02 September 2008 09:51
I have owned horses for years and used to ride on my own for hours, without worry, but since I lost my beloved mare three years ago, I’ve lost my confidence.
My biggest fear is traffic. My new horse is OK on the road, but my avoidance of traffic and panic if we meet something slightly scary is making her nervous. My husband’s horse is not 100 per cent but he is confident enough to cope.
On paper I have it all – two beautiful horses, time and a husband who rides too – but it is all wasted by this crippling fear. What can I do?
Answer
By Your Horse
Creator of the Fizz Concept Tina Bettison advises:
This is a common fear. Here are some exercises to help:
1 Write down all the wonderful experiences you had with your beloved mare. This may be emotional, but don’t hold back the tears.
2 Relive one or two of those experiences over and over as if they were happening now. Hold on to the feeling of security and safety and morph that memory of your mare onto your current horse. Keep doing this until you can imagine the whole scenario happening right now.
3 Write down all the wonderful experiences you have had with your current mare, and remember them often, so that your current horse becomes beloved, too.
4 Imagine riding in traffic, and imagine coping well with any scenario. Plan every possible outcome and ways of coping. You know your mare is good in traffic, which should help.
5 Once you can do all these well, go out with your husband and have a relaxing, successful ride!