Carey Springs Farm

12/23/2024

Happy Holidays from Carey Springs Farm!

As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the joy and connections we’ve shared with all of you. Whether it was through meaningful workshops, inspiring moments with our horses, or the laughter and learning that filled our farm, we are grateful for your support and trust in us.

This season, we wish you peace, love, and the warmth of togetherness. May your holidays be as bright as a snowy morning and as heartwarming as the bond between horse and human.
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Here’s to a wonderful new year filled with growth, connection, and inspiration. We can’t wait to see what 2025 brings!

With gratitude and holiday cheer,
The Carey Springs Farm Family

12/19/2024

Could this be your team?

Do meetings feel unproductive? Are important decisions delayed? Do team members avoid tough conversations or fail to follow through?

This sample team survey pyramid shows what happens when trust, communication, and accountability break down. It’s not uncommon, but the good news is that it can change!

At Carey Springs Farm, we offer a proven program based on The Five Behaviors® that helps teams:
✅ Build trust through vulnerability
✅ Engage in healthy conflict to foster ideas
✅ Strengthen commitment to shared goals
✅ Create accountability without blame
✅ Focus on collective results

Explore a sample team report and learn how our workshops can transform your team's dynamics.

👉 https://careyspringsfarm.com/the-five-behaviors-program/

12/18/2024

🏢 "Back to the Office… Now What?" 🏢

As teams transition from remote work to in-office setups, reconnecting and rebuilding collaboration can feel challenging. How do we reignite team bonds and foster a culture of communication and trust?

My latest article discusses how teams can succeed during this vital transition. Whether you are a leader or a team member, find out how to cultivate stronger connections in the workplace!

Learn how to help teams reconnect, foster collaboration, and thrive as they transition back to the office after remote work.

12/15/2024

Do you experience the Sunday Blues - that feeling of dread or anxiety that often sets in as the weekend comes to a close?

This morning, while cleaning stalls for my horses, I began listening to The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni. The book starts with a fable. The main character, Bull, an economics major (like me), begins his career as a bank teller, only to realize the role didn’t suit him. He often found himself experiencing the Sunday Blues. He changed positions within the bank and found work he loved. In the new position, he thrived—until he was promoted. Suddenly, the Sunday Blues returned. After years of cycling through fulfillment and dread throughout his career, he discovered that creative work lifted him up, but he struggled with tasks outside his natural genius.

Lencioni’s model in this book highlights six types of Working Genius:

Wonder: Asking big questions.
Invention: Creating new ideas and generating solutions.
Discernment: Using insight to refine ideas.
Galvanizing: Rallying others to act.
Enablement: Supporting others.
Tenacity: Ensuring completion.

Eventually, Bull identified his true geniuses. Aligning his personal and professional activities with his geniuses gave him energy, but spending too much time on certain tasks drained his energy, even when he was good at these tasks.

Listening to Bull’s story felt personal—I’ve experienced the Sunday Blues and the ebb and flow of work satisfaction. The key isn’t just skill but alignment: finding work that energizes rather than drains you.

Read more of my book review at https://careyspringsfarm.com/product/the-6-types-of-working-genius-a-better-way-to-understand-your-gifts-your-frustrations-and-your-team-by-patrick-lencioni/

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Carey Springs Farm! As we reflect on the season of gratitude, we’re thankful for the opportunity to inspire teams, connect with people, and, of course, share the wisdom of our amazing horses.

Wishing you and your loved ones a day full of joy, connection, and gratitude!

– Cathy and the Carey Springs Farm Team

11/13/2024

Discover Team Insights with the OK Corral Activity!

What can your team learn about adaptability, trust, and communication… from a horse? 🐎

Our latest blog post explores the “OK Corral Activity,” where teams receive real-time, non-verbal feedback from horses. This unique experience helps teams uncover hidden strengths and growth areas, offering powerful lessons on working together effectively.

✨ Ready to see how the OK Corral can transform your team? Read the full post now! https://careyspringsfarm.com/2024/11/how-horses-unleash-team-growth-through-powerful-real-time-feedback/

11/12/2024

📢 Dealing with Challenging Behaviors at Work? Here’s How to Respond Effectively!

In every workplace, challenging behaviors can pop up and disrupt the flow. But did you know these behaviors often have underlying motivations that, once understood, can reveal better ways to respond? Rather than letting tough interactions affect your confidence or productivity, try understanding these behaviors and responding with purpose.

💡 New Post Alert! Dive into our latest post where we unpack:

How to recognize distinct behavior patterns in the workplace
Strategies for turning tense moments into productive conversations
Why empathy, boundaries, and flexibility are essential tools for handling conflict

🔍 In this post, we also cover practical ways to reframe automatic thoughts and tailor your responses to different behavioral styles, from the direct and controlling to the socially dominant or passive-resistant.

