Situational awareness is a crucial skill, not just in high-pressure environments but also in everyday interactions and team dynamics. It’s about being attuned to what’s happening around you, understanding how events and actions impact your surroundings, and anticipating what could happen next.
Working with horses offers a unique and fascinating perspective on developing situational awareness and emotional intelligence. Horses, as highly intuitive animals, are constantly reading their environment for subtle changes. This ability makes them exceptional partners for learning about awareness—not just in terms of danger but also in understanding and responding to the cues that both horses and people give off. This understanding can significantly enhance your situational awareness and emotional intelligence, empowering you to navigate any situation confidently.
In my Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) workshops, participants are guided to pay close attention to the horses’ behavior, body language, and emotions. Horses respond to the energy and intentions of those around them, making them ideal for helping individuals hone their emotional intelligence (EQ). By being aware of the herd’s dynamics and your own emotional state, you can better manage interactions with both the horses and other participants.
Situational awareness in this context means being fully present and engaged, recognizing the nuances in your behavior and that of the horses, and understanding their impact on the group. This ties directly into emotional intelligence—being aware of and managing your emotions while understanding others’. Just as with horses, being emotionally attuned to your team can make all the difference in working together effectively.
I found Trevor Dale’s brief 2:11-minute video, “How Does Situational Awareness Affect Teams and Outcomes?” very informative. He explains situational awareness using the analogy of everyone on the team “being on the same bus.”
The analogy of everyone being ‘on the same bus’ is particularly relevant here. It illustrates the importance of a shared understanding and direction. In a team setting, situational awareness ensures that everyone is aware of the journey and emotionally aligned with the team’s goals. This alignment is critical to fostering robust and cohesive teamwork, and these practical applications make the development of situational awareness and emotional intelligence so valuable in a professional context.
Imagine two departments in the same business, each working independently but with the shared goal of meeting a crucial project deadline. Like the teams in our Obstacle Relay and Finish Line activities, these departments must stay in sync, ensuring their efforts align seamlessly to achieve success. Just as the participants must balance guiding their horse and staying in step with the other team, these departments need to coordinate their tasks, communicate effectively, and remain aware of each other’s progress and possible unexpected obstacles along the way. With this alignment, even the best efforts can stay within the shared objective. The key lies in maintaining awareness, staying connected, and working together towards a common goal.
In our Finish Line activity, the goal is simple: everyone, including the horses, crosses the finish line together for that perfect photo finish. But don’t be fooled—it’s not as easy as it sounds! Situational awareness is critical here. If the line breaks, the team has to start over, so everyone needs to stay in sync and be aware of each other. The horses add a fun twist since they might not fully understand the team goal. It’s up to the handlers to guide them and keep everyone moving together. There might be a few turn-backs along the way, but that’s all part of the fun! This activity is a great way to practice teamwork, communication, and situational awareness while enjoying the challenge together.
At Carey Springs Farm, our EAL workshops are typically one half to a full day, and they are now conducted in our new barn arena. These workshops focus on developing situational awareness and emotional intelligence in a supportive, engaging environment that makes you feel comfortable and safe. By learning to read the cues from both the horses and your body language, you can enhance these skills—invaluable in any team setting. Most workshops begin with reviewing results from a popular preworkshop assessment tool and include various activities to provide your team with a comprehensive learning experience. You can rest assured that you’ll learn and grow in a comfortable and supportive space.
Through these experiences, you’ll discover how staying aware and emotionally attuned can transform your interactions, helping you and your team to work more harmoniously and effectively. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join us at Carey Springs Farm and explore how this unique approach can inspire positive change in you and your team. The journey to enhanced situational awareness and emotional intelligence starts here, promising to inspire and motivate you and your team.
