The bond between horses and leaders
A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart and wins with its character, provided the rider matches its lyricism. Having done an advanced equitation course of a year’s duration in the initial years of my Army career, I can draw a comparison between a good leader and an accomplished horse rider. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Maharana Pratap were not only exceptional leaders but also great horsemen.
The equitation course was a tough one, demanding the perfect connect between the horse and the rider. Each of the 15 selected officers were given three horses — one fully trained, one partially trained and the third a remount bordering on the wild.
The first few days were spent on presentations about leadership traits. The chief equitation officer stated that to get the best out of the horse, one had to be compassionate. He cautioned us in the same breath that the theory part would be reinforced in the practical mode by the horses allotted to us.
We realised mid-course that horsemanship was a philosophy and a way of life. It encompassed building trust, developing patience, possessing effective communication skills — verbal and non-verbal — and being gritty and empathetic. The horses felt our emotions, our weight, the touch of the feet from the stirrup and the feel of the bit in their mouth.
Working with horses taught us to value the successes mainly due to them and failures mainly on the part of the riders. The noble animals taught us what not to do and gave us a second chance to make a good impression. The horse wanted the master to be trustworthy, capable, patient and focused with a clear vision. These qualities came in handy while leading men during peacetime as well as wartime.
The last event of the course, the pig-sticking competition, also gave us an important life lesson. Hundred horses divided among 10 teams were to go on a boar hunt around the Gesupur grass fields. The boar, once spotted, soon disappeared in a flash; its movement could be followed only when the grass shook. The riders and the horses could not see beyond their nose, but the command of the master, holding a lance in his hand, was followed by the horse in the most dangerous terrain. It was trust all the way between them.
Horses taught us a lot and became influencers in our day-to-day life. Even today, armed forces institutes, police and civil services academies have horse-riding modules in their curriculum.
Those who have had the opportunity to saddle and ride a horse are likely to stand out in their profession. Surely, a person who can control a horse can control a mob too. Finally, one wonders if there is a commonality between horse sense and common sense.
