Our problem in today’s society: We have forgotten what true leadership means.

Politicians like Donald Trump thrive on power games. Their leadership is built on threats, intimidation, and the idea that to win, someone else has to lose. In today’s society, dominance is often mistaken for strength. People cheer when the ‘stronger’ party crushes the ‘weaker’ one. But here’s the thing: real leadership doesn’t work like that.

Our problem in today’s society: We have forgotten what true leadership means.

Not in nature. Not among wild horses. And not in any society that truly wants to thrive.

Fear-Based Leadership Breeds Instability

When leadership is based on control and fear, the entire system becomes unstable.

We see it in human politics. Leaders who rule through division create resentment, rebellion, and deep fractures within a nation. We see it in horses, too. When humans try to impose dominance, treating leadership as a game of submission and control, it backfires.

The Natural Leadership of Horses: Strength Without Fear

Wild horses don’t need force to lead.

They guide through example, movement, and trust. If a horse is confident in a direction, others follow—not out of fear, but because they recognize experience. And if another horse has better insight into a situation, leadership shifts seamlessly. No ego, no games. Just a shared goal of survival and well-being.

Thriving Together, Not Against Each Other

Horses actually thrive when others in their herd succeed.

Unlike humans, who often fall into the trap of ‘if you win, I lose,’ horses operate on the principle that a strong group means a stronger individual.

A well-fed, calm, and confident herd member is an asset—not a threat.

Contrast that with human societies, where competition and power struggles are glorified. We celebrate individual victories, even when they come at the expense of the collective. We see it in politics, in workplaces, even in personal relationships—where control is mistaken for leadership, and making others feel small is seen as a form of strength.

What Happens When We Bring Power Games to Horses?

Many traditional horse training methods are based on outdated dominance theories.

  • ‘Show them who’s boss.’
  • ‘Make them respect you.’
  • ‘Don’t let them win.’

These phrases echo the same mentality we see in politics—the idea that power is a zero-sum game. But when we impose this mindset on horses, we create confusion, resistance, and fear.

Leadership Is an Invitation, Not a Demand

Instead of seeing leadership as an invitation, many people approach their horses with the expectation of control. But control isn’t leadership.

True leadership—the kind we see in wild horses—is about trust, presence, and understanding. It’s about stepping into their world, rather than forcing them into ours.

What Can We Learn from Wild Horses?

If we truly want to be good leaders—for our horses, for each other—we need to rethink what leadership looks like. Wild horses show us a different way:

Avoid Conflict Whenever Possible – Horses don’t fight for dominance unless survival forces them to. They resolve tensions with movement, space, and subtle communication. Imagine if human leaders worked the same way—choosing diplomacy over intimidation, collaboration over coercion.

Strength Is About Trust, Not Fear – The most followed horses in a herd aren’t the most aggressive ones. They are the ones that provide security, clarity, and a sense of direction. The same applies to human leadership—people naturally follow those who make them feel safe and valued, not those who demand submission.

Success Isn’t a Competition – A strong herd depends on the well-being of all its members. When one horse thrives, the whole group benefits. What if human societies operated on the same principle? What if leadership was about lifting others up rather than pushing them down?

A More Hopeful Way Forward

So what does this mean for us as horse owners?

It means questioning old ideas about control. It means stepping away from the belief that to lead, we must dominate. And it means recognizing that true leadership is about creating an environment where others feel safe enough to move with us, rather than against us.

Instead of ‘making’ a horse do something, we can invite them into movement. Instead of demanding obedience, we can cultivate trust. Instead of power games, we can build relationships where leadership is a natural response, not a forced one.

And maybe, just maybe, if we learn to lead this way in our small circles—with our horses, our families, our communities—it might ripple outward. Because leadership based on fear and division isn’t just ineffective—it’s unnatural.

Nature, in all its wisdom, shows us a better way.

Would you like to learn more about wild horses? Then download my guide 5 Tips from Wild Horses here. And as always, leave me a comment, I’m happy to hear from you!