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Ten Thousand Horses: How Leaders Harness Raw Potential for Extraordinary Results
Matt James is in trouble. Recently promoted to head his division, he’s delivered two years of divisional losses in clients, market share, and profits. He knows his workers are talented and creative, but they don’t respond to his efforts to lead them, and he’s on the brink of being fired. In desperation, he reaches out to an old mentor, David Butler, who now works with wild mustang horses and hard-to-place foster children on a ranch in Colorado. David agrees to work with his former student but only on the condition that Matt comes to him—to the ranch. Matt has no idea what the ranch could possibly have to do with his problems, but David assures him that if he spends some time there, he’ll learn exactly what he needs to know.
Through David’s unorthodox tutelage, Matt discovers that leaders who succeed in engaging their workers do so because they see their day-to-day work as an opportunity to build an organizational culture of engagement. The engagement model is illuminated as Matt comes to understand its components piece by piece—and ultimately discovers how to engage those on his team and in his life.
In this inspiring leadership fable, John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings draw on their years of experience as consultants and chief executives, as well as on findings from Gallup’s groundbreaking Q12 survey of 4 million workers from 360,000 workgroups, to lay out an innovative leadership model that will turn employees from dutiful drones to committed contributors. But Ten Thousand Horses is also a story of personal transformation. Beyond specific practices and techniques, Matt must learn a whole new way of relating to his employees—because, as he discovers, leading an engaged workforce is as much about who you are as what you do.
Through David’s unorthodox tutelage, Matt discovers that leaders who succeed in engaging their workers do so because they see their day-to-day work as an opportunity to build an organizational culture of engagement. The engagement model is illuminated as Matt comes to understand its components piece by piece—and ultimately discovers how to engage those on his team and in his life.
In this inspiring leadership fable, John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings draw on their years of experience as consultants and chief executives, as well as on findings from Gallup’s groundbreaking Q12 survey of 4 million workers from 360,000 workgroups, to lay out an innovative leadership model that will turn employees from dutiful drones to committed contributors. But Ten Thousand Horses is also a story of personal transformation. Beyond specific practices and techniques, Matt must learn a whole new way of relating to his employees—because, as he discovers, leading an engaged workforce is as much about who you are as what you do.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Ken Jennings
5 books13 followersA recognized expert and trusted advisor in strategy, execution, and leadership with purpose, Ken Jennings draws on experiences across industries and sectors. Ken founded ThirdRiver Partners, a consultancy specializing in helping leaders and their teams by aligning everyone in the organization to their "Greater Goals." Through ThirdRiver, Ken focuses on improving the capability of people to design organizations that achieve critical strategic breakthroughs, and foster a culture of engagement, service, and success.
Ken has a particularly rich background in life sciences, health services, and medical products organizations, and further industry expertise in financial services and aviation. He has served as a global managing partner at Accenture, and was a co-director of the Global Leadership in Healthcare Program at the University of Michigan Business School. He has consulted at many healthcare technology, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology organizations, as well as at over 25 academic medical centers and integrated delivery systems.
Ken's projects have included CEO and top executive coaching, team development, rm-wide goal setting, strategic facilitation, and rm-wide performance and talent management. He has performed confidential assignments at the top of major investment management rms, dealing with sensitive partner performance, communication, board, and teamwork issues.
Ken began his academic and service career at the U.S. Air Force Academy, obtained a graduate degree in Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development from Purdue University. He is also a graduate of the Kellogg Management Institute at Northwestern University, and has returned to academia to teach at top institutions, including Columbia University, The University of Maryland, King's Fund College-London, and the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China.
Ken's book Changing Health Care: Creating Tomorrow's Winning Health Enterprise focuses on the key strategies and core competencies of leading health organizations for transforming health care. His best-selling book The Serving Leader, co-authored with Dr. John Stahl-Wert, and published in the Ken Blanchard Leadership Series, centers on leading with character, integrity, and courage. Ten Thousand Horses explores how leaders bring out the very best in their people through building high-performance teams. Ken Jennings is passionate about helping organizations, and the people in them, build on strength and achieve their greater goals. Ken's book, The Greater Goal (2012), gives practical advice on achieving strategic breakthroughs through focusing on Great Purpose and Shared Goal Achievement for teams and individuals.
Ken has a particularly rich background in life sciences, health services, and medical products organizations, and further industry expertise in financial services and aviation. He has served as a global managing partner at Accenture, and was a co-director of the Global Leadership in Healthcare Program at the University of Michigan Business School. He has consulted at many healthcare technology, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology organizations, as well as at over 25 academic medical centers and integrated delivery systems.
Ken's projects have included CEO and top executive coaching, team development, rm-wide goal setting, strategic facilitation, and rm-wide performance and talent management. He has performed confidential assignments at the top of major investment management rms, dealing with sensitive partner performance, communication, board, and teamwork issues.
Ken began his academic and service career at the U.S. Air Force Academy, obtained a graduate degree in Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development from Purdue University. He is also a graduate of the Kellogg Management Institute at Northwestern University, and has returned to academia to teach at top institutions, including Columbia University, The University of Maryland, King's Fund College-London, and the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China.
