
Mental Training
Scared of Icelandic horses after a fall
Two or three weeks ago I came off one of the horses I look after, an Icelandic. The owners have lots of Icelandics and I love being there, but the last time I rode there I fell off when he bolted. I got straight back on and he was fine after that, but it still felt horrible. There's no indoor school or arena there.
Answers from HayHay's experts
We usually believe the fear has to disappear first, and only then can we do the thing that scares us. It rarely works that way. The fear actually shrinks by doing the thing that scares you, in spite of the fear. Try to treat the fear as something that is okay, not dangerous. It will want to tag along for a while. Focus on how you normally feel in your body when you feel safe, such as how your feet sit in the stirrups and your hands rest around the reins. Good luck! 💫

Elise Lindman
Sports Psychologist
