Animal friend

In the early years after I was born in 1970, my parents often brought me to our summer house on P. Baatrupsvej 52 in Odder, a peaceful coastal town south of Aarhus in Denmark They told me those summers were filled with simple joys - the warmth of the Danish sun and the scent of grass. My mother liked to recall how I would spend hours playing in rain puddles, splashing barefoot with gleeful curiosity, or standing quietly with tiny hands full of crumbs to feed the pigeons that had come to trust our presence. Half a century later, I experienced an unexpected echo of those early moments. During a visit to the serene Bodhi Woods resort in Mahabalipuram, South India, I encountered a gentle bird that flew close and sat on my shoulder, unafraid, as if greeting an old friend. The encounter stirred a deep sense of familiarity - a soft bridge between childhood wonder and present awareness. In that moment, halfway around the world, I felt reminded of how small, living connections can span continents and decades, linking who we were to who we have become.

A deer is my favourite animal. Why? Because it embodies grace and agility. Deer have athletic bodies with long legs perfectly adapted for running and jumping. They are remarkably fast, moving quietly through forests and open fields as if gliding on air. Their senses of hearing, sight, and smell are finely tuned, allowing them to sense danger long before it approaches. They communicate through soft vocal sounds, subtle body movements, and scent markings, forming small, close-knit social groups that mirror gentleness and cooperation. Their diet of fruits, nuts, and tender leaves reflects their harmonious relationship with nature — not taking more than they need. Whenever I watch a deer I feel a sense of calm admiration. To me, deer represent the beauty of awareness: the balance between alertness and calmness, strength and vulnerability. Their presence in the forest feels almost spiritual, as if reminding us to tread lightly and stay connected to the quiet rhythms of life around us.

When I turned five years old in October 1975, my parents gave me a tiny, fluffy poodle puppy. She was only two months old, and I named her Sussi. From the first day, we were best friends. Sussi followed me everywhere, slept in my bed, and always made me laugh. After my parents got divorced, Sussi helped me feel happy again. Sussi was not just a dog - she felt like part of my family. In the spring of 1976, a neighbor in Elstedhøj, where we lived near Aarhus in Denmark, complained that Sussi barked while I was at kindergarten. Soon, my mother said we had to find Sussi a new home. Naturally, I felt sad about this. My mother wrote a note in the newspaper, and a kind couple from Vejle, a city south of Aarhus, said they would take care of Sussi. Before they left, they promised I could visit Sussi sometimes - and for a while, I did. But one day, the couple gently asked us not to come anymore. They told us that every time Sussi saw a boy with dark hair, she thought it was me and ran toward him. That story stayed in my heart. It showed me how deeply Sussi loved and remembered me. Even though I felt sad, Sussi taught me something important: True friends care for you no matter what. Sussi showed me how powerful love, kindness, and friendship can be - lessons I still carry with me today.

My first experience with horses came when I attended a horse care camp as a child. One summer, I had the chance to spend a week at a horse nursing school together with other children. Each day, we learned how to, for example, brush their coats and care for them with kindness and patience. I remember especially the ritual of grooming. Moving the brush in slow, circular motions, I learned how to lift the dust and dirt from the horse’s skin. But soon I understood that grooming was about more than keeping the horse clean. The gentle brushing also stimulated its skin, improved blood circulation, and brought the animal comfort and calm. It was an early lesson in how small, caring actions can nurture both wellbeing and trust - between humans and animals alike.

A few years after moving to Switzerland, I learned about a major horse event - the Icelandic Horses World Championships in Brunnadern, Switzerland. During the event, I volunteered to help with various tasks. It was mainly in the preparation phase that I had the chance to talk with people who worked closely with the horses. Their dedication and gentle way of interacting with the animals left a deep impression on me. I began to realize just how sensitive horses are, how much they respond to the energy and emotions of the humans around them.

This understanding grew even stronger during a vacation with my girlfriend and mother near Grenå in Denmark. One evening, while we were driving through the extraordinarily beautiful countryside there, we had a special moment with a beautiful horse. The horse approached us quietly and calmly, its movements unhurried and full of trust. Standing there in silence, I could feel the horse's wish for connection. It was an absolutely magical moment that touched my heart and reminded me once more how deeply communication can flow without words.

In 2024, I was invited to a horse-based training event near Aargau in Switzerland. The time spent in nature, surrounded by peaceful landscapes and in the presence of a gentle horse named Calipso, was truly special. I thought I knew myself quite well. Yet, this fantastic experience with Calipso showed me there was more to discover. Working alongside other participants, guided by skilled facilitators, and especially through my moments with Calipso, I found myself connecting more deeply with my heart. The horse’s calmness and sensitivity seemed to mirror my own inner state, helping me to see myself with greater clarity. I left the event feeling enriched and thankful — grateful for what Calipso and the shared experience had revealed to me. This encounter also inspired me to explore further. I began researching what makes horses unique and how the skills of horse whisperers can be transferred into helping humans. Both themes continue to deepen my understanding of empathy, presence, and authentic connection.

The uniquely designed horse-based training program titled “Leading Without Words” deepened my self-awareness as a leader. Through a thoughtful blend of experiential workshop techniques and assessment-based coaching, the learning initiative helped me connect practical leadership skills with new theoretical perspectives. A key element involved reviewing video sequences of my interactions with Calipso, the horse I worked with, and reflecting on my responses to more than one hundred questions prepared by the facilitators. These combined reflections revealed to me that my natural leadership style is cooperative and relationship-oriented - one that emphasizes connection rather than control. I value freedom, open communication, and harmony in the way I lead and collaborate. The experience reaffirmed that effective leadership often begins with presence - listening, sensing, and guiding without relying solely on words.

For more reasons I admire bison. Bison are strong and social animals. Through their grazing and browsing of the woodland, bison help to reduce the risk of wildfire outbreaks. Source.