The Arena of Possibility: How Embodied Leadership Transforms Business
Recently a top leadership coach I follow posted a few thoughts that spoke volumes to me. Lolly Daskal, author of said post and a book called The Leadership Gap wrote:
“Being passive means avoiding discomfort when it's needed most. It's staying silent when you know you should speak. It’s choosing inaction when courage is required. True leadership is about refusing to stay quiet—it's about breaking through where others hold back and taking a stand when it matters most.”
Those few words provoked a response in me that felt nearly as visceral as those feelings that guide me in my equine-assisted coaching arena. In this fast-paced world whether you lead a team at work, a family at home or your focus is on Self-Leadership in this complex world --clarity and authentic leadership can make all the difference in achieving success in your own arena. I’ve developed my leadership calling through, raising a family, achieving success as a member and leader in a variety of relational-sales positions and lastly in my return to working with horses.
How can horses, of all the things, help you develop your authentic leadership? The old saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink” is just the beginning. Perhaps you can relate to that adage in your life as you develop and grow your impactful work—at home, in the office, or within your Self.
[For a deeper look into Why Horses? click the link.]
Imagine a place where the boundaries of time and space seem to dissolve, and every interaction feels like an invitation to explore your limitless potential. With the gentle guidance of horses, you can step into a space where transformation happens not just through action, but through energy, intention, and connection. I’d like to share a story here that can illustrate this and give a glimpse of an equine-assisted coaching experience.
Meet Danielle: An Artist Turning Passion into Prosperity
Danielle is 37 years old and has been a full-time artist for nearly a decade. Her work has been featured in local galleries, and she’s built a loyal following online. She loves creating art that inspires others and knows her work has the power to make a difference. But despite her talent and hard work, Danielle struggles to make a consistent income.
She’s tried every strategy she can think of, selling at craft fairs, promoting on social media, and offering commissions. She finds making connections fairly easy yet is not able to convert those connections to clients. The financial stress weighs heavily, making it hard to focus on her creative process. Deep down, Danielle feels stuck, wondering if she’ll ever be able to truly support herself with her impactful work.
Leadership Insight – Lots of activity yet still feeling stuck so Danielle lets discomfort continue to drive her search for a solution.
When Danielle hears about equine-assisted coaching, she feels curious and hesitant. She’s never thought about how horses might help with business challenges. Still, she’s ready for something different, something that can disrupt her rut, reignite her passion and help her find a sustainable path forward.
Leadership Insight -From Curiosity to Courage…
The first time Danielle stands next to a horse she begins to breathe deeper; she reports that she “feels her body as a whole” versus just her hands and her head. I witness her relaxation and connection through a softening in her eyes as well as a total shift in her posture. Once Danielle’s mind is more connected to her body, she is better able to articulate what drew her to seek coaching as well as her personal and work-related goals. With this information I was able to offer Danielle a few specific exercises to do with the horses. As she observed the herd, chose a horse and then directed that horse through an obstacle course her “mind obstacles” became as clear to her as the physical obstacles on the ground.
It is generally known in conversation that most of our communications are nonverbal. Nonverbal communication includes physical expressions, posture, mannerisms, eye contact, gestures and tone of voice. Together these interconnect with our words to convey meaning. When we ask a nonverbal Being such as a horse to “come walk with us” or “move away” or “come closer” verbal content is minimally impactful—therefore, we must rely on those physical expressions and our true intentions to convey our message. Once we can truly align our physical expressions with our desired message our communications are elevated into the arena of our higher leadership.
In a follow up session, Danielle has a breakthrough. Working with the horses helps her feel where fear and self-doubt have been holding her back from her personal success. She was also seeing how authenticity draws others to her like a magnet. Danielle felt newly inspired to reconnect with her audience as she had learned with the horses. Bringing a new openness allowed others to feel her genuine desire for connection. The alignment between her life and enterprise sparked a new confidence for pricing her art in line with the work involved and promoting it to a broader audience.
The arena exercises helped her connect with her confidence and worth as an artist while the practical coaching gave her fresh ideas for diversifying her income, like offering workshops or licensing her art.
By the end of our sessions, Danielle feels a renewed sense of possibility. She leaves with a clear plan to turn her passion into prosperity, knowing she has the tools and mindset to succeed. Within months, she starts to see a shift—not just in her finances, but in how she shows up as an artist and a leader in her professional arena.
[For a deeper look into Why Horses? click the link]
Leadership Insight – No holding back, take a stand!
Leadership is not learned through reading or even listening to a speaker. Leadership is learned and developed through experiences.
Leadership isn’t a title or a role, it’s a way of showing up in the world with courage, authenticity, and the willingness to face discomfort when it matters most. As demonstrated through equine-assisted coaching, horses reflect our intentions and actions, revealing the subtle yet powerful ways we lead—or fail to lead—both ourselves and others.
By stepping into the presence of a horse, we learn what it means to break through fear, to speak when silence feels safer, and to act with conviction when hesitation beckons. These lessons, though simple in practice, demand vulnerability and self-awareness, the hallmarks of true leadership.
Equine-assisted coaching provides not just an opportunity to understand these principles but to embody them. Each interaction with a horse is a chance to practice taking a stand, building trust, and navigating challenges with grace and courage.
Are you ready to step into your power and discover the authentic leader within? The horses are waiting to share their wisdom.
