Team Building on Horseback

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Team Building & Leadership Training
with
Horses

A team of people and a herd of horses have a lot in common. They both require strong leadership; clear, consistent communication and a keen awareness of the needs and goals of the group.

Technologies, business modalities and the pace of daily living have changed drastically in the modern era, but people and horses have not. At their core, they are basically the same as they have been, for tens of thousands of years. In a relatively short time, they have had to adjust to quick paced, ever changing scenarios. This can, and has, created confusion, stress, and a heightened sense of personal survival.

When this occurs in the case of humans, they tend to lose sight of the team, and begin focusing more on the individual self. When this occurs in horses, they look to the herd leader for direction and protection and synchronize themselves with her movements.

The herd leader is generally a mare (female). She is not born into her position, nor can she bully, bluff or manipulate her way to the top. She must earn her leadership position by consistently demonstrating her strengths and her ability to communicate and lead well. Her commitment to remain in the lead is instinctively challenged on a daily basis, by the other members of the herd. If the leader is not consistent in her communications and actions, or if she appears weak in her commitment, she is quickly replaced by a better candidate. As a result of this process, horses serve as excellent mirrors for our human leadership skills. When we interact with a horse, we become a herd of two and the testing process for leadership begins immediately. When it concludes, there will clearly be only one leader - the one best qualified for the job.

Horses provide us with a dramatic view of how our leadership skills and teamwork measure up. Horses have no hidden agendas. Their communications and actions are very black and white. They are large, often intimidating, and can't be bullied into partnership. They are quick thinkers, quick movers and react in direct proportion to ones ability to lead. They serve as unbiased mirrors capable of teaching us a great deal about ourselves, and the effect we have on the teams we live and work within.

Horses afford us the opportunity to rebuild our own sense of well being and confidence, and to become reacquainted with the idea that horses and humans were in fact naturally designed to function best as part of a dynamic, well coordinated team.

The Team Building and Leadership Training workshop is available in a half day or one day format. Both formats consist of horse/team related lectures and demonstrations, with plenty of hands-on experience and fun. The workshop is appropriate for individuals of all levels of physical capability.