Fear of Horse Riding

Horses and humans have lived and worked together for thousands of years. Even in today’s mechanised and automated world they still seem to hold a special place in our hearts. Horse riding remains a very popular activity, both as an enjoyable hobby and as a competitive sport. But sometimes through no fault of your own things can go wrong.

So I’d like to ask you:

• Has your horse riding confidence been damaged by an accident or fall?
• Would you like to reduce anxiety and build confidence around horses and riding?
• Do you want help to improve your competition confidence and performance for showing, racing, show-jumping, dressage or eventing?

If you have spent any time around horses you will know how sensitive they are to your level of confidence. As herd animals in the wild they naturally look for strong leadership and as domestic animals they expect this from you. If, for whatever reason, you are anxious they will sense it immediately and this will affect their behaviour, often damaging your confidence even further.

Not long ago I was contacted by a horse owner who was becoming increasingly fearful about riding (I’ll call her Sally, although that is not her real name). Sally’s horse was unusually nervous and unpredictable but there seemed to be no underlying reason for this behaviour which was steadily getting worse. But Sally’s anxiety levels were also increasing; she was more and more concerned that her horse would do something dangerous when out on a ride.

First of all I showed Sally one or two techniques that would help her reduce both her anxiety and that of the horse. When she next came to see me she was already feeling much calmer. Then, in hypnosis we discovered that Sally had fallen from her pony as a little girl and that at a deep level this was still affecting her, even though consciously she had been unaware of it as a problem. We were able to eliminate the effects of that fall so that it would no longer bother her in the present or the future.

We also worked on increasing confidence generally and visualising riding happily in the future. During this process Sally imagined an improved connection with her horse and realised that when various situations made him a bit nervous he just needed her reassurance so that he could go forward. Sitting deeply and calmly into the saddle was all that seemed to be required.

Sally later contacted me to cancel her next session as there had been such an improvement she did not feel it was necessary.

Improve your Horse Riding Performance

These powerful techniques can also be used to improve your riding performance in equestrian sports and competitions. Sports people are aware that their state of mind directly affects their performance. This is no different in the equestrian world. And it's not just you that is affected by a poor state of mind. You know that your horse will pick up on it too.

• Is your performance affected by pre-competition nerves?
• Do you and your horse have a winning combination but somehow you never seem to perform at your best?
• Are you aware of something within you that stops you achieving the success you deserve?

Now, you do not need me to tell you how many strides might be required before a certain fence or exactly what aids you need to use for a particular dressage manoeuvre. That comes from your knowledge and expertise. My knowledge and expertise is in helping you prepare yourself for the very best performance you can give. And with the right horse to partner you, this will pay dividends.

So if you would like a chat about how to eliminate your fear and improve your horse riding confidence and performance do give me a call on 01206 299724 or email me from my contact page.