The Importance of Self-Confidence in Horse Riding to Combat Fear

How wonderful life is when thrilling things can be undertaken without fear. Riding is like that, but how often that enjoyment and thrill develops into a gut gripping fear. I wasn't always afraid. When I first started riding as a child in the states, I had no fear. I rode my uncle's mustang and ponies bareback and half the time without even a bridle. I just rode for the sheer enjoyment of it.

My biggest thrill came years later when I saw dressage being performed for the first time. The Dancing White Stallions came to my hometown of Oklahoma City and I sat in the darkened arena watching half-passes and pirouettes. I cried and knew instantly I wanted to "do dressage" more than anything else in the world.

I sought out a 'name' to train me. At first, the lessons were great and I progressed but problems crept in and, looking back now, I can see that they were never dealt with. My riding was improving more by luck than judgment. When I needed more help, all I got was bullying. So I waived a sad goodbye to my confidence and learned to live with a new, ever present companion called Fear. Several falls later, some serious, all under-rated, I gave up lessons because I thought I was obviously not good enough to take training. So Nikki (my horse) and I just hacked around the farm on our own, now terrified of cantering thanks to my trainer.

Then one day Nikki slipped into an easy canter, no big deal, and it was as though my life had been given back to me. I was so excited that I told my trainer. She said "I'm going to give you a lesson for free right now today." I was a bit scared but went with it. Her lessons were highly sought after and who was I to refuse a free one? She was going to teach us to canter. And so it was that I had my one and only fall from Nikki after some very difficult exercise that neither I nor Nikki could cope with. Goodbye last remnants of confidence!