The Toronto Maple Leafs development camp took an unexpected turn when prospects were introduced to world-class horse trainer Jeff Davis at the Horse Palace stables at Exhibition Place on Friday, July 4. Brought in from Oklahoma, Davis and one of his horses from Hanleys Horses offered players a unique learning experience focused on emotional control, leadership, and building trust — lessons that go far beyond the rink.
According to a report in TheHockeyNews,com, Leafs assistant GM Hayley Wickenheiser arranged the surprise session as a way to challenge players to think differently about pressure and communication. “We all think it’s a good idea, but I’ll let you know tomorrow if it works or not,” she joked before the event.
Players arrived at the stables unsure of what to expect, noting that “it smelled horrible,” according to 2022 third-round pick Nick Moldenhauer. “We were like, ‘Okay, what are we in for here?’” What followed was a lesson in patience and process as Davis demonstrated how he builds trust with a young horse in just over a week.
Davis’ method was eye-opening for many, especially as they watched a horse react instinctively when Davis approached with a saddle. “It went absolutely ballistic,” said 2024 seventh-round pick Matt Lahey, who was impressed with “the amount of force it can really throw on you.”
But the real takeaway was how Davis earned the horse’s trust through consistency, respect, and calm under pressure — skills the Leafs hope their prospects will apply to hockey. “He had a process,” said Lahey, specifically noting critical thinking and thriving under pressure, “and I think that could translate really well to hockey.”
For players like Moldenhauer, in his third development camp, the experience was a refreshing change from the typical on-ice drills and seminars. “It’s not your average experience at dev camp, but I thought it was a different way to approach kind of that learning about leadership.” The players have also travelled to the Toronto Raptors’ facility to shoot hoops as a break in routine.
“I think it’s a little crazy to say that you could apply it in a dressing room, but I think you could. Like you first want to gain respect from the horse and then build that trust with them. That’s something you can try and do with your teammates that’s definitely going to be beneficial in the long run.”
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