The Power of the Herd

April 1, 2013
Kohanov bought her first horse in the early 1990s, when she was in her 30s, and it changed her life. She learned more about motivation from horses than she previously had from human relationships and has since transformed her life, now lecturing and conducting equine-based workshops and training programs around the world. Her book, however, is a complex and multi-layered one that can read like a textbook, particularly when she writes about "intersubjective awareness" or "objectification and projection". Other times it feels like a history book; she employs famous horsemen like George Washington, Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan to make key points about leadership. And sometimes it acts as a mystical handbook, discussing "grazing" or "letting go" of emotion and its important link to success. It's certainly not easy reading, however. Kohanov is clearly well-read and has researched widely, as evidenced by her extensive endnotes. For readers willing to embark on a slow and steady read, however, there are many rewards as Kohanov explains the "interspecies culture", the connection between "emotional intelligence" and professional success and shares meaningful examples of individuals who have learned valuable life lessons from their horses.