Leadership Learned through Horsemanship
I used to have a beautiful chestnut brown pony named Cupcake, with a vibrant star on her forehead and one white sock. She was a mix of a Quarter Horse and a Shetland Pony, perfectly sized for a scrawny kid like me. My mother, a single parent with a modest income, bought her for me when I was just 10 years old to fulfill a promise she made a year earlier. She promised to buy me a horse in exchange for my commitment to caring for our cat. Though she wasn’t great at keeping secrets, she eventually let the news slip. I still vividly remember my birthday morning. Dressed in my cowgirl best, I paced the front yard until a pickup truck turned onto our street and into the driveway. There, I was handed the reins of my new horse! This blog will focus on two key leadership themes: breach of trust and followership.
In her article Leadership and the Power of Influence, author Karise Hutchinson asks, “How can leaders manage the power of influence in a strong and healthy way that brings others with them on the journey to achieve real and positive change?”[1]
Trust and Integrity
Hutchinson emphasizes the importance of trust as a cornerstone of effective and sustainable leadership. She advocates for leaders who are not only competent but also empathetic, recognizing that trust is earned through actions, and integrity is maintained when one keeps their word. Trust can be easily broken, and once it is, it can be challenging to rebuild. Hutchinson warns that leaders who misuse their power risk harming both their followers and the integrity of the organizations they lead.[2]
A recent example of a breach of trust occurred during the devastating wildfires in California, which claimed more than 10 lives and destroyed over 10,000 homes.[3] Despite repeated warnings from environmental scientists and climate experts about the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires due to climate change, accusations arose that local and state governments failed to invest adequately in prevention and preparedness. As the fires devastated communities, many citizens felt betrayed by the government’s lack of proactive action to protect lives and property. This erosion of trust is particularly challenging to repair in the age of widespread misinformation. The breach of trust caused by these failures can have long-lasting effects, especially as people become more skeptical of government actions in future crises.
Followership
Followership, often overlooked in leadership discussions, is just as important—if not more so—than leadership itself. Effective leadership cannot exist without followership, and Jesus provides an exemplary model of followership. He demonstrated humility, obedience, trust, and alignment with a greater purpose. This idea resonates with Daniel Goleman’s concept of emotional intelligence in leadership, where followership is vital to any leadership dynamic.[4] Without followers, you cannot be a leader! From a Christian worldview, this means working toward the greater good and aligning with God’s will to serve others in love.
In Hutchinson’s work, she also notes that society has moved away from the “great man” theory, which posits an all-powerful, infallible leader.[5] Today, leadership models reflect the power found in influence rather than authority. One powerful example of leadership through influence is Nelson Mandela’s fight against apartheid in South Africa. His leadership style was not rooted in traditional authority but in his moral character, commitment to equality, and ability to inspire others to join his cause. Despite being imprisoned for 27 years, Mandela’s influence never waned. Upon his release, he did not respond with anger toward his oppressors, but instead, he used his influence to encourage peace and unity. Mandela’s advocacy for forgiveness and his tireless work to bridge divides cultivated a shared purpose for a unified South Africa.
His ability to lead through influence was deeply rooted in emotional intelligence—his empathy, humility, and capacity to connect with people from all walks of life. Mandala’s unwavering commitment to justice and equality inspired people around the globe, showing that leadership through influence can be far more powerful and sustainable than leadership rooted in control or authority.
Integrity and Followership in Horsemanship
Integrity and followership also play a vital role in horsemanship. My relationship with Cupcake, my horse, was built on trust, mutual understanding, and respect. Horsemanship is an excellent example of leadership because it goes beyond physically managing a horse. It requires a deep trust connection between the animal and its handler. Like in human relationships, this bond is founded on integrity, trust, and consistency. A rider or handler must be trustworthy and compassionate, ensuring the horse feels secure and respected. Without these elements, any form of leadership—whether with animals or people—will struggle to succeed.
Hutchinson’s work highlights that trust, integrity, and the power of influence are essential in both leadership and followership. Leadership isn’t about authority; it’s about inspiring and guiding others with authenticity and respect. Whether in politics, social movements, or horsemanship, authentic leadership builds trust, demonstrates empathy, and leads through influence, not control.
[1] Hutchinson, Karise. “Leadership and the Power of Influence.” Illuminaire Institute 1, no. 1 (January 12, 2025): 148. https://www.illuminaireleadership.com/illuminaire-press-vol-1-digital. P. 16
[2] Ibid. P. 18.
[3] Tanyos, Faris, Sarah Lynch Baldwin, Jordan Freiman, Brian Dakss, and Kerry Breen. “Live Updates: Fire Crews in Los Angeles Brace for Winds as Destroyed Areas Not Safe Yet.” Last modified January 12, 2025. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/california-windstorm-fuels-pacific-palisades-wildfire-as-residents-flee-live-updates/.
[4] Goleman, Daniel, Richard E. Boyatzis, and Annie McKee. Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence. 10. anniversary ed. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press, 2013.
