Every rider faces fear at some point in their riding career. Fear is necessary to keep us safe - it acts as a physiological check that something could cause us harm. A completely fearless rider would be reckless and dangerous. When we engage in an activity, such as riding, we have to learn to listen to the fear when it is appropriate and work to overcome it when it is holding us back. How do we overcome fear in our riding? Below are five tips that have worked for me and my students.
1. Find the Joy
If you are fearful of riding then why do you do it? Take some time to really think about what you love about riding. What is your incentive for working through the fear? Brainstorm everything that is positive about riding and what you get out of it on all levels. Once you have a picture of all of the positive aspects, focus on how you can expand the joy in your riding and get back to having fun. Think outside the box to create scenarios that are enjoyable and that you can feel successful accomplishing. Maybe that's as simple as sitting on your horse bareback while he grazes.
2. Get Honest with Yourself
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is admit that you are afraid. When you learn to ride, you are taught to shake off fear, be tough, and get right back on if you fall. In reality, fear is nothing to be ashamed of. It's alright to take a moment to compose yourself before climbing back in the saddle. In fact, it may be safer for you and the horse. If you push through fear too fast, you might make mistakes in your riding or you might feel anger toward the horse. Admit, at least to yourself, that you are fearful. Just that act of authenticity will help both you and your horse.
3. Go Back to Basics
Practice things that help you gain confidence with the goal of getting back the joy in your riding. If you know what you are afraid of and why, you can break it down to help you find success. For example, if you feel unsafe when you ride, practice on a horse that you trust. Or, if you have a fear of falling off, learning emergency dismounts at the walk, trot and canter may help you build confidence. There are endless possibilities. Get creative and ask for help.
4. Change Your Focus
We give power to the things that we pay the most attention to. If you are constantly in a state of fretting over something it grows in your mind and turns into a monster. Stop the story in your head. Actively practice visualization exercises where everything goes perfectly. Start to build a story of success and confidence in your mind. Take the power away from the negative aspects and give power to the positive ones. Focus all of your attention onto your body and your horse while you are riding - stop worrying about the future and start feeling what is happening in the moment.
5. Relax and Keep Breathing
One of the primary things that we do when we are nervous is hold our breath and tense our mouth and jaw. These two acts have a ripple effect through our entire body and can be perceived by the horse. There are two things that can really help. The first is to sing a song. I know it sounds silly but if you are singing you have to breath and your move your mouth. The second thing you can do is laugh. Again, when you laugh you have to breathe, endorphins are released, and the entire body relaxes. Think about something really funny or even play your favorite comedian while you ride.
These techniques will help you gain more confidence in the saddle, help you to relax, and open the door to more fun for both you and your horse.
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