The Power of Being Different – What Horses Teach Us About Freedom, Trust, and Leadership

This summer, I had the privilege of spending several weeks in Austria, house-sitting for a colleague and immersing myself in a completely different way of living with horses, and it made me realize the power of being different.
The time there was a powerful reminder of how nature, freedom, and the wisdom of animals can mirror back essential lessons for our own lives and leadership journeys.

My colleague, Sanny from HorseDream Austria, keeps a herd unlike most I’ve seen.
Different breeds, different ages, and different disciplines - western, dressage, and carriage horses - all together.
And every summer, instead of stables and arenas, she gives them the ultimate gift: absolute freedom.
The horses spend the warm months in a vast forest on the mountain, on the so-called alm, where usually cows are sent to graze.

Freedom in Nature

The first time I saw the terrain, I was amazed.
Steep hills, rocky paths, tree stumps, roots sticking out of the earth - it looked nothing like the flat, controlled paddocks we are used to.
At first, I thought: “This is dangerous. What if they stumble? What if one breaks a leg?”

And yet, the opposite is true.

These horses are strong, agile, balanced, and deeply connected to their environment.
Their muscles, tendons, and instincts adapt to the landscape.
Their hooves are harder, their bodies fitter, and their minds calmer.
They live as a herd, free and curious, full of vitality.

Watching them filled me with joy.

My heart was light, and I realized: just as humans are not designed to sit behind a desk all day, horses are not meant to stand isolated in a stable.
Both species thrive when we live closer to our nature - when we are challenged, when we move, when we grow in connection with others.

A Lesson in Trust

One day, I faced a situation that brought this lesson into sharp focus.
While feeding the herd, one horse suddenly choked.
Horses cannot vomit, so this is a dangerous emergency.
Fear set in: the owners were abroad, the forest was remote, the jeep ride down to the village took 15 minutes, and the nearest vet would need at least an hour to reach us.
What if she died here? What if we couldn’t get her out in time?

The humans panicked. But the horse did not.

She stood calmly, showing us that she trusted her body, her instincts, and the moment.
We massaged her throat gently, stayed with her, breathed with her.
By the time the veterinarian finally arrived, the danger had already passed. Her body had resolved the issue naturally.

The horse had been our teacher once again: in the face of crisis, don’t always rush to control.

Trust the process. Stay calm. Nature knows what it is doing.

From Horses to Humans – Why This Matters

This experience made me reflect deeply on how we, as humans, often live.
We cling to control, safety, and instant solutions.
We over-plan, over-analyze, and over-react.
But in doing so, we lose our ability to trust - our instincts, our intuition, and the natural flow of life.

When I bring leaders and teams into coaching with horses, this is exactly what we work on:

• Resilience – Learning to stay grounded under pressure, just as a horse does in a herd.
• Trust – In ourselves, in others, and in the process, rather than forcing outcomes.
• Freedom & Authenticity – Dropping the masks and roles we play in offices and reconnecting to who we really are.
• Embodied Leadership – Horses respond only to presence, clarity, and authenticity. They don’t care about job titles, CVs, or status. They care about how you show up.
• Connection – Just like a herd in the wild, humans thrive when we collaborate, respect differences, and move towards a shared goal.

Every time I guide a coaching session with horses, I see how these magnificent animals reflect back our inner world with astonishing clarity.
If you are stressed, unfocused, or inauthentic, the horse will show you immediately.
If you are present, calm, and clear, the horse will connect with you.

The Power of Being Different

My summer in Austria was a powerful reminder that being different is not only okay - it is often the path to strength and resilience.
Just as these horses became healthier and stronger by living freely in the forest, we too grow when we step outside our comfort zones, challenge old beliefs, and allow ourselves to live more authentically.

Coaching with horses offers exactly that: a safe yet transformative way to experience yourself differently.
You will not sit in a classroom or listen to theories.
You will step into the paddock, meet a horse face-to-face, and discover what your body, your energy, and your presence communicate. You will learn how to lead without force, influence without words, and connect without ego.

Your Journey Starts Here

Whether you are an individual seeking clarity and confidence, or a leadership team wanting to align, reduce ego, and build collaboration, horse-assisted coaching opens a door to transformation. It combines the wisdom of nature with practical leadership development. It reconnects us with freedom, trust, and authenticity - the very things we need most in today’s world of stress, burnout, and constant control.

I invite you to experience it for yourself.
Step away from the desk.
Step outside the usual training rooms.
Step into the paddock, where horses are waiting to show you who you really are - and who you can become.

Because sometimes, the most powerful leadership lesson comes not from doing what everyone else is doing, but from daring to be different.