Industry Reflections

It's surprisingly disheartening to make it to the top and realize your heroes aren't who you expected. Not knowing who your heroes are anymore is like losing your compass. You can still walk, but you're not sure if you're drifting toward purpose or just pacing in circles. That's where I found myself at the start of this year. I was still working with my horses, but felt a little lost. And somewhere in that deep-dive, I realized I needed to go on a quest for new heroes.

We like to believe we see the full picture, that our version of reality is the one and only. But what if, like the horse, we’re only seeing half the story? What if there’s another side of the same experience that looks completely different depending on where we stand—or which “eye” we’re looking through?

Sage, my mustang from Antelope Valley, NV The first time I met a mustang was at a clinic several years ago, and I was mesmerized. The...

Whether you’re leading without actual authority or learning how to manage your peers, one thing is certain: the horses aren’t the only ones who need your attention. Your ability to lead people—calmly, clearly, and confidently—can make or break the health of your team and the wellbeing of the animals in your care. Here are four concepts to guide your leadership journey in the barn—even if you’re just figuring it out as you go.

Have you ever wondered why you can feel absolutely miserable while doing something you supposedly love ? It doesn’t make sense, right?...

Imagine it this way: domestic horses are like a bunch of foster kids who lost their families at a young age and then grew up in group homes. Some of them adapt — they learn the rules, figure out how to navigate the system, and become pretty functional adults. But others? They end up with all sorts of underlying stress, social issues, or maladaptive behaviors that follow them for life.

Learning new things often feels like standing in unfamiliar footing—literally and figuratively. Like a young horse learning to carry a rider for the first time, it’s awkward, uncertain, and not always graceful. You feel exposed. You wobble. You make mistakes.

Because here’s the thing I’ve learned over and over again: horses don’t lie. They don’t fight unless they have no other option. They’re peace-seeking, cooperative beings by nature. And when they resist, it’s almost always because they’re confused, in pain, or scared. Not because they’re trying to make your life hard.

What if, like horses, we practiced these skills daily so that in times of crisis, we could trust each other to move as one?

Our human teams could learn a thing or two from watching how a herd moves together. By understanding and applying these principles

Leadership is not about control or “managing”—it is about creating a foundation of trust and security so that others can focus on their job.

What if we took a lesson from the wild herds—what if we stopped wasting energy on internal competition and focused on collective success?

Jade was, in every way, Indy’s opposite. Where Indy was calm and confident, Jade was excitable and insecure.

Let’s stop believing the myth that we have to do it all alone. Like a lone horse in a pasture, our self-sufficiency is working against us.

Mae saw Sage as a direct threat. The mustang, in turn, was not one to back down from a challenge. Aggression changed both of them.

Put on your muck boots because we’re going deep into the metaphor of seeing how composting can show us the best way to process life's “shit"

The concept of "belonging" is often misunderstood. Many believe that it involves fitting in, but it's about being true to yourself.

In the equestrian industry, where everyone is deeply connected to their animals and livelihoods, these conflicts can be particularly complex

An equestrian barn should be a place of tranquility, where both humans and horses can experience joy and connection. But what happens...

Join these five equestrian panelists, led by Human-Herd consultant, Danielle Aamodt, of Enso Equine Services. Panelists: Paula Bliss...