Welcome to the Double H Ranch
Gentleman,
My name is Bob Shaner and I graduated from Heroes and Horses in July 2022 with my brothers from Class 2. I was asked to share some thoughts with you as you embark on your journey and I am honored to have the experience.
I have thought of many ways to write this letter. I even attempted to write a letter to myself that provided advice based on the place I was at in my life this time last year. Honestly, I was in a bad way personally and spiritually. I would bet some of you can identify with that sentiment. Honestly, I am not quite sure where I would be today if I had not gone through the program. Anyway, the letter idea just didn’t seem to work, mainly because I have grown from that place and my experience has changed the context of my memory. Instead, I am going to share a few thoughts from the heart, and like all letters like this, I am going to give some advice as well.
All of us have a significant trauma story that may or may not be similar but are personal experiences exclusive to each of us. Regardless of the details of your story, it is not meant to be minimized. These experiences are yours and yours alone. You can either continue to allow them to be your fate or you can choose to grow from them and create your destiny. So, the journey begins!
All of us got to a place in our lives where we felt like we needed to make a significant course change and all of us found our way to Heroes and Horses. Your journey began when you started to think about where you are in your life and how you got to that place. It continued when you sat down and took the time to apply to the program and ultimately decided you would spend 41 days experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You are right where you belong!
There are no magic processes or techniques that are going to transform you in 41 days and return you home with a clean slate or as a new man. You have already embarked on the journey so open your heart and embrace the unknown, the mysterious, the uncomfortable, and the silence. Listen more, talk less, practice being present, and focus on your experiences and your behavior. The horses and mountains will be there to reflect those things back to you if you take the time to truly listen. Commit to doing the work today as well as when you are in the program and most importantly when you return home. The journey is continuous and the struggle is necessary for growth. The outcomes are up to you and you alone. Embrace it completely!
As I began the program I was afraid of facing my compounded trauma and afraid of the experiences that were being given to me to truly look inside of myself and feel what I needed to feel. I urge you to trust yourself, deeply feel the emotions that you experience, and let them flow through you. Whether it’s the cold water, a challenging horse, spiritual ideas that you may not be familiar or a cold night in a wild place, the experiences you will have over the next 41 days are meant for you. Be grateful for them not afraid. You are capable of growing from your trauma if you are willing. Trust yourself!
In closing, I ask you to reflect on all the things that had to happen to get you to Heroes and Horses. Coming to the ranch at this moment in your life is not a coincidence, luck, or a random act of the cosmos. It is a result of your choosing to embark on a journey that is meant for you. I Hope you commit to the journey, embrace the experience, and most of all trust yourself!
With much Love,
Bob Shaner,
Heroes and Horses, Class 2, 2022
