Today, a student asked me about her horse that pushes the others around in the field. She said he reminds her of a bowling ball, knocking down and scattering the pins on every approach, especially around the water trough. I laughed at the comment because I also have one of those horses.

His name is Ready 4. He's large, in charge, and makes an impression every time you see him. If he were human and you spotted him at a grocery store, he'd be the guy who takes up two parking spaces and then abandons the shopping cart in a third when he leaves. He's not tactful around anyone—he’s just big and commanding all the time.

The solution for a horse like him is to allow him to be a horse. You can't really correct a horse’s nature. What you can do is help them understand the value of you being in the same space. In other words, when I’m not around, he’s going to do what he does. But when I am around, he’d better focus on me instead of chasing the others. It’s all part of the leadership we teach.

When you create a herd with multiple horses, you have to be aware of the strong and weak elements in your new group. You may have to guard against bullies by separating them for a while until they learn each other's moves and tricks. But in the end, if you're going to put them together, you have to let them be what they are naturally.

We have an older horse, a mostly lame horse who barely trots on a good day, a soft-natured big mare, a middle-aged gelding, and one big Hulk of a personality in Ready 4. Under saddle and on the lead, they all act how we train them, but on their own, we leave them be.

Part of leadership is ensuring that when you're around, you command respect—but you also have to let go and allow for the natural experience, too. You don't have to shape everything all the time. Nature can be harsh, but it's also beautiful. Find a way to laugh at your horse’s natural tendencies, as long as no one is getting hurt. It makes you a bright leader for the horses and a funny friend for the people in your life. You can't take everything too seriously.
Don Jessop