• The Elephant in the Barn

    Don’t let fear paralyze your ride

Yes, it’s here, I’m going to talk about the elephant in the barn, the thing everybody feels but nobody is willing to share!

Everyone is scared of riding horses!! It doesn’t matter if you are an eventer or ride in the rodeo or just a regular rider, everyone at some point feels fear of this enormously powerful animal that we sit on. For some the fear is short lived and they are able to get back to riding as quickly as horses seem to relax after spooking. 

However for the rest of us (and that is the majority of riders), this underlying fear can last hours, days, weeks and even years. What is so darn frustrating about this whole issue is that riding horses brings us joy! So the idea of not riding is worse than riding scared but lasting fear can start in a heartbeat and take a long time to heal.  

Next time you are at the barn, take note of the people around you and the behaviours that they may be exhibiting.

This is just a short list of possible symptoms and there may be many more you experience, or it may manifest in an entirely different way.  

Each and every time you ride your horse you are training it to be more and more consistent in it’s behaviour.  You don’t want your horse to learn and perfect nasty habits. Remember, what is dangerous to you might be playful to someone else. Don’t judge yourself, be realistic. The better matched you are with your horse the quicker you can improve to one day have a deeper well of confidence and balance.

Take stock of your own mind and body

coffee, dressage riding gloves, and a note that says, "Focus and Reflect"

Reflecting on the situation, your horse, your mood, and your environment, will inform your attitude to your ride. 

So what can you do to help get through this difficult time?

First, make sure that the horse you are riding is not dangerous to your level of riding. Many, many people are overface by their horse’s actions.If this is you, take a long hard look as to whether it is something that can be solved with the help of an experienced trainer or whether, yes, you should sell your lovely beast to someone who doesn’t get intimidated by what your horse is doing. 

Make sure you have an understanding coach.

Of course, an understanding coach is paramount to your success in overcoming anxiety. Find someone that doesn’t mind going back to an “x” jump until you feel better to try a vertical again. Going backwards, even a little bit each ride will bring you much further forwards in the long run.

Your coach should have a basic understanding of you and your horse’s temperaments. Approaching different personalities requires different solutions.

Hopefully, your coach works well with you and your partner, as a team. If not, look around. Finding the right coach for you might mean research and trying a few until you find one that clicks with your personality, and your horse’s abilities.

Give yourself time…

It takes time for trust to be built between you and your horse. It’s almost like a brand new relationship, on both sides.

Do what you can to be successful, even if it means doing great walk halt transitions and calling it a day.

You may need baby steps to rebuild your confidence. 

Tools for anxiety and spooky situations!

Having tools at hand helps stave off fear. We have put together a list for how to avoid and deal with spooks; that will serve you well. When you have confidence in yourself for handling tense situations, you will find yourself relaxing and finding the joy again!

FYI: Remember that 90% of horses are very kind and forgiving animals. Yes they spook and can be full of energy sometimes, but very few are purposely trying to get rid of their rider.

Knowing this is important for you to mentally and physically prepare yourself to have the best rides.  

Before each ride say outloud to your horse how much you are looking forward to today’s ride. (You can trick your mind by saying positive words, even if it feels like a lie at first. Persist, it will change.) 

Be gentle with yourself. Don’t rush back into whatever you were doing, instead walk on a long rein for several minutes. Lean away from those feelings until you can see the situation clearly. Remember to take deep cleansing breaths. Let go of muscular tension.

Then and only then, try to do what you were doing that frightened you. You may be surprised how the long break was all you two needed to get it right!