The General

A General in the military is the most senior officer. The General is a specialist of the military who has certain qualities such as loyalty, integrity, confidence, excellent communication, dedication and courage. This position is not for the average person. This person is the boss in charge of the moment; a leader who people are willing to follow.

When I met Hugo about six weeks ago, I recognized a General. This is my nickname for him now. Last week, I introduced him to David, a combat veteran, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and has trauma. Hugo and David are two very different individuals but share trauma. Hugo was rescued at an auction before going to a slaughterhouse and in rough shape physically when purchased at the auction. David has been rebuilding his life since returning from combat.

David is very familiar with Generals in the military. He is trained to follow orders, but as a soldier, it is rare for David to meet a General or have any direct relationship with a senior commander in the Army. The soldier is trained to accept orders whether good or bad.

David is unfamiliar with horses but had the courage one afternoon to spend an afternoon with some horses. With Hugo, David has direct communication with this leader. Hugo is very grounded and certain. With a herd, something different is going on than the standard top-down command. Hugo will respond when he knows that he has a healthy and respectful leader by his side.

So the question arises:  who is the leader?

This is the definition of partnership. Both Hugo and David have a common goal. They're not moving to a destination. They are communicating in harmony. There is no tyrannical leader here. There is always a possibility of dominant force. Humans often rely on this when everything else fails. The human loves the whips, the crops, the spurs and the use of force.

David does not fall for the force trap. He's open to listening to Hugo and his cues. Hugo says, “let's walk together, breathe together and feel the joy of being together "
So many veterans return from combat and find themselves isolated, misunderstood, and with no connection and addicted to drugs and alcohol. David works with veterans and helps them recover from trauma. Many veterans are trapped in the ego in a self-induced prison.

The ego is the dictator of wrong decisions.

Hugo will tell the truth, not listen to the ego and correct the errors. He will listen to the true leader in each of us. Hugo does not know hatred. He does not seek death. Like a veteran, Hugo prefers to serve and have a purpose.

I give guidance to David on how to walk with the thousand pound four-legged animal. At this moment, there is no leader. The unit moves as a whole. A good leader understands this principle. The individual is only as strong as the group.

Hugo and David, in this brief second, are no longer individuals; they have surrendered to the belief that they are alone. Their power is in the union. Six legs are touching the ground planted in the earth, with trust and respect for each other. There is no need to say anything, give carrots, give hugs or put a bow in Hugo's mane.  All that's needed is simply acknowledging the presence of each.

They are both promoted to General now. They fight the war of life without any limitations. They are the greatest warrior ever conceived: the Horse-Human Spiritual Warrior.

Camron Adibi is a horseman, PATH Therapeutic Horse Riding Instructor and autism coach who holds a master’s degree in education. He offers equine assisted therapy to anyone who is open-minded to the experience. More info at www.camronadibi.com