What Horses Teach Men About Leadership and Emotional Regulation | Hendrik Glijn

Teko Bailey sits down with Henk, a Netherlands-born horseman and former Dutch Army officer, to explore leadership, trauma, and what horses reveal about a man’s inner world. As a child, Henk dreamed of working with horses. Instead, he followed family tradition into the military, serving eight years in the Dutch Army and eventually deploying to Lebanon. That season forced him to confront the fragility of life and reassess what truly mattered. After leaving the army, he immigrated to Canada and later worked at Spruce Meadows, one of the most recognized equestrian venues in the world. From there, he built a career training horses and riders across multiple disciplines. But horses do not respond primarily to commands. They respond to energy. They feel fear, tension, and instability instantly. If the rider is anxious, the horse becomes unsettled. If the rider is grounded, the horse settles. Henk explains that leadership begins with emotional regulation — the ability to steady your own nervous system before attempting to guide someone else. The conversation moves into PTSD, counseling, divorce, and fatherhood. Henk speaks candidly about seeking therapy after immigration, facing trauma rather than suppressing it, and returning to his Christian roots during difficult seasons. He reflects on the humility that comes with personal failure and the long-term commitment required to grow into a better man. As a father, he shares how intentional time, shared activities, and presence helped maintain connection despite geographic distance. Throughout the episode, themes of discipline, faith, perseverance, and gratitude surface naturally. This episode is about more than horsemanship. It is about calm leadership, honest healing, and learning to regulate your own heart before trying to lead your family, your team, or your life. CHAPTERS (00:00) Welcome + Childhood dream of horses (03:45) Military service and Lebanon turning point (07:15) Immigration to Canada and Spruce Meadows (11:00) How horses mirror fear and instability (15:30) Emotional regulation and leadership (20:40) PTSD and the importance of counseling (24:50) Divorce, humility, and growth (28:10) Fatherhood across distance (31:30) Faith, gratitude, and simple joy ABOUT TEKO BAILEY Teko Bailey is a husband, father, coach, and host of The Climb Podcast, guiding men to live fully, lead boldly, and leave a legacy that matters. Website: https://tekobailey.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TekoBailey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtekobailey Production, Distribution, and Marketing by MassifKroo Sponsorship Inquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices