For almost ten years, every summer I have welcomed participants to the horse farm where I facilitate Coaching with Horses workshops. Most arrive with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Many have never been close to a horse before and are initially intimidated by their size and presence.
I always enjoy watching what happens next. As participants slowly approach the horses, their hesitation gives way to curiosity, and curiosity often becomes trust. Those first moments of connection are powerful because they remind us that genuine relationships begin with presence rather than words.
These workshops also bring back my own memories. As a child, I spent my summers at my grandmother’s home in the French countryside, where I learned to ride. What began as a childhood passion became a lifelong hobby and, for several years, a part-time job teaching horse riding. At the time, I could never have imagined that horses would one day become an essential part of my coaching practice.
After more than twenty-five years as an executive coach, partnering with horses has allowed me to combine two lifelong passions: helping people grow and working alongside these remarkable animals. Since introducing the first EAGALA-based Coaching with Horses programme in the Czech Republic in 2017, I have had the privilege of guiding hundreds of participants through experiences that engage not only the mind, but also emotions, intuition, and body awareness.
People often ask how horses can contribute to leadership development. The answer lies in their extraordinary sensitivity. Horses pay no attention to titles, status, or carefully prepared speeches. They respond only to what is genuine. They notice our body language, our emotional state, and the consistency between what we say and what we truly feel.
If someone projects confidence while feeling anxious inside, the horse immediately senses the discrepancy. Rather than judging, the horse reflects it back. This honest, immediate feedback helps people become aware of behaviours, emotions, and limiting beliefs they may not have recognised before.
Over the years, I have heard many participants express their surprise at what they discovered during these workshops. One participant said, “This horse didn’t judge me, so I stopped judging myself.” Another reflected, “I never imagined horses could help me understand myself so clearly. They didn’t give me the answers; they helped me find my own.”
These experiences illustrate one of the fundamental principles of Coaching with Horses: the horses are not there to solve our problems. They simply create the conditions that allow us to see ourselves more clearly.
Every workshop reminds me that the language of horses is energy and authenticity. They invite us to slow down, become fully present, and align our thoughts, emotions, and actions. In a world where we are constantly encouraged to do more, horses encourage us to be more.
That is perhaps their greatest gift. They continually remind us that authentic leadership, meaningful relationships, and lasting personal growth all begin with one simple step: being genuinely present.