🛠 Plus, this month only! Get 15% off the Everything DiSC® Productive Conflict Assessment—helping you discover your unique conflict style and improve team dynamics.

🔗 Ready to transform conflict into growth? https://careyspringsfarm.com/2024/10/navigating-workplace-challenges-how-productive-conflict-builds-better-communication/

11/11/2024

Today, we pause to honor and thank the veterans who have served with courage and dedication. At Carey Springs Farm, we are continually inspired by the commitment and strength our veterans show in service and life.

10/31/2024

🎃 Happy Halloween from Carey Springs Farm! 🐴🌕 Embrace the magic of the season with a little enchantment from our herd to yours. May your day be filled with treats, spooky fun, and just the right amount of mystery. 🌙✨

Have a fantastic and safe Halloween! 👻🐎

10/23/2024

An incredible EAL workshop with an amazing business client, combining fun and learning while enhancing communication, collaboration, and emotional agility. For more information on how our workshops can benefit your team, visit our website at Carey Springs Farm!

10/11/2024

📚 Update! I’ve just added three new books to my recommended reading list: Coach Builder by Donald Miller, Cold Calling Sucks (And That’s Why It Works) by Armand Farrokh and Nick Cegelski, and Mastering the Art of Team Coaching by Georgina Woudstra. These books are filled with valuable insights for anyone in leadership, sales, or team coaching!

Check out my reviews on the website, and if you find them interesting, support Carey Springs Farm by purchasing through the links provided. 💡✨

10/10/2024

What does it take to gain trust?

Watch as our horse, who had (at the time) never met these girls, followed them right into a box. It’s all about building connection, trust, and communication—without saying a word! 💬🐴 How do you earn trust in your own relationships?



This post focuses on tr

10/09/2024

Do You Give Lessons?

I get this question a lot: "Do you give lessons?" People frequently ask if we offer riding lessons, horse boarding, or therapy. It’s a common assumption when they hear we work with horses. For many, the image of horses immediately brings to mind riding, but there’s so much more that horses can teach us on the ground.

When I tell people that we do team training with horses, they are surprised. They might picture riding in an arena, but our work is all about the connection we build with horses without ever getting in the saddle. Horses offer valuable lessons in communication, trust, and leadership—just from being around them.

People often overlook the care and connection that happens outside of riding. From catching a horse in the field to caring for them afterward, a whole world of learning requires patience, consistency, and empathy. Horses, in their unique way, teach us about ourselves and how we show up for others.

At Carey Springs Farm, we offer a distinctive form of team training that goes far beyond the riding lessons people expect. Our approach starts with a proven learning model that uses professional assessments like Everything DiSC. These assessments help you better understand yourself and your teammates, forming a foundation for growth. Then, we bring that knowledge into activities with horses, where the real-time feedback from these interactions deepens understanding and improves team dynamics. No previous horse experience is needed—our programs are designed for business teams and leaders, most of whom have never worked with horses.

While we don’t provide traditional riding lessons, the lessons learned here go far beyond what you get from time in the saddle. It’s not about riding but the connection, communication, and growth that happens when you engage with horses on the ground. And those are lessons that can transform the way your team works together.

10/08/2024

Dealing with conflict at work? Learn how to recognize challenging behaviors and use productive conflict strategies to turn tension into teamwork. Discover how empathy, boundaries, and collaboration can create a healthier work environment. Ready to improve how you handle conflict or schedule a team workshop? Read the full post now on https://careyspringsfarm.com/carey-springs-farm-blog/ !

10/07/2024

We offer FREE team quotes for our Equine Assisted Learning team and leadership workshops! 🐴💼

Whether you want to improve team dynamics, communication, or leadership skills, we provide custom solutions to meet your team’s unique needs. Reach out today to see how we can help your team grow and thrive—no prior horse experience is needed!

✨ Get your free quote now by visiting our website and filling out our Get a Quote form with leading questions to help us understand your team's needs. You can also contact us directly! ✨

https://careyspringsfarm.com/get-a-quote/

10/02/2024

New blog post! This post kicks off a new series of blog posts I’m developing to show how assements can be utilized to improve common leadership and team dynamics issues.

Forthcoming topics include:

Navigating Productive Conflict Using Behavioral Assessments

How to Improve Communication Across Different Behavioral Styles

Addressing Bullying Behavior Through Behavioral Insights

Using Behavioral Assessments to Build Trust in Teams

Combating Imposter Syndrome with Behavioral Assessments

Breaking Down Silos and Improving Cross-Functional Collaboration

Fostering Emotional Intelligence Through Behavioral Assessments

Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about these and other topics in coming weeks!

Learn how behavioral assessments improve leadership, communication, and team dynamics to overcome challenges and build trust.

09/25/2024

Check out this very nice article about Carey Springs Farm! Thank you so much!

Tag a businesses that should try team building with horses.

09/25/2024

I can't say enough good things about the positive support small businesses receive from the SBDC! Thank you Julie and Mike!