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Equine-assisted learning and leadership transformation: an exploratory qualitative study of workplace behavior
Rubentheran Sivagurunathan1, Abdul Rahman Bin S Senathirajah1,2,3, Linkesvaran Sivagurunathan1
1Faculty of Business and Communications, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia.
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:
A qualitative exploratory design was employed to examine leaders' experiences over 12 months following reintegration into their workplaces. Eight leaders (n = 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.
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