HorseDream History | Male And Female Energy

Описание: 1. A Courageous Topic for Its Time

In 2013, conversations about gender balance in leadership were gaining momentum but were far less nuanced than today. The framing of “male” and “female energy” reflected a widely used developmental language of that period.

Gerhard’s provocative opening remark about women in leadership was intentionally humorous and disruptive. It aimed to highlight structural imbalance, not to attack men — and the audience clearly understood the tone. The laughter and applause indicate a shared recognition of the issue.

The deeper message was clear:
Leadership systems were imbalanced.
Corporate culture had been shaped primarily by masculine norms.
A more relational, emotionally intelligent dimension was missing.
Co-leadership might be a path forward.

From a 30-year perspective, what stands out is not the provocation, but the intention behind it: to question power structures and invite reflection on balance.

2. Horses as a Mirror of Relational Dynamics

The exercises demonstrated something central to HorseDream methodology:
When men and women worked side by side, the horses responded not to dominance, but to congruence and connection.
Repeated observations from participants emphasized:

flow instead of force
side-by-side positioning instead of hierarchical positioning
support rather than control
connection rather than command
One participant insight was particularly striking:
“It was only when we walked side by side that things worked.”

This is a powerful metaphor for co-leadership — not one leading and the other supporting, but both aligned and balanced.
Another profound observation from the audience:
“He didn’t want to be led or pushed. He wanted to be an equal member.”

This mirrors a shift in leadership philosophy from authority-based leadership to partnership-based leadership.

3. The Bridge Metaphor
Juan’s comment from Ecuador introduced a vivid metaphor:
“For women it’s easier to build bridges. For men it’s easier to use the bridges women built.”

While expressed humorously, this reflects a widespread perception at the time — that relational intelligence was culturally associated with the feminine.

From today’s perspective, we might frame this differently. Rather than assigning relational qualities to gender, we would speak of:
integrative leadership capacities
emotional intelligence
collaborative competencies
But the essential insight remains relevant:
Leadership requires bridge-building.

4. Flow, Congruence, and Shared Intention

Participants repeatedly used words like:
flow
fluidity
connection
congruence
fun

The horses did not respond to “classic positions” or traditional power postures. They responded when both leaders were aligned.

This aligns closely with modern systems thinking:
Co-leadership works when:
internal alignment exists
shared intention is clear
neither partner overpowers the other

The horses revealed imbalance instantly — and cooperation emerged when balance was restored.

5. Development Beyond Gender

Gerhard’s closing remark about balancing male and female energy over the course of life may sound binary from today’s lens, yet its deeper meaning is developmental: The goal is inner integration.

The session was not about reinforcing gender stereotypes, but about inviting participants to explore:
assertiveness and empathy
structure and intuition
clarity and receptivity

In contemporary language, we would speak of integrating complementary leadership capacities — not masculine versus feminine, but analytical and relational, directive and responsive, goal-oriented and people-centered.

6. What This Session Represents in the 30-Year Journey

Looking back, this 2013 session represents a transitional moment in HorseDream’s evolution:
moving from individual leadership to relational leadership
expanding from self-awareness to co-awareness
exploring balance within systems, not just within individuals

It also reflects EAHAE’s international diversity; participants from multiple continents exploring cultural differences in leadership through a shared experiential language.

7. From 2013 to Today

If this session were held today, the language might shift:
Instead of “male and female energy,” we might speak of:
polarity and integration
diversity of leadership styles
inclusive leadership
systemic balance

But the core insight remains timeless:

Horses respond to balance.
Organizations thrive on balance.
Leadership matures through integration.

8. Anniversary Reflection

Within the 30-year history of HorseDream, this Ohio session stands as:
a bold exploration of leadership imbalance
a public acknowledgment of structural gender disparities
an early embodiment of co-leadership principles
a demonstration of how horses reveal relational truth

It was not about proving that women lead better or that men lead worse.
It was about recognizing that leadership systems become healthier when complementary qualities work together.
And that insight remains profoundly relevant today.