Industry Reflections

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...

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.

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.

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.

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