Trust your horse. Overcoming fear can require small steps, each building on the others to increase your confidence. If you feel overwhelmed at any point, simply return to a stage where you feel more comfortable and work from there again. Kate has over 25 years of equestrian instruction and training experience. In considering your question I suddenly realize that I have never been hospitalized for an injury caused by a horse. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Solvang As I said above, really the most important thing is for me to be comfortable and competent with them on the ground, for their daily care and well-being. Continuing your regular routine (especially if you are returning after a fall off your current horse) may not be the best way to overcome your fear. Spend the time just watching the horse’s behavior, taking in the environment, and noticing how you feel. Please understand that I believe every word of it was well founded and deserves congratulations to you as your comments were exactly as I would want them to be if you were my daughter or my best friend. The important thing is not to let yours debilitate you from moving forward. HJC in the Media. Even if they manage to dominate the horse using a chain lead shank or other artificial means, they may still have a queasy feeling because they know they are not really in charge of the situation. As long as you are wearing boots, it shouldn't hurt too bad when they step on you. If I’d have been on her, I’d likely have fallen and been injured. Expert Interview. If there is a specific type of horse that you feel afraid of, try to gear the desensitization towards this type. As for falling off, once you fall off, you will realize it is not too bad. K.I.C.K. You could draw pictures of horses, look at stuffed animal horses, or view horse-themed art. Also consider that i competed professionally in rodeos, cuttings and working cow horse competitions well into my 50s. For example, say the fear you’ve bumped up … Making sure you feel safe and comfortable with your horse is vital. You will also be able to communicate more effectively with your horse. See my fear is not of falling, nor is it of a horse not doing what I ask. A sure way to know if you need to gain the trust of the horse is if it tries to bite you or something similar. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Her focus on developing horse and rider partnerships provides a complete equestrian education for both beginners and advanced riders alike. You can return to the horse at a later stage when you feel ready. When you consider that I have dealt with about 70,000 horses, I believe that you will agree that this is a relatively amazing statistic. 3-Day "Kick Your Fear" Clinic Student Registration If you feel very anxious or uncomfortable at any point, simply step away. Question: I’m writing because, at age 54, I’ve been given opportunity to get involved with horses. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This article has been viewed 78,522 times. But the horse won’t judge you. Ok so I got my horse a little over a year ago when he was 8months and he now is 22 months. Horses will sometimes lay back their ears to show fear or anger, and sometimes they might show the whites of their eyes or start bucking and stomping their feet. It’s happened so many times. Ask any group of equestrians what they fear most, and the consensus will be “falling off.” Then again, if you ask the same group of horsey folks how many times they’ve fallen off, they’re probably not going to have a concrete number for you. Why is fear a good or bad thing, and how do we live with it? Tip #3 to overcome fear of riding horses: Invest in a Jumping Vest If you ride horses, you are going to fall. How can I lose my fear of falling off a horse? My question to you is this: I’m 54. Virtually very segment required by you is covered on those pages. Yet, I’m still fearful. Keep your heels down and gently squeeze your knees into the saddle if you get too unbalanced. That is a good a start as I could recommend. Will I really, ever be able to get over my fear of horses?… to perhaps ride competently and comfortably one day?… or at the very least (but really most important), to be able to at least care for them on the ground competently and comfortably. By using our site, you agree to our. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 3. If you are afraid of a specific horse, ask the instructor if you can lead the horse, help others tack him up, or … Don't just ride the horse. If you’re afraid of horses, it might take a lot of patience to overcome your fear, but you can do it if you’re persistent. It’s taken me years to realise this is, and has always been my downfall. Many people have a fear of horses, either due to a bad experience while riding or the sheer size of these gentle giants. Practice consistently and gradually. You will be able to make the most of your ability and skills when you are relaxed. My husband will be the main caregiver, but I’d like to be able to help and support him. % of people told us that this article helped them. Please do not for one minute hold the thought that I am discouraging you from dealing with horses. How do I overcome my fear of a horse stepping/falling on me? The last thing they need is an untrained horse. The best way to go about this process is to find an experienced trainer that can help you through the process. It’s always safer to go back to the basics, where you are comfortable, and build up to where you left off. Look where you want to go. And on Saturday at the barn during a lesson, Sugar