7. HorseSense Workshop for Riders Outline:

                   Empowerment and Leadership                                  

Outline 9/9/00

Hello Horse-People! I am Grace Ann Rosile, and I have been a professor of management for 20 years. As experienced horse-people, you know much more about popular management and family relationship topics than you probably realize. I will guide you through some activities to draw out what you know about horses, and show you how to apply that knowledge and skill and translate it into effective action with others.

First we will consider the topic of empowerment, then leadership.

I. EMPOWERMENT

(You might want to see the article I co-authored with my husband David M. Boje, called "Where's the Power in Empowerment?" This article will be published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science in March 2001.)

The main point of the article is that each individual has power, and no individual can give or share power with another. Similarly, neither can anyone steal another's power. You always have your power. However, others may influence how you use that power. This is a subtle but important difference.

In a team, we want strong and competent (i.e. powerful) partners. As a rider, you know your 1000 lb. or more horse has great power. However, how she or he uses that power is hugely affected by you as a rider.

A. Empowerment questions:

1. What are the symptoms of a horse who does not make use of their full power?

- lazy, sluggish, not paying attention, spooky, sloppy over fences

- going on the forehand, going hollow, leaning on the rein or leg, no self-carriage

2. Can you enhance your horse's feeling of being powerful, without getting bucked off?

- petting, praise, allowing them to move out faster,

- gymnastic exercises to build confidence and agility,

- attention to the my own seat (restricting?) and enhancing the security of my seat,

- learning how to control greater energy (moving forward, enclosed spaces, etc.)

3. Do you want to? Why?

- no, they think they are in charge, get their own ideas, do not listen to the rider

- yes, they perform better over fences and on flat, and are visibly proud of themselves

4. How would you begin?

- begin with inventory of self: how my riding interferes with my horse, my attitude/intent

- follow with inventory of horse: build success experiences, add lavish praise

- take small steps and build from there

5. What are the symptoms of a co-worker, employee, child, or spouse who does not make full use of their power?

- lazy, whiny, manipulative in getting you to do what they want, not taking responsibility

for their own decisions, playing the victim

6. Can you allow them to experience their power, without getting hurt yourself in the process?

- can I give praise, freedom to move, successive skill exercises, and review my own intent

- protect myself my setting boundaries, not risking what I can not afford to lose,

7. Why would you want to?

- to foster their growth, development, independence

8. How would you begin?

- take small steps and build from there

B. What is the difference between delegation and empowerment?

1. We will examine various riding tactics and determine whether they are delegation or empowerment.

- draw reins -lunging -free jumping -cross-tying -bareback riding

- half-seat -jumping in-hand -trail riding in the dark -dressage?

2. For each riding tactic, what are parallel behaviors in human relationships?

3. How can you decide when and how to do more (or less) of each?

The next topic I will address is leadership.

 

II. LEADERSHIP

I will outline a spectrum of leadership styles, from autocratic through country-club styles. Each style is a mix of varying amounts of direction, along with varying amounts of relationship-oriented behaviors. We will compare these traditional approaches with some more recent concepts of visionary and transformational leadership, self-leadership, and "Superleadership."

Together, we will explore how these leadership styles relate to styles of riding.

A. Leadership questions

1. What is your leadership style?

2. What is your riding style?

3. How does this style reflect your personal preferences?

4. In what ways does your riding style vary depending on the horse? In what ways does it stay the same?

5. What would be your ideal horse?

B. Learning questions

1. What is the most important thing you have learned about being an effective leader for your horse?

2. What is the most important thing you have learned about being an effective rider?

3. Is either of these important insights applicable to the other context? How?

III. Conclusions

When am I most effective and satisfied as a rider? As a leader?

Other topics which may be covered, depending on how much time you wish to spend, and where you feel there will be interest, might be communication, motivation, and conflict-handling.