Reflections on Leadership Lessons from the Saddle
By Vicki Mayo, CEO & Founder, TouchPoint Solution
Welcome to Bridle & Boardroom, a monthly reflection where the lessons learned in the arena mirror the challenges of leadership. I’m an adult amateur dressage rider and the CEO and Founder of TouchPoint Solution, a company that creates wearable devices clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety in seconds. Through horses and leadership alike, I’ve learned that balance, trust, and connection are at the heart of true success – in the saddle, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between.
Bringing a new horse into your life is always a study in comparison. Lately, as I’ve started working with my new partner, Talladega, I find myself reflecting on both the differences and the striking similarities between him and my other horse, Pio.
One lesson has stood out clearly with both horses: you cannot hold a horse into the contact.
When I first started riding Talladega, I instinctively wanted to help him by holding – by creating a steady, strong connection. But it didn’t take long before I started hearing the familiar voice of my trainer, Kim Yacobucci, echoing in my mind: “Give! Look for the moments to give!” Over and over again, Kim has emphasized that if you are heavy in your hands, your horse will be heavy too. If you are light, your horse will find lightness.
It seems so simple, but it’s one of the hardest lessons in riding – and in leadership:
- You must create connection without control.
- You must guide without gripping.
- You must lead with softness, not force.
When I soften my hands at the right moments, when I give Talladega space within the contact, he becomes willing, balanced, and light. When I hold too tightly, trying to force the shape or the connection, he becomes resistant, tense, and heavy. The quality of our work depends entirely on the quality of my give.
And it’s exactly the same in my role as a CEO.
In leadership, it’s tempting to believe that tighter control will lead to better results. After all, if you set more rules, issue more check-ins, or micromanage every detail, shouldn’t things stay on track? But the truth is, heavy hands create heavy teams.
If I clutch too tightly to every decision, if I try to manage every move, my team becomes reactive instead of proactive. They lose their lightness, their creativity, and ultimately, their willingness. True leadership is about setting clear parameters – a soft, elastic boundary – and then giving. Creating the space where trust can exist. Offering support but also release. Rewarding autonomy with more autonomy.
Just like with a horse, there are moments where correction is needed, where firmness has its place. But the best leadership happens in the give.
With Talladega, I am learning every day to trust that softness creates strength.
In business, I am reminded constantly that empowerment creates excellence.
Whether you’re riding down centerline or leading a company forward, the principle holds true:
- Soft hands make strong partnerships.
- And the lighter you lead, the more your team – and your horse – can truly shine.
About the Author
Vicki Mayo is the CEO and Founder of TouchPoint Solution, a serial entrepreneur, author, and adult amateur dressage rider based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her professional journey has spanned founding and leading multiple companies, while her personal journey has brought her back to the saddle after a two-decade hiatus. Today, she blends lessons learned in the arena with leadership insights from the boardroom, sharing her belief that trust, resilience, and connection are at the heart of true success – in business, in riding, and in life.
