What Horses Taught Me About Leading People

My View

The fastest leadership feedback I’ve ever received didn’t come from a boardroom during my time as a district superintendent. It came from a 1,200-lb. horse that simply walked away.

No exit interview. No long explanation. Just a clear message: You’re not with me.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to horses. Even before I owned one, I studied the role of animals in classrooms. Now, after three decades in educational leadership, I’ve learned this: Horses are exceptional teachers of leadership because they don’t respond to titles or intentions. They respond to presence, clarity and authenticity. Nothing more.

Those lessons have sharpened into four practices that matter just as much in school systems as they do in the barn.