03 September 2008 09:42
I get really nervous when I’m out hacking. Nothing’s really happened to make me so scared, I just can’t stop thinking about the ‘what ifs’. I often end up jumping off before my horse has a chance to do anything wrong. How can I overcome my fears?
Answer
By Your Horse
Homeopath and Practitioner Caroline Putus replies:
Try some Bach Flower Remedies (see right).
In addition, you could try ‘thought squashing’. This is a great technique used by many Enjoy Riding members to take control of their thoughts. First of all, think
of a way you’d like to squash your unwanted, negative thoughts – you can shoot them, blow them up, grind them underfoot – let your imagination run riot. Then, the instant an unwanted thought pops into your mind, firmly squash it using the technique you’ve chosen. Replace that thought with something that makes you smile.
Repeat this process the first instant an unwanted thought pops into your head. It sounds simple – and it is – but the more you do it, the weaker and less frequent these thoughts become.
● Be a confident hacker: see our feature on page 66. (Issue 311)