spooked at some very loud outdoor noises while an experienced rider was on her. I had the same fear but I have fallen and it's not a big deal. Don’t be scared to trade your horse for one that makes you feel calmer and safer. I am relatively free of any injuries significantly enough to list as major. While you are observing the horse you will hopefully feel yourself beginning to relax. Fear of horses or equinophobia is a very common phobia and the word equino is a delivered of a Greek word equus which means horses, in Latin equine means an incident with an animal in the past and phobia means fear. Many people feel intimidated when they have to catch, lead or groom an unruly, ill-mannered horse. Go back to a point in the desensitization process where you felt comfortable and work up from there again. Is it full-proof or can there be unique exceptions where horses are concerned. Overcoming fear is a never ending battle for me. And the good news is that you can change it and become a confident horse rider. Her focus on developing horse and rider partnerships provides a complete equestrian education for both beginners and advanced riders alike. The book is based on the authors personal experience as well as the journey of three women who also went from fear into confident horsemanship. Keep reading to learn how to overcome a fear of riding! If a horse is on your foot, push it's shoulder gently and make clucking noises or say "over". Originally designed to be a riding school used as a springboard for dedicated students into careers in the sport, Blackhound Equestrian has grown into a hunter/jumper training program for all levels focusing on providing a solid foundation needed for personal advancement in the sport. To me, horses are beautiful, but large and frightening. The horse that you are riding has a major influence on your confidence and fear level. Live your dream, don’t let fear stop you. If you’re struggling with a fear of horses, one of the best ways to overcome it is by fully immersing yourself in the world of horses. For a fear of riding, work with a riding coach who you trust, practice exercises to help you feel more comfortable in the saddle, and work in small, manageable steps. Besides, most people have fear of horses themselves. Keep reading to learn how to overcome a fear of riding! Last Updated: August 18, 2020 We have a farm, with two large fenced pastures and a barn with two stalls, where the horses will eventually be moved to later this Spring. My fear is expectation. Fear around horses is not limited to riding. Is a small horse or a big horse better for a 12-year-old? Once you start to feel comfortable with the idea of a horse, find somewhere that you can observe a horse in real life. While you are visualizing yourself riding in the way that you want to, try to relax your posture and be mindful. Once you've mastered the canter, just continue gradually increasing your speed until you're at a full gallop. Please remain in touch and do not hesitate to continue to ask questions of experienced, trustworthy people as to how you might acquire the appropriate education that I have discussed with you in answering your question. Your communication addresses that very issue with the horse that was otherwise quiet and trustworthy but on a given moment decided to cause trouble for the other rider. My husband adopted a 15 y/o paint gelding (El Nino) and a 17 y/o quarter horse mare (Sugar) from a friend with cancer, who could no longer keep her horses. Heartland) Follow horse riders on social media Gradually you can begin to get closer to the horse as you feel more confident. He believes that while they’re smart, graceful, strong, and athletic, they can also be dangerous when not handled correctly. If you know someone with a fear of horses and you’re supporting them through overcoming it, you must be patient. In my seminars on fear of riding at horse fairs, the room is always jam packed with people, all of whom are greatly relieved to see everyone else there; people of all ages, genders, abilities and experience. When you fall, get back on again and start over with the basics. Your horse will sense your tension, making a spook more likely. Ask Monty: Are you a positive influence on your horse? I think the same thing could be said for learning to ride a motorcycle or even a bicycle. Make sure that you are with the horse’s owner and that the horse is a calm, reliable type. There is absolutely no disgrace in being respectful of the size and the potential danger connected with the power of horses and their athleticism. Overcoming THE Fear of Your Horse Clinton Anderson from Downunder Horsemanship has a truly inspiring partnership with horses. In my quest to provide good advice to my readers, one of my most often incurred questions is how to overcome your fear of riding. The anxiety aroused by these often gentle animals is so common, in fact, that the term equinophobia which means a fear of heights is actually derived from the Greek words "equus" or horse and "phobos" or fear. It could be weeks, months, or years! 5 Steps for Overcoming Horse Riding Fear You have to bond with the horse. References. To keep steadily progressing in overcoming fear, you sometimes need workarounds. Instead of worrying about it, plan for it! Having a fear of horses is a real and tangible experience for many people around the world and, for some, can be crippling. It mostly depends on the height and ability of the tween. I used to be that crazy 12 year old who would climb on any horse and ‘give it a go’. 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