| I once submitted an idea for a book about equine | | | | to know their boundaries for you to be safe and to |
| leadership to a literary agent and I received a very | | | | gain the position as a leader. Most of the time you |
| curious rejection letter. He thought that book was | | | | must be mentally superior to your horse. Experience |
| interesting but he also implied that establishing | | | | and success will hone your skills to be able to use |
| leadership with a horse was some how cruel to the | | | | very physical force. A good leader learns to anticipate |
| horse. Not knowing me personally, just reading my bio | | | | problems and solve them almost before they start. |
| which included military service. I assume he jumped to | | | | Most people think of training when they think of |
| the erroneous conclusion that somehow I was going to | | | | leadership. You are always training your horse. |
| be a nightmare Marine Drill Instructor. Obviously he has | | | | Therefore you must always be a good leader when |
| little knowledge of real what real leadership means. I | | | | you are within sight of your horse. That doesn't mean |
| think good old fashioned leadership has somehow | | | | you can't be loving and gentle. Grooming your horse is |
| become a bad thing. I think the world needs a little | | | | good leadership. Positive leadership helps to bond with |
| more of it really. | | | | your horse. Good care shows you care to the horse. |
| Leadership is not a four-lettered word. Words like bite, | | | | A good leader is trusted. A good leader knows how to |
| kick, rear and buck are four-lettered words that | | | | communicate well. Yes they listen and speak equally |
| positive leadership helps to remove from a horse's | | | | well. The trick to knowing you are good leader is when |
| lexicon. Leadership is one of few things in life that is | | | | you can be so gentle that your horse welling does a |
| both a science and an art. Good leadership traits can | | | | task. Constantly micromanaging your horse is a sign of |
| be taught and learned. Some people and animals are | | | | very poor leadership. A good leader teaches individual |
| born with more leadership skills than others. Good | | | | responsibility to their horse. |
| leadership produces excellent results and the lack of | | | | When you are a good leader in the eyes of your |
| good leadership produces very few positive results. | | | | horse they do what you want without question. You |
| Examples of good leadership are being firm when and | | | | have proved your leadership qualities to your horse by |
| as necessary, but also being patient. Horses really don't | | | | being brave, understanding and showing strength. |
| do well with yelling a screaming. Yes that may work in | | | | When your horse submits to your leadership he is |
| boot camp, but not with a horse. Women usually are | | | | putting his heart and life in your hands. Tell me if that |
| more understanding than men. Men are usually more | | | | isn't the most humbling and motivational reason to be |
| forceful than women. You must be somewhere in | | | | the best leader you can be. Oh yes leadership has |
| between understanding and forceful to be a good | | | | couple four-lettered words that I like. Those |
| leader with a horse. You must understand when to | | | | four-lettered words are LOVE and CARE. Excellent |
| use force. You must also understand when not to use | | | | leadership qualities are derived from truly caring and |
| force. Yes sometimes you must be physically superior | | | | loving what you do for the horse. |
| to your horse. Horse's are very large animal and need | | | | TLC = Trust, Leadership & Communication. |