From Horseback Riding to Leadership | Emotional Intelligence & Life Lessons from Horses

🐴 What can horses teach us about leadership, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and success? In this episode of Hay Girl Hay, we explore the powerful connection between horseback riding, personal growth, psychology, and leadership. From early riding experiences at Cascade Stables with Barbe Smith and competing on the U.S. World Cup team to studying at William Woods University and becoming Chief of Psychology at the VA, our guest shares how a lifelong passion for horses helped shape an extraordinary professional journey. We dive into the surprising similarities between working with horses and leading people, including the importance of emotional awareness, communication, confidence, trust, and staying present under pressure. Can horses really teach us to become better leaders? How does mindfulness in the saddle translate to the workplace? And why do the lessons we learn from horses stay with us long after we leave the barn? 🎙️ In This Episode: 🐎 Growing up riding at Cascade Stables and unforgettable Mardi Gras horse stories 🏆 Lessons from competing on the U.S. World Cup equestrian team 🎓 How William Woods University and equitation shaped a career in psychology 💼 Leading a team of 40 and embracing servant leadership 🧠 The connection between horses, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness 🤝 How reading a horse relates to reading people and leading teams ❤️ Rediscovering a passion for horseback riding later in life Whether you're an equestrian, entrepreneur, business leader, or someone passionate about personal development, this conversation reveals why the lessons learned in the saddle can last a lifetime. About Hay Girl Hay 🎧 Hosted by two lifelong horse girls, Hay Girl Hay explores the people, careers, and life experiences shaped by a shared love of horses. From the barn to the boardroom, we're sharing stories that prove being a horse girl is more than a hobby—it's a way of life. 🐴 Subscribe for conversations about horses, equestrian careers, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the people who make the horse world special. #HayGirlHay #EquestrianPodcast #LeadershipLessons #EmotionalIntelligence #HorsebackRiding