Instructions
Determine why you want to ride horses because there is no reason to do so unless you truly love the animals and being around them. Ask yourself what your goals are and evaluate whether they are reasonable.
Define what your fears are and how broad your comfort zone is when it comes to horse riding. Write down all the things you are comfortable with doing around horses such as grooming them, ground work or saddling them up. Work within your comfort zone until you feel ready to gradually venture out into the more uncomfortable areas. Avoid trying to do too much too soon.
Find an instructor whom is aware of your fear and will work with you to overcome it. Let them work with you on increasing your confidence and help you progress gradually into uncomfortable areas.
Work on your riding skills, because fear often stems from inexperience. Take riding instructions or lessons so you gain more confidence in yourself and learn to stay relaxed while riding. Learn how to deal with all situations that may arise, ranging from dealing with a startled horse to unexpected maneuvers that your horse may make.
Schedule a session with a sports psychotherapist or psychologist who is experienced with horse riding issues. Talk about your fear and allow the therapist to make suggestions on how you can make horse riding fun again.
Protect yourself when going horse riding. Knowing that you are wearing protective gear, such as a helmet, will help reduce your fear of getting hurt so you have one less thing to worry about.
Learn how to use your imagination to stay relaxed while horse riding. Imagine a relaxed and comfortable setting that you are riding in and play it as a video in your head while riding your horse. The horse will sense your relaxed state and stay calm and relaxed also. Keep in mind that horses are sensitive animals and can sense tension and shifts in weight easily.
How to Overcome the Fear of Riding Horses
The fear of horse riding can be caused by many factors. Perhaps you're new to horse riding or have experienced or witnessed a horse riding accident in the past. Adults are generally more fearful of horse riding than children, because they have lived longer and are more aware of their mortality. Even the most experienced equestrian can experience jitters when horse riding because the possibility of physical harm always exists.