Equine-Facilitated Leadership Days

The ability to influence and guide others is a vital skill for Exceptional Leaders. However, this is not achieved through mere authority or coercion. It is founded in the ability to authentically connect, project a genuine presence and effectively engage with those around you.

Imagine a training experience that breaks away from the conventional, creating space for supported challenge and offering a vibrant blend of insight and practicality. Our Equine Facilitated Leadership Days, hosted in Worcestershire, are designed to do just that. In a safe and engaging environment, you’ll have the opportunity to explore new skills, unearth hidden potential, and gain valuable insight through hands-on coaching and direct interaction with horses.

As you work side-by-side with these intuitive partners, you’ll delve into the artistry of adaptive leadership styles, learning which to use when and how to achieve significant impact. Whether you’re steering an organisation, leading a team, or managing your own business, these insights will empower you to lead with renewed vigour and clarity.

As well as running our Equine Facilitated Leadership Days, we also offer bespoke sessions, tailored to particular organisations or team development. Our skilled team of facilitators, who draw on their expertise in business, neurology and stagecraft, craft each experience around the participants to ensure they get the most out of the day.

Are you ready to transform your leadership journey?

Our unique Equine Facilitated Leadership Day costs only £625 plus VAT, which includes all training, materials and a networking lunch. Group discounts are available, and we also regularly run private training days focusing on specific aspects of Leadership or Team Building. To discuss how we can create the perfect immersive training experience for your organisation, please book in a Discovery Call. 

Why Horses?

These majestic creatures offer a mirror to our true selves. They are not impressed by our titles or swayed by our achievements. Instead, they respond instinctively to the authenticity of our presence and the sincerity of our approach. In their company, you’ll receive feedback that is refreshingly honest and free from judgement—feedback that challenges you to grow and adapt. Horses, as herd animals, possess an innate understanding of community and collaboration. They are creatures of instinct, yet they are capable of forming profound bonds with humans. In this dynamic, we find a mirror reflecting the essence of leadership itself.

Horses are prey animals, constantly aware of their surroundings, vigilant and discerning. That challenges us to lead with empathy and authenticity. To connect with a horse, you must engage with respect and patience, building trust step by step. The essence of impactful leadership.

A horse can stand in the place of a colleague or client giving instant feedback on the impact of your approach. When working as part of a team one must work cohesively, adapting and aligning energies to connect with teammates and the horse to achieve the intended outcome. In this process, the true nature of leadership emerges—how we influence not through force, but through understanding and genuine connection—where we naturally sit in a team dynamic and how we can exert influence within a team in a way that promotes natural resilience and consistent progress towards meaningful goals. 

Our Unique Approach

In a world where many approaches to equine-assisted training follow a well-trodden path, Orthelian’s method boldly steps into a unique realm of transformation and growth by harnessing the untamed spirit of retired racehorses, creatures that embody raw power and unbridled passion. 

Unlike traditional riding school ponies, which are meticulously trained to be calm and passive, retired racehorses remain a force of nature. These majestic animals have not had their spirits subdued; they respond to the world with a vivacity that mirrors the challenges life often throws our way. In Orthelian’s hands, these former racehorses become mirrors, reflecting the impact of your presence in real-time, without judgement or pretence. They challenge you to engage, to adapt, to grow in ways that are profoundly impactful and deeply personal.

But this journey is not one you undertake alone. Our facilitators blend their knowledge of horses with extensive experience in business, neurological development and stagecraft to shift perspective and provide engaging and individually tailored insight. Claire Payne, who grew up around horses, pairs a deep affinity for these animals with a formidable background in business, neurological development and executive coaching. She understands the subtleties of leadership and can guide you to harness your own inner power. Meanwhile, Octavia Walters, a qualified psychotherapist and horse expert, with a background in professional theatre, offers an unparalleled understanding of presence. Together, they help you to unlock new levels of self-awareness and provide personalised insight to ensure you utilise your own natural strengths to best effect.

What Can This Experience Give You as a Leader?

Imagine stepping into a sandbox of possibilities. Here, you’ll explore various leadership styles in a hands-on, immersive environment.

Our equine partners mirror your leadership style back to you, offering honest, unfiltered feedback that no seminar or textbook can provide. They teach you the art of connection, the power of building rapport quickly, and the profound influence that stems from genuine relationships.

This is not about theory—it’s about practice. It’s about experimenting with different approaches to leadership and observing their impact. How does it feel to lead with empathy? To inspire through strength? To influence through connection? You have the freedom to try, to learn, and yes, even to fail, in a safe space where every misstep is a stepping stone to mastery.

Leaders who have taken part in our training days have reported profound shifts: a surge in confidence, a deepened self-awareness, and a newfound flexibility in their leadership style with the understanding of when to wield different approaches to best effect. 

Are you ready to embark on a journey that will redefine your leadership potential? 

Empowering Teams

For teams, our training days foster an environment of collaboration and reflection. By engaging with the horses, your team will delve into the essence of teamwork, exploring how each person’s influence and role contribute to the collective success. This experiential learning journey encourages participants to reflect on their actions and communication styles, paving the way for consistent improvement and greater synergy.

Reflective practice becomes a powerful tool, akin to a mirror that reveals the true dynamics of your team. Through reflection, the team identifies strengths and areas for growth, enabling them to redefine success and set clear, achievable goals and KPIs. This practice empowers them to measure success not just by outcomes, but by the quality of their collaboration and innovation.

Step into this equine-inspired experience and watch as your team evolves from a collection of individuals into a unified, dynamic force, ready to tackle any challenge with confidence and resilience. Are you ready to harness the power of connection and redefine what success looks like for your team?

A Day in the Countryside

Escape the routine and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of our stables in rural Worcestershire. Your day runs from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM, starting with a briefing session that lays the groundwork for understanding connection and regulation through the lens of neurological theory. This is no ordinary lecture—this is about exploring the core of what makes us human, what connects us deeply to one another, and how we can harness these insights to elevate our leadership.

Throughout the day, you’ll engage in a dynamic dance between theory and practice. Each session is a carefully curated opportunity to reflect on your unique leadership journey, to step back and see the broader landscape of your potential. Our small group settings ensure personalised attention and one-on-one time with our expert facilitators, allowing for meaningful discussions that focus on your growth.

A delicious and nourishing lunch is provided, a time to connect with fellow participants, share insights, and perhaps discover new facets of your own leadership style. As the day unfolds, you’ll gather a collection of personal takeaways—insights into your influence and impact that are as individual as you are.

Our training sessions are just the beginning. The days often open doors to further exploration and deeper understanding, equipping you with a renewed perspective to carry forward into your professional life. Are you ready to step into a new chapter of leadership? Join us, and let the journey begin.