Where Horses and Leadership Meet
Most people know me as the CEO of ProTech Coatings and Infrastructure. Fewer know that I also run an equestrian center and have spent years ringside as my daughter Claire competes in national-level show jumping.
To the outside world, these two lives might seem worlds apart. One is hard hats and concrete. The other is braided manes and elegant form. But I have come to realize that the lessons I have learned in the show ring apply directly to the boardroom. In fact, some of the best leadership insights I have ever gained came not from a textbook or executive seminar, but from watching riders take a layup to a jump.
Equestrian jumping teaches you everything about timing, trust, and risk. And if you lead a business or a team, you are dealing with all three every single day.
Timing Is Everything
In show jumping, a layup is the moment of approach before the horse takes off for a jump. The rider is making quick decisions in real time. Adjust too late and the horse will refuse. Move too early and the rhythm is off. You only have a few seconds to assess the distance, feel the energy, and commit.
Leadership is no different. Knowing when to move, when to wait, and when to push forward is one of the most important skills you can develop. Whether you are launching a new service, shifting your strategy, or addressing a challenge on your team, timing is everything.
You learn over time how to read the signs. You start to notice when a team needs encouragement versus when they need a break. You become more comfortable with the idea that not every opportunity needs to be taken. The best leaders, like the best riders, trust their preparation and make their move with purpose.
Trust Is Built One Ride at a Time
One of the most beautiful things about equestrian sports is the relationship between horse and rider. It is built slowly. It is built through repetition, care, and shared experiences. When you watch a successful jump, you are not just seeing athleticism. You are seeing trust.
The horse believes the rider will guide them safely. The rider believes the horse will take the jump.
In business, trust works the same way. It is not automatic. It is earned through honesty, consistency, and follow-through. Your team will not take bold leaps unless they trust that you are leading them with integrity. And you will not feel confident delegating important work unless you trust the people you have hired.
At ProTech, some of our most successful projects were not the easiest ones. They were the ones where the team trusted each other deeply, even under pressure. That kind of trust does not come from micromanaging or fear. It comes from clear expectations, mutual respect, and having each other’s backs.
Risk Cannot Be Avoided
In every jumping course, there are elements of risk. The jumps are tall. The turns are tight. Sometimes the footing is less than ideal. But the rider cannot ride in fear. They have to ride with focus. That does not mean ignoring the risk. It means knowing the risk and making the jump anyway.
As a business leader, I face risks all the time. Entering a new market. Hiring a senior executive. Turning down a client who is not aligned with our values. These are not easy decisions, and they never come with a guarantee. But avoiding risk altogether is not leadership. It is hesitation.
What riding has taught me is that you prepare, you plan, and then you go. Sometimes you clear the jump perfectly. Other times, you knock a rail. Either way, you keep riding. You adjust for the next obstacle. You trust yourself enough to stay in motion.
That mindset has served me well through economic downturns, tight deadlines, and big business pivots. You do not need to be reckless to take risks. You just need to be ready.
Grace in the Reset
Every rider has bad rounds. Every horse has off days. In those moments, what matters most is how you reset. Do you beat yourself up or do you regroup and learn?
Executives are not immune to setbacks. We miss goals. We make bad hires. We launch a campaign that falls flat. What I have seen in both the ring and the boardroom is that grace under pressure is what separates professionals from the rest.
You learn to say, That did not go as planned. What can I do better next time? You model resilience so that your team feels safe to do the same. You create a culture where feedback is a tool, not a weapon.
Resetting with grace is not weakness. It is wisdom.
Riding Into Leadership
When I watch my daughter ride, I see the future. I see a young woman who knows how to handle pressure, who works in partnership, who knows when to wait and when to go. I see someone who trusts herself, even when the jump looks big.
These are the very same traits I look for in the leaders of tomorrow. Whether they are future CEOs or team leads or entrepreneurs, the best leaders ride with intention. They do not avoid risk. They train for it. They do not chase perfection. They build trust, make the jump, and adjust as they go.
So the next time you watch a horse and rider in flight, remember you are watching more than a sport. You are watching a masterclass in leadership.