Ken's book Changing Health Care: Creating Tomorrow's Winning Health Enterprise focuses on the key strategies and core competencies of leading health organizations for transforming health care. His best-selling book The Serving Leader, co-authored with Dr. John Stahl-Wert, and published in the Ken Blanchard Leadership Series, centers on leading with character, integrity, and courage. Ten Thousand Horses explores how leaders bring out the very best in their people through building high-performance teams. Ken Jennings is passionate about helping organizations, and the people in them, build on strength and achieve their greater goals. Ken's book, The Greater Goal (2012), gives practical advice on achieving strategic breakthroughs through focusing on Great Purpose and Shared Goal Achievement for teams and individuals.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 24, 2025
I enjoyed most of it. But it ended up not making sense towards the end, it seemed to rush. It went from a book on leadership skills, and to me, it seemed at the end that it was more so a love story.
December 12, 2009
“Ten Thousand Horses is another in the growing genre of leadership books that are in the format of a fictional tale with the purpose of illustrating the principles the authors wish to convey. This one appears also to have the intention of making people aware of the government’s program for adopting mustang horses. Although it attempts to highlight some important values-based aspects of leadership, IMHO it does not do so all that well. In fact, it appears more to be an attempt to promote the authors’ own “leadership equation” which is not especially original, nor very well developed.
With books of this sort, I usually read them quickly, the way the average reader would probably do. Then, if the material seems to warrant it, I go back through the book highlighting and writing marginal comments that I might use later, either in my leadership classes or in my consulting and training practice. After reading this book, I think I had a good understanding of what the authors were endorsing, but that wasn’t because of the book, it was because of my own prior knowledge. The book itself is weak in that it doesn’t do a great job of explaining principles of leadership. Others have done so to much better effect elsewhere. It wasn’t that the material was complicated…the clarity and depth of explanation just wasn’t there. While it was fairly enjoyable, and reiterated principles in which I believe quite strongly, there are better treatments of the topic.
With books of this sort, I usually read them quickly, the way the average reader would probably do. Then, if the material seems to warrant it, I go back through the book highlighting and writing marginal comments that I might use later, either in my leadership classes or in my consulting and training practice. After reading this book, I think I had a good understanding of what the authors were endorsing, but that wasn’t because of the book, it was because of my own prior knowledge. The book itself is weak in that it doesn’t do a great job of explaining principles of leadership. Others have done so to much better effect elsewhere. It wasn’t that the material was complicated…the clarity and depth of explanation just wasn’t there. While it was fairly enjoyable, and reiterated principles in which I believe quite strongly, there are better treatments of the topic.
May 13, 2014
I really liked this book. The story was quick, with a complexity that isn't usually found in books of this genre. While the story ended the way most leadership novels do, with our hero implementing the lessons that he has learned and his problems being overcome rather quickly, the predictability wasn't bothersome. Overall, the story was timely and just happened to fit my current situation. I thought the theme poignant and though I don't like the "formula" for success (rather, I don't find the factors measurable) I thought it was better than other leadership novels. I appreciated that I could read it in one day and that I actually wanted to finish it in one sitting.
December 18, 2011
This book is part of growing genre of leadership books that tell a fictitious story to make points about effective leadership. Usually the stories like this one are very contrived and unrealistic. This story deals with Matt a mid level manager in a large company whose division has not been making money because the employees under Matt's charge are unmotivated.So Matt spends 4 days out on a Colorado Ranch to learn about motivation through horses and foster kids. I did not find the story particularly compelling of the insights all that great.
November 19, 2013
The premise of the book is that engaged employees must first trust their leader. Without the trust, there will be no engagement. I believe that can be true. Beyond that the book contains a formula for engagement as well as a "feel good" story to help get the formula across. Once again, for me the business book comes across as a little too heavy on the believability of the story. It is very predictable. Not a bad read, but not the best either.
October 15, 2015
This is the type of leadership book that I really enjoy reading. A fictional story that allows the main character (and reader) to learn new principles with feeling like a textbook.
The story will touch your heart in many ways and the "serving leadership" approach is spot-on with other positive leadership books I have read. Highly recommended!
The story will touch your heart in many ways and the "serving leadership" approach is spot-on with other positive leadership books I have read. Highly recommended!
May 17, 2014
Powerful.
So long as one's head, heart, & spirit are connected ( which does take effort in our very wisdom poor culture ), this book cannot be less than a 5 star read.
It integrates deep thinking, practicality, faith, & far more all together.
So long as one's head, heart, & spirit are connected ( which does take effort in our very wisdom poor culture ), this book cannot be less than a 5 star read.
It integrates deep thinking, practicality, faith, & far more all together.
January 19, 2015
A terrific story that teaches how to get your team engaged. It is a heart-warming story that weaves leadership principles into work, family and causes. My 10-year-old read it before me and thoroughly enjoyed it and took notes on what he wanted to remember.
July 10, 2014
I really enjoyed the story format! I makes the leadership principles really stick. I got so emotionally wrapped up in the story that it almost seam real. Get your copy from me here: http://www.lifeleadership.com/Shoppin...
March 23, 2014
Good story with some great leadership principles
March 3, 2014
Captivating and so valuable.
April 9, 2014
Heartwarming. Worth a read through, but nothing that's a required resource. Good points, well narrated, and a sobering reminder to count our blessings
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May 17, 2014Simply amazing! Quick read, but so much is in there!
March 29, 2014
This book is absolutely amazing! So many principles and not just on leadership! The story touches your heart and motivates your soul! You must read this book! twice! ( or more)
August 4, 2014
Great Book! I have given away several and recommended it to many more.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews