Why Familiar Approaches Aren't Always Enough
Most organisations aren't held back by a lack of talent or commitment.
The challenge is that many of the behaviours that shape communication, trust and collaboration happen automatically and often go unnoticed.
Traditional leadership and team development programmes can be incredibly valuable, but they tend to focus on what people say rather than what they naturally do.
STRIDES starts somewhere different.
Through carefully facilitated exercises with horses, people discover patterns in communication, relationships and the way they work together that often go unnoticed in everyday life.
With skilled facilitation and guided reflection, those discoveries become practical insights that strengthen the way people communicate, collaborate and lead.
A Different Kind of Learning
At STRIDES, horses become partners in the learning process.
As herd animals, horses rely on their sensitivity to one another for safety and survival. They are constantly aware of the behaviour, intention and emotional state of those around them, responding honestly and immediately to even subtle changes.
Unlike people, horses don't respond to status, titles or carefully chosen words. They respond to what is happening in the moment.
Through carefully designed experiential challenges, that natural sensitivity often brings our default behaviours into the open—revealing the ways we communicate, influence others and work together without even realising it.
With thoughtful facilitation, those moments become meaningful conversations, helping people recognise the assumptions and habits that shape the way they work with others.
Because when people see themselves more clearly, they work together differently.
Every STRIDES Programme Starts with Listening
We take time to understand the people we'll be working with, the context they work in, and what they hope to achieve.
From there, every STRIDES programme is designed around their goals, their challenges and what success looks like for them.
Because no two teams are the same, no two STRIDES experiences are ever quite the same.
Shaped by the People Taking Part
Corporate Teams
Helping teams see themselves—and each other—from a different perspective.
Leadership Development
Exploring how presence, clarity and authenticity influence those around us, often in ways we don't realise.
Community Organisations
Building confidence, resilience and connection in a safe, supportive environment.
Schools & Youth Programmes
Helping young people discover their strengths while developing confidence, responsibility and stronger relationships.
Who We Are
Behind STRIDES are two people who have spent years learning from horses, from people and from each other.
That journey has been shaped by professional training, decades of practical experience and relies on the principles of psychology. Just as importantly, it has been shaped by curiosity, mutual trust and a shared belief that meaningful learning begins with understanding ourselves, others and the horses that make this work possible.
Nicky Goldberg
Founder of STRIDES
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BA in Psychology
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Over 40 years' experience teaching and working with horses
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British Horse Society Qualified Instructor
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Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
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EAGALA Certified
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Specialist Training in Equine-Assisted Leadership & Team Development ( Horizons College Texas, USA)
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Head of the HOSEN Equine-Assisted Resilience Programme for Israel's Ministry of Defense
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Designed and led programmes for children, adults, resilience groups, therapeutic settings and leadership development.
Michal Gross
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Over 30 years' experience working with horses
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Certified Olympic Riding Instructor
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Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
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Stable Manager, Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael
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Extensive experience in horse behaviour, welfare and equine management
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Skilled in observing horse–human interactions and supporting reflective learning
Our Home
STRIDES is based at Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael, a place that has been part of both our lives for many years.
Set between farmland and one of Israel's most beautiful stretches of coastline, Ma'agan Michael is a thriving community that has held onto something increasingly rare — a closeness to nature, a strong sense of belonging and a gentler rhythm of everyday life.
There is something about arriving here that makes the noise recede. Perhaps it's the bicycles instead of cars, the open spaces, the sea, or simply the feeling of a community where people still know one another and things are done together.
For us, it feels like home. And we think it's a very special place in which to experience STRIDES.
Start a Conversation
Every STRIDES programme begins with listening.
If you'd like to explore what STRIDES could look like for your team, organisation or community, we'd love to hear from you.