[5] Hutchinson, Karise. “Leadership and the Power of Influence.” Illuminaire Institute 1, no. 1 (January 12, 2025): 148. https://www.illuminaireleadership.com/illuminaire-press-vol-1-digital.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.14 responses to “Leadership Learned through Horsemanship”
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Jennifer,
Interesting connection to the horse. I have never had the chance to do much with horses, only goats. And goats will be a pain pretty much all the time, no matter the way you handle them. Goats are horrible.
Anyways, I look forward to our time in Capetown to learn more from Mandela. If you had the opportunity to have had a cup of coffee with Mandela what is one thing you might have asked him?
Thanks, Adam. What a gift it would be to have coffee with Nelson Mandela. I would ask about his personal pathway, psychological and emotional, to see his former oppressors with an eye on humanity after apartheid ended. How did he finally reach that place of healing, and what were a few of the seminal experiences when he knew he was doing the right thing (i.e., when he invited a former corrections officer to his home for dinner, etc.)?
Hi Jennifer, I like your connection to the followers. As a leader, how would you work to develop strong followers?
Thank you, Diane. I think I would do much like what you are doing now. You see the whole person, not just what they can do for you and your nonprofit. You are genuinely interested in their growth whether they stay at your organization or not. I’m guessing you probably make that clear to them by telling them.
Authentic leadership begins with genuine care about the person you are working with (and how those gifts and talents can be joined with others in service to the greater good). That is the place to start. Thanks for asking!
Jennifer, thanks for your blog. I appreciate your focus on trust and building trust. One cannot lead effectively or healthily without a high degree of trust. In your role and context, what are the primary ways to build trust? How do you rebuild trust once it’s broken?
Thanks, Graham. Building trust is done by listening to and learning about others. Often, just showing up and being present is an excellent way of building trust (ministry of presence). Sometimes, it’s simply being in the right place at the right time or when the leader/pastor/tired mom comes over and sits next to you to exhale and rest.
When trust is broken and needs repair, the first step is acknowledging your mistake by saying I’m sorry. I had to do this recently when I shared a seemingly benign point about something between a small circle of mutual friends. I had to apologize and acknowledge my error. Whether I felt I was “in the right or wrong” didn’t matter because my actions disrupted someone I cared about.
And then, of course, I overthink the situation to try and learn from the mistake.
Jennifer,
I told my girls when they were little that they could not have a horse, so don’t even ask. We had no room to have a horse. I love the concept of equine therapy where the client and the horse develop a connection of trust. Some of my students have expressed in interest in going into equine therapy.
I am looking at the question Graham asked and I am wondering the same thing given what is currently happening at my workplace. I have some ideas of what a leader might need to do to regain trust, but I wonder as a follower, what do I need to do to allow myself to be open to trusting the person again?
If trust cannot be rebuilt, I wonder what the ultimate solution is?
I am not expecting a well-defined answer regarding these questions but given your context of prison ministry I have a feeling you may be asked these questions from both sides of the “bars”
What an excellent and humble question, Jeff. As a follower disappointed by a leader’s actions, rebuilding trust can be difficult. But the actions are not so different than if you were the leader and needed to rebuild trust with your followers. The first step would be to have the courage to communicate with the leader. Diplomacy and professionalism are essential here. If you don’t talk, you cannot move past the breach of trust. The next step would be to express what you saw or experienced happened from your perspective and share how it impacted you and/or others.
An important point is to be quiet and allow the person to respond. If they react defensively, perhaps the issue is too emotional to address at the time. If they mirror your approach of diplomacy and professionalism, they might share the challenges they were up against, which you were unaware of. Together, both people can learn from the other’s experience and perhaps move forward with a stronger bond.
Lovely analogy, Jennifer. Have you ever been under a leader who inspired and guided you with authenticity and respect? If so, how did that influence you as a follower? What difference did that make in your work, attitude, and overall position?
Thank you, Kari. I have been blessed to work under several leaders who treated me authentically and respectfully. It impacted me because I learned to replicate their behavior, including what they noticed and affirmed, how they interacted with others, and sometimes even how they dressed. I watched how people responded to them, which taught me how I wanted to act to have the same rapport with others that the leaders did. In short, watching them lead taught me how to follow and how to lead in the endeavors I was called to. My attitude was positive and I was eager to perform well.
Hi Jennifer,
How can the concept of followership, exemplified by figures like Jesus and Nelson Mandela, enhance modern leadership models that emphasize influence over authority and foster greater emotional intelligence and trust within teams?
Thank you, Shela –
Jesus and Mandela both led lives that demonstrated compassion for others. They listened to the needs of the community and led by example. They were humble and valued collaboration rather than a strong-man leadership approach, which fostered greater trust – an approach that can be replicated in the modern workforce and in teams.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for introducing us to Cupcake!
You said that leadership through influence is far more powerful than leadership through control and authority. I agree that influence can be a better strategy for leaders, but I have also seen when leaders lean on influence alone, they may struggle to lead well. How do you discern between the balance for leaders to use influence while also, at times, needing to use authority?
Jennifer, I resonate with this article in many ways. One of the things you discuss is trust: breach of trust; communicating trust between handler and horse…
What does it take to build authentic trust? In your experience or consideration, what elements or conditions are necessary for ongoing trust?