, is that | | | | out or push them around in a subtle way. It is easy to |
| someone has to be in charge whether it be the herd | | | | see by her body language that she is disinterested. It is |
| leader, the CEO of the company, or the leader of the | | | | only when someone takes control, sets the boundaries |
| office team. Teams need clear goals, behavioural | | | | and asserts their leadership that her entire body |
| boundaries, expectations and consequences for | | | | comes alive and she engages with them |
| performance. A leader plays an important role in | | | | enthusiastically. |
| establishing these parameters. This can be done in a | | | | So when people remark that my horses must love me |
| positive way if the leader proactively sets the | | | | I tell them the truth. My horses are happy to be with |
| boundaries up front. | | | | me and work for me because I am the leader who |
| When we work with a horse we must have clearly | | | | creates the structures and boundaries that they need. I |
| defined spatial boundaries. If we do not establish our | | | | believe they understand that there are times when I |
| boundaries and consistently maintain them the horse | | | | have to step up and make the tough decisions. I |
| will push into our space. Then we have to reactively | | | | haven't asked them but I am hopeful that my human |
| push back. The same situation occurs at the office | | | | employees feel the same way. |