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.
The search for my next equine partner has officially begun. Much like searching for a great executive, finding the right horse often starts with referrals. In business, the best hires rarely come from a job posting—they come from trusted relationships. Horses are often the same.
Not long after I began my search, my dear friend Nicole Bhathal, a USEF ‘R’ judge, called me with excitement in her voice. “There’s a new horse at Steffen Peters’ farm,” she said. “And boy, is he a looker.” Nicole knows me well, and she knew exactly what would catch my attention.
“You have the best of both worlds with this one,” she continued. “He’s a Grand Prix schoolmaster, but he still has plenty of engine and upward potential.”
That horse was Royalty R, known affectionately as “Rusty.” Rusty had spent his career in Australia, with Australian dressage rider Serena Ireland. Together, they worked their way through the levels, ultimately qualifying to represent Australia on the world stage. Making that dream a reality required years of dedication, training, and sacrifice. When the time came, Serena and Rusty endured multiple international flights and a lengthy journey to Texas to compete at the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final.
But the trip came with a difficult reality.The cost and logistics of bringing a horse halfway around the world are staggering. Before Serena ever boarded the plane, she had already made the heartbreaking decision that Rusty would not be returning home to Australia with her. The expense of transporting him back simply wasn’t practical.
It was only because of that decision that this extraordinary horse was available for sale. In many ways, Rusty wasn’t on the market because someone wanted to part with him. He was available because circumstances demanded it. As horse people know, those are two very different things.
Following the competition, Serena brought Rusty to Arroyo Del Mar, the beautiful San Diego training facility that is home to Olympic medalist Steffen Peters and his wife, Shannon, and owned by Carol Kommerstad-Reiche. A sanctuary is exactly how it felt. Tucked into a canyon outside San Diego, Arroyo Del Mar feels less like a training facility and more like a nature preserve. Streams wind through the property. Ponds attract egrets and wild birds. The atmosphere is peaceful, quiet, and intentional. It is the kind of place where horses seem to breathe a little deeper.
I spent two days riding with Serena, Steffen, and Rusty. To say that Rusty was “wonderful” would be an understatement. He was kind, generous, and incredibly forgiving. On the first day, I confidently rode all of the trot work—piaffe, passage, and movements that had once seemed unattainable. On the second day, we tackled my nemesis: the canter work. Tempi changes, half passes, and pirouettes.
By the end of the second day, I was riding one-tempi changes, canter half passes, and pirouettes with a confidence I didn’t know I possessed.
I left San Diego with Rusty firmly planted in my thoughts.
Then the real work began. Just like interviewing a candidate, spending a few days together is the easy part. During the interview process, everything clicks. The conversations are great. The résumé is impressive. The chemistry feels natural. The harder question comes afterward: Is this truly the right fit? Not just for today, but for the long term.
As I reflected on Rusty, I realized something important.
The search for a horse isn’t all that different from the search for a great executive. A thoughtful leader doesn’t hire the first candidate they interview. They take their time. They gather information. They explore the field. And they make sure they’re making the best decision for the future. The more I thought about Rusty, the more I realized that my decision wasn’t really about him at all.
Rusty was exactly what Nicole promised: talented, generous, accomplished, and kind. There was nothing wrong with the horse. In fact, he was extraordinary. The reality was much simpler: He happened to be the first horse I looked at.
As excited as I was after two incredible days at Arroyo Del Mar, I wasn’t quite ready to stop the search after the first interview.
Leadership has taught me that some of the most important decisions in life deserve patience. Whether you’re hiring a key executive, selecting a business partner, or searching for your next horse, there is value in seeing the landscape before making a commitment.
That doesn’t diminish the quality of the candidate. If anything, it reinforces it. Rusty set the bar incredibly high. He reminded me what generosity feels like. What confidence feels like. What a true Grand Prix schoolmaster can teach. And because of him, I now have a much clearer understanding of what I’m looking for in my next partner.
So the search continues. If there is one lesson I’ve learned in both the boardroom and the barn, it’s this:
The goal isn’t simply to find something good.
The goal is to find the right fit at the right time.
And sometimes the best candidates are the ones who help you better understand the job before you ever make the hire.
For that, I’ll always be grateful to sweet Rusty. And if you happen to know of a kind, generous Grand Prix schoolmaster looking for his next amateur partner, feel free to send me a note. The search continues.
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.
