Lessons in Presence: What a Horse Can Teach Us About Being Human, with Warwick Schiller

Spirituality in Leadership

In this episode of Spirituality in Leadership, Andrew Cohn sits down with world-renowned horseman Warwick Schiller for a deeply personal and profound conversation on transformation, emotional intelligence, and the unexpected teachers in life: horses.

Warwick opens up about his journey from high-level competition and the pursuit of external validation to a more grounded, spiritually attuned approach to life and horsemanship. What started as trying to “fix” a talented but quirky horse became a mirror that revealed suppressed emotions, judgmental thinking, and the need for deeper connection with self and others. That turning point led him to therapy, self-inquiry, and eventually, the work of Brené Brown, whose insights on vulnerability and emotional suppression hit him like a lightning bolt.

Warwick shares how therapy, vulnerability, and learning to truly “see” rather than judge, whether a horse or a human reshaped not only how he trains, but how he lives. He explores how presence, empathy, and self-awareness create real leadership, both in and out of the arena.

If you’ve ever felt that personal growth could come from the most unlikely of places, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways

• Horses Mirror Our Inner State: Often, the behavior we’re trying to “fix” in others, horse or human, reflects unresolved energy within ourselves.

• Presence Over Patience: True leadership comes from being deeply present, not just waiting for a desired outcome.

• Judgment Undermines Connection: Becoming aware of judgmental thoughts, especially self-judgment, creates space for compassion, clarity, and healing.

• You Can’t Lead What You Haven’t Met in Yourself: Personal growth and leadership are intimately tied; as we heal ourselves, we lead better.

• Functional Doesn’t Mean Whole: Like people, some horses appear to perform well but are emotionally shut down. Healing begins with seeing.

• The Universe Responds to Purity of Intention: True service, offered without expectation, opens unexpected doors.

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction and personal realization
• [00:16] The transformative power of horses
• [01:00] Introduction to Warwick Schiller
• [02:38] Warwick Schiller's journey and insights
• [04:49] The shift from competition to personal growth
• [08:06] Therapy and emotional awareness
• [10:15] Impact of therapy on horse training
• [23:38] Judgmental thoughts and personal growth
• [35:06] The magic of giving without expectation
• [39:58] Exploring sensitivity: Horses vs. humans
• [42:46] Understanding the root cause: The five whys
• [45:07] Patience vs. presence: Lessons from horses
• [51:37] Seeing without judgment: A new perspective
• [01:00:52] The power of purpose: A personal journey
• [01:10:50] Conclusion: Applying wisdom beyond horses
  

Resources and Links

Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406

Warwick Schiller

• Website: https://go.warwickschiller.com/online-horse-trainer

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warwick-schiller-23b76968

• Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/Warwickschillerfanpage/

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WarwickSchillerPerformanceHorsemanship/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/warwickschiller

Andrew Cohn

• Website: https://www.spiritualityinleadership.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcohnusa/

Music:

• Kodiak: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rURKtnJr3jeHvZ0IVRQCe