Work

Equine-assisted learning and leadership transformation: an exploratory qualitative study of workplace behavior

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: This study explores how equine-assisted leadership development (EALD) interventions activate experiential processes that reshape leaders' self-concept, relational schemas, and behaviors. A conceptual model is proposed to explain how non-verbal interaction with horses catalyzes transformational learning. Methods: = 8) attended a 5-day EALD program, engaging in "join-up" exercises with horses. Data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis to identify leadership learning and transformation patterns. Findings: The reflexive thematic analysis produced three interrelated themes: (1) embodied self-awareness and leadership reflection, (2) transformative learning and behavioral change, and (3) relational leadership and trust-based engagement-which together describe a developmental pathway from immediate embodied feedback to sustained workplace change. Originality/value: This is the first Malaysian study to show how structured human-animal interaction can elicit sustained leadership shifts. By positioning horses as non-verbal feedback systems, the research highlights embodied, affective, and relational dimensions of leadership development often overlooked in cognitive or skills-based models.

Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science

DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1700029