Beginner Horse Riding – Fear of Horse Riding – The Horse World’s Dirty Little Secret
Fear of horse riding applies to experienced equestrians as well as rank beginners. The sad thing is, there seems to be a lot of shame and guilt around being afraid. Riders with this affliction are often suffering alone, embarrassed and afraid to speak out. They should be “tough” enough to just get on the horse and ride. They watch others with envy wondering how they do it. They ask themselves “Why can’t I just not be so fearful?”. Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not be afraid to ask an instructor for help in this area. When you are so afraid you feel sick every time you think about riding, it’s time to reassess what your goals are and why you are afraid. Riding is for YOUR enjoyment, don’t let the holier than thou types ruin it for you. As in all aspects of life, the less you worry about what others think, the happier you are going to be. Don’t force yourself to ride or do something that absolutely terrifies you to impress or please someone else. This is a recipe for disaster. If all you want to do is meander around at a walk and you and your horse are happy with that, THEN THAT’S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. If you find you do really want to do more, then take it in small steps, working with a qualified instructor who can push you beyond your comfort zone when you need it, but also recognizing what may be too much too soon.
The irony of horse rider fear is that the more nervous you are the more likely that your horse will be nervous. They feed off of our body language and are very sensitive to our state of mind. If you’re up on the horse’s back, ready to burst into tears, the horse is thinking, “Uh oh, what’s she upset about, is there something out there that might eat me?”. He then becomes nervous and is more likely to spook, which in turn makes us more afraid which in turn gets him more upset. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, re-affirming the rider’s fears. This is where an experienced, qualified instructor should be able to match you up with a horse suited to this type of nervous rider. When you are sitting on a seasoned pro, very little is going to upset him, allowing you to work through your fears slowly.
They key in overcoming fear of horse riding is honestly answering the question as to why you want to ride in the first place. If your desire is motivated by pleasing someone else, or to be part of the crowd, you’re not very likely to get beyond it because of the guilt and shame associated with the fear. If you are doing this because you have an honest passion for horses and riding, and want to get on with it, you’re much more likely to be successful. You can still have your passion for horses and never have to get on one if you don’t want to. You don’t have to ride to enjoy horses. If you’re happy with the company of other horse enthusiasts, and like being around horses, I’m sure there are many busy horse people who would love a volunteer to come brush, feed and just help out around the barn. Perhaps volunteering at a local rescue would be the answer?
At the end of the day, don’t let anyone pressure you through shame and “comments” to do something that you either don’t want to do, or that you’re physically incapable of doing. By being honest with yourself and starting out slowly, a year or two down the road, you’ll be surprised how much you progress.
