From the Paddock

In our paddock, my horse is rarely alone these days. A small, steady pony has joined him—a borrowed friend whose job is simple but important: be there.

The change in my horse was almost immediate. His anxiety eased. His pacing slowed. When something startled him, he looked to the pony and read the calm in his body language. The message was clear: You are safe here.

It reminded me of the way students respond to the right kind of peer support. In the classroom, there are times when my words as a teacher are not the ones that make the difference. Instead, it is a classmate—a quiet friend who sits beside them, a trusted peer who understands the challenge, or someone who has navigated the same struggle—who helps them find their footing.

Much like the borrowed pony, these students do not “fix” the problem. They do not take over. They simply share their steady presence until the other person feels safe enough to try again. That kind of support is powerful because it is not about rescuing—it is about walking alongside.

Tristan Tucker’s TRT Method teaches that horses learn best when they are given the space to figure things out while feeling secure. The same is true for teenagers. They grow in confidence when they know someone is in their corner, but they are still trusted to find their own answers.

As teachers, we cannot be the only source of calm and safety. Our students need peers who model resilience, kindness, and patience. Mel Robbins often talks about the ripple effect of courage—that one person’s choice to stand strong can inspire others to do the same. I see this every time my horse leans into the pony’s stillness and chooses calm over fear.

Sometimes, the most important work happens quietly in the background. A steady presence. A reassuring glance. The quiet companionship that says, I’m here. You’ve got this.

In the paddock, it is a borrowed pony. In the classroom, it might be a trusted friend. In both, it is a reminder that we do not always grow alone—we grow best with someone by our side.