In recent years, more and more companies have been embracing alternative training methods to strengthen team cohesion, develop leadership and improve internal communication. Among these innovative approaches, the use of horses in experiential training and team building courses stands out.

Horses are, by nature, sensitive, intuitive animals that are extraordinarily consistent in their reactions. They are not influenced by roles, status or appearances: they respond to what they perceive in the here and now. It is precisely this authenticity that makes them a perfect “mirror” for human behaviour.

Perché il cavallo?

In training activities with horses – also known as horse-assisted education – you do not ride the animal. Everything takes place on the ground: you work on non-verbal communication, leadership and collaboration exercises. The focus is on relationships, mutual listening and awareness of your impact on others.

As a prey animal, horses are constantly attentive to the body language of those around them. For this reason, during exercises, they react immediately to tension, hesitation or inconsistency, offering instant, impartial and often enlightening feedback.

Experiential training: leadership and awareness

One of the areas where horses prove particularly effective is leadership. Leading a horse requires confidence, clarity of purpose and consistency. Leaders cannot impose, they must guide. Horses will only follow those who demonstrate presence, attentiveness and confident direction – qualities that are also fundamental when leading a human team.

Many participants, even experienced managers, find themselves reflecting deeply on their interpersonal skills, realising how important it is to adapt their communication style to the context and to their interlocutors.

Team building: the group becomes a pack

In team building activities, the group is called upon to work together to tackle common challenges alongside the horse. This stimulates a sense of shared responsibility, the ability to cooperate effectively and the overcoming of internal competitive dynamics.

Horses help to discover – and enhance – individual and collective strengths, fostering a climate of trust and mutual respect. The result is a more cohesive, empathetic team that is better able to tackle even complex situations together.

An experience that leaves a mark

Working with horses is not just a day out of the office. It is an intense, engaging experience that affects you emotionally and physically. For this very reason, its effects are consolidated over time, positively influencing professional and personal behaviour.

In an increasingly fast-paced and digital world of work, horses bring us back to the essentials: the quality of relationships, trust, presence. And they remind us that, in order to truly lead, we must first know how to listen.