From the Paddock

Not all teachers work in classrooms.

Some lead without ever raising their voice.

Some guide simply by being exactly who they are.

When I think about the kind of strength I admire most, I think of women like Jess.

Jess does not lead with words. She leads with presence. She does not need to explain her values, you see them in how she moves through the world. In the way she protects her peace. In how she shows up for her people. In the time and care she gives her horses. In the softness she reserves for her children.

What I have learned from women like her is this:

You do not have to give all of yourself away to be kind.

Kindness can have boundaries.

Care can be quiet.

Strength can be soft.

Women like Jess remind us that it is possible to be both clear and compassionate. That loyalty means more when it is earned, not offered out of obligation. That healing does not always look like retreat. Sometimes it looks like saddling up, stepping into the ring, and breathing your way back to yourself.

They teach us to pay attention to what steadies us.

To walk away from what drains us.

To stop apologising for needing space, silence or solitude.

And more than anything, they show us that leadership does not require a spotlight.

It requires integrity.

Consistency.

And the courage to live by your values even when no one is watching.

I have had mentors. I have read books. I have studied theories. But some of my most important lessons have come from standing beside women like Jess.

Noticing how they carry themselves.

Watching what they protect.

Listening when they speak, and especially when they choose not to.

They will never ask to be called inspiring.

But they are.

And if you are lucky enough to know someone like that, you will carry pieces of their wisdom long after they have spoken a word.