The Value of Horse Play & Stepping Into Your Brand’s Story
Conscious Leaders and Stewards of Change are often driven by a deep desire to grow, personally and in how they show up for others while building meaningful work and shaping what comes next. As an equine-assisted leadership coach, I invite those with that calling to step into the arena literally and metaphorically.
Working with horses evokes both possibility and vulnerability. It’s playful, adventurous, and expansive while at the same time, it can feel risky, unfamiliar, and outside your comfort zone.
This tension between play and risk is exactly where the most powerful growth lives.
Cindy’s Story: The Possibility & Vulnerability of Owning Your Voice
Cindy had built something she was proud of, a purpose-driven business shaped by years of passion, effort, and dedication. Lately, she struggled with producing content and connecting with her audience.
And yet, every time she sat down to write about her work, she hesitated. She wanted to show up boldly and authentically, and worried about saying the wrong thing. She craved creative freedom, and felt stuck in what she thought she “should” say. She longed to share her story with humanity in a relaxed way, and was stifled by the pressure to be polished.
Cindy felt the pull of play; a desire to explore, to express, to create without overthinking.
And just as quickly, she felt the risk; a fear of stepping too far outside her comfort zone, of exposing too much, of getting it wrong.
When she signed up for an equine-assisted coaching session, Cindy didn’t know exactly what she was seeking. She just knew she wanted to break free of patterns she felt holding her back from realizing her next steps.
Playing with Presence: The Moment Everything Shifted
Cindy stepped into the arena. Finnley lifted his head, unsure about the interruption.
She hesitated. What was she supposed to do? Was there a right way to engage?
The risk felt real, not physical danger, the vulnerability of not knowing what would happen next.
“Just play with the space,” I encouraged. ”Explore your influence.”
She let out a breath. Play? She was so focused on doing it right, she had forgotten this wasn’t about performance. It was about presence, about Being.
She took an easeful step forward, connected to her breath and her deeper intentions for herself and her business.
Finnley responded immediately, lifting his head, meeting her halfway.
Their connection was instant. No script. No strategy. Just awareness. Alignment. Trust.
And suddenly, Cindy understood: This is what she wanted her brand storytelling to feel like for the people she serves. Not forced. Not overthought. Not filtered through a hundred versions of “should.” Just her stepping forward in truth, trusting her audience to meet her there.
Cindy was able to recalibrate the vision of her business by engaging in the flow of experiential play with the horses alternated with insightful coaching with me all in one afternoon.
Into the Arena: Telling Your Brand Story
Cindy’s experience mirrors the journey many nurturers, founders, and conscious leaders face when sharing their message, whether it’s for a website, a keynote, or a pitch.
There’s the pull of play, that excitement of expressing your purpose. And there’s the fear of risk, that uncertainty, the “what ifs,” and the discomfort of being seen.
Yet, just as Finnley responded to Cindy’s grounded presence, your audience responds to alignment more than perfection.
Your Brand Deserves That Same Authenticity
If you’re guiding families, teams, or transformations, you may see yourself in Cindy’s journey. You have a vision, and struggle to put it into words. You want your brand to resonant, and self-doubt keeps creeping in. You overthink every post, every message, worried about getting it “right” instead of being yourself.
Here’s the truth: Your brand story isn’t about perfection. It’s about your presence.
It’s about keeping your heroes up to date on your current truth and it’s about letting them meet the real you; aligned, grounded, and ready to lead.
