Good Hands, Better Heart: What Horsemanship Teaches About Leadership
- afenner
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
There’s something about raising horses that teaches you more than how to ride. It teaches you how to lead. And not just from the saddle — but in the kind of people we become, and the kind of kids we raise.
At Rad Rodeo, we’ve learned that good horsemanship and good leadership go hand in hand. And if you ask us, the best trainers, parents, and coaches all share one thing in common: they’ve got good hands — and even better hearts.
Leadership Starts in the Barn
Before you ever climb on a horse, they’re reading you. Your energy. Your presence. Your consistency. Sound familiar? That’s because leadership isn’t about barking orders. It’s about earning trust.
In our barn, we build leadership by:
Staying calm under pressure — even when the horse isn’t.
Setting clear boundaries without losing our cool.
Being consistent in our actions and expectations.
A horse will follow a confident, fair leader. So will a kid.
The Power of Patience and Pressure
Horses (and people) learn through pressure and release. Apply too much pressure? They brace. Release too soon? They don’t learn.
Good leaders know how to:
Apply just enough challenge to inspire growth.
Back off when they see the wheels turning.
Stay present instead of reactive.
It’s not about domination — it’s about direction. And in the arena of life, that matters.
Listen Before You Lead
Ever worked with a horse that “won’t listen”? Nine times out of ten, they’re trying to tell you something — we just aren’t hearing it.
Same goes for kids. We lead better when we:
Pay attention to body language and behavior shifts.
Ask questions instead of jumping to correction.
Create space for feedback, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Listening builds trust. Trust builds teams.
Leading with Heart (Not Just Hands)
Some of the best lessons we’ve learned didn’t come from a textbook — they came from horses, chaos, and a few hard knocks. The same principles apply across the board:
Meet mistakes with grace.
Praise progress, not just perfection.
Lead by example, not just instruction.
We want our horses to feel safe trying. We want our kids to feel the same.
Final Thoughts
Horsemanship is leadership — and the arena is one of the best classrooms we know.
At Rad Rodeo, we raise riders who are patient, fair, and bold enough to lead with both strength and softness. Because whether you're raising a futurity colt or a future champion kid, the goal is the same:
Good hands. Better heart.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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