1 of 22

Write now Article Tools

Fear is one of the most basic human emotions and it serves us well protecting us from danger, however when it grows past the rational to interfere with our enjoyment of life it can be debilitating. Until 18 months ago I was a supporter of the get straight back on the horse school of thought, then I took a bad fall and broke my back, even had I wanted to get straight back on I was physically unable to do so.

After almost 40 years of riding I still believe that getting straight back on the horse makes sense. By following a bad experience with a good one fear doesn't have a chance to take hold. If the rider was unable to control the horse getting back on though may be asking for a repeat performance, in this case it is better to get straight back on a different horse, preferably a reliable one. If, like me, you cannot remount because you are injured the time between the fall and getting back in the saddle will be filled with growing trepidation, diminishing confidence in your own ability and hundreds of "what if" scenarios flowing through your mind that paint pictures of anything and everything that can go horribly wrong.

Overcoming these fears requires positive action but well meaning friends who try to bully or cajole you into riding out with them will do more harm than good. You need to confront your fear but you must be allowed to do it in your own way and at your own speed. Make a plan that begins with what you are comfortable doing and then in small steps increases until you get back to where you were before the accident. It is important to be completely comfortable with each step before moving on to the next.

Your plan may start with something as simple as working with your horse on the ground. Feeding, grooming and lunging your horse will help reinforce the skills you have and begin to rebuild your confidence. The next step is to find a good riding instructor who is patient and works well with people lacking confidence. Get your instructor to ride your horse while you watch. Seeing your horse going calmly and obediently will go a long way to allaying some of those "what if" scenarios that keep popping unasked into your head.

Talk through with your instructor what happened and discuss strategies for coping with a similar situation in the future. Do you need to improve your riding skills to make sure it doesn't happen again? Is this the right horse for you or would a different horse be better suited to what you want to achieve with your riding?

When it is time

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about How to recover mentally from a horse riding accident?
We want to hear your view. Write now!