Riding and Releasing Fear at the Cellular Level
I’ve worked with a handful of riders who had deep fear issues, some of whom had many years of riding and horse ownership. What needs to be understood, and addressed, is the way the body stores fear-memory at the cellular level. Yoga, breathwork, grounding and relaxation techniques need to be incorporated – otherwise the trainer and the horse will always be working “upstream”..against that existing current of fear-memory.
Another big aspect of addressing the “overcoming fear”…is the absolute release of expectation and outcomes. Again, at the cellular level, it is re-training the energy-body. On the first level, it is essential to create safe-space. Even if it is sitting on the horse at the mounting block and never taking one step.
Additionally, work with all new students on a longe line – even if they have ridden with other trainers or have experience coming into the barn. Teach them that it is about calibrating to new horses, and not about their skill level as a rider. If a rider objects to this, as an insult to their skill – this also speaks volumes about their pride, versus their intuition-empathy. Pride and ego are not the most compatible companions for building relationship and partnership with horses…. those need to be put aside, before intuition, connection can come forward to create genuine rapport. Ultimately, it is always about “building relationship,” and those need to be grounded in trust and awareness.
Ask the rider if they would like to walk, or prefer to chat for a while – about ‘whatever.” the goal is two-fold. On the first level, it is allowing the body to relax, and know that it has no expectation. nothing sudden or dire is going to happen.
Ask the rider to do some stretches if they seem, look uncomfortable. this can often be noticed via a release-breath from horse and/ or rider. The horse is a barometer for what is going on inside the rider. USE this!
Secondly, in doing this, it is building a trust relationship. the rider understands, at all levels, that neither horse nor trainer are going to suddenly push them over the edge, the cliff, into their fear.
At first approach, this may seem like a slower approach. However, if there is fear.. there is a breach of trust. That sacred relationship needs to be restored, and the trainer needs to understand, is sacred. The trainer should never decide FOR the rider, what the rider is ready for or should do, or be able to do.
While working on this approach, it is better to work with very short successful bursts. It is imperative NEVER to push too far or too long, and put the rider into a stressed situation. Additionally, short successful “bursts” are far more effective for entraining muscle memory and learning, than pushing past into the point of fatigue.
Pause every 10 minutes, have the rider drop their stirrups and breathe. I also have riders do breathwork. Deep breathing informs the body to relax – that the stress has passed. It also allows muscles to oxygenate, further allowing the muscles to relax and re-energise.
Simple exercises are also key helpful aspects. Exercises that build a strong “center point” or balance. Things like toe-touches, arm circles as well as various yoga-stretches…serve, when used with intention, to inform the body where its balance is.
Teaching to engage with all the senses is another element. When riding a horse, the body is taking in huge amounts of information, and the brain is neurologically attempting to process it. letting a rider walk, on a longe line, with hands on hips, or the top of the head..and closing their eyes..is letting the body FEEL what a horse’s motion should feel like.. tuning in on deeper levels..and, with the body-understanding.. begins to come a body-relaxation.
Built into this approach is the understanding and implicit lesson that riding is about spending time with the horse. hugs, pets, rewards each and every time the horse walks, whoa’s, or stands for the exercises…this creates feedback loops of praise/reward between horse and rider.
And remember – if there are days when the rider only wants to sit on the horse, hug the horse, or walk in a single circle, that is where they are at. Honour that. remember, as a trainer – it is no longer about YOU.. support their journey.
I am an Education Specialist, Health Coach and Author. I work with aspects of the teachings I have learned from Andean shamanic and cosmology, to health, nutrition and education. Everything is energy. Energy must flow. Like water, when it does not flow, it stagnates and is not healthy. These techniques help your life to flow. I have been initiated into many of the ancient lineages and learned ceremonies, rites of passage and healing techniques. I have worked as a healer and done workshops and taught some of these aspects – passing the teachings on.
Author of:
Dancing in Your Bubble : ancient teaching, modern healing
Natural Support for Alzheimer’s
Getting a Handle on Happy : find and fix causes of stress and depression
The Naturally Smarter Kid : a parent’s guide to helping kids succeed in school and life
Cafe of the Hungry Ghosts : behind the veil of ordinary – a paranormal-ish fiction book
http://BeingHerd.com
http://repairalz.com
