How do I get over a horse riding fear?

Question

You see, once a horse cantered me and took me over a jump, when I was a beginner. I started lessons again and I only like to ride this ONE horse, sometimes one other horse. I am afraid of a horse named Granny. She is blind in one eye. People can fall off Granny on her bad side because she goes, like crazy! I am scared to ride her. And I don't like Mickey, and I don't know ANYTHING about a new horse named Jacket. So I won't ride those three. What do I do when my teacher asks me to ride one of them. Hurry! I need help alteast by Monday. My cousin had a surgery from falling off a horse, and I don't want that.

Answer 1

If you're not comfortable, then you're not comfortable, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm a firm believer that you should trust your gut instinct - there's usually a reason that it's trying to tell you something! That was one of the first things my mentor told me - you have to learn to trust yourself.

Talk to your instructor, and tell them that you're not comfortable riding horses that you're not familiar with. It's better to 'fess up than have to do something you don't want to - sometimes the emotional worry and scarring from doing something like that is worse than the falling off!

It sounds like you already know and have made up your mind about 2 of the horses - do you have time to spend with the new one, and get to know him from the ground first? You might find once you get to know him, he goes from the bad list to the good!

Answer 2

Just be straight up with the teacher and if they respect you as a student their not going to make you ride that horse.  If they do and you got injured you could pursue legal action.  Teachers are there to help you not hinder and if this person doesn't do that they don't have your best benefits in mind.  A horse with one eye that already injured people should be retired and as far as the other two horses talk to people who have ridden them and find out about them.  Also, you can watch how they handle when people ride them so you won't be as apprehensive.  

Answer 3

Discuss this with your instructor.  Have trust in her decision.  After all, that is what you are paying him/her for.

Answer 4

i also ride horses and fallen off SO many times. but no matter what you still need to get back on. horseback riding is a risk and i promise you that your trainer wouldn't do anything that would make you unsafe.

Answer 5

Just because one person has had an injury falling off a particular horse does not mean that you or anyone else will.  Just because a few people have fallen off another horse, does not mean that you will.

People fall of bicycles, hurt themselves and get back on.  You probably have.  Why not get on a horse when you can do it with a bicycle?

I think you will need to toughen up a bit if you want to carry on.

Maybe ask for a few private lessons before rejoining your group to try and iron out your issues.  Ask for a lunge lesson.  That is an enormous help.

Otherwise I feel that perhaps you are just not a horse riding person.  Not everyone is.

Good luck and I hope to see you in 2024 Olympic games!

Answer 6

Im a horse person as well and i know wat its like to be nervouse but i think horseback riding takes risks and thats part of the thrill  talk with your trainer ur teacher wouldnt do anything your not comfortable with

Answer 7

discus is with ur instructor the best thing to do is get on a good horse and canter, thats it and get confident and u will galloping in no time.

but just ride like a good one for now and progress upwards and if ur scared remember  to hold on to the front of the saddle if u need to.

and if u can stick to the one horse as well. but if a year in time ur still like i feel unsafe, u need to get over it and get on with it.

there is a girl like that, she has been riding for 4 years or 6 i dunno and on every horse she rides she is like "i feel unsafe" and we put her on the quietest horse ever but still unsafe just because we dont put her on her "favourite horses", everytime she rides them she hurts there back when they trot, so we cant put her on them.

so yeh hope u eventually do get better.

EDIT: You will get over it and u will be a great rider in no time.

have fun, cya.

PS: in the one that wrote the question about the favourite horse breed and coat.

Answer 8

Well cowgirl it's about time you tough up the only thing that gonna hurt you is the ground.

Answer 9

have you tried riding granny?

or any of the horses?

if you fall off the horse then you get right back on the horse and continue riding like it never happened.

Horse riding is about the experiences you gain and learning to ride

the only couple of suggestions I can help you with is :

just try out the three horses there. Try them out first if you have not just cause they fell off. If you talk to your riding instructor about getting a different horse they can get mad they give theses horses for a reason so you learn to ride horses and help you get over your fear

Answer 10

talk to your instuctor about it. he/ she should understand and they shold work with you on those horses. im sorry to tell you but if you are going to ride horses you ARE  going to fall off and possibly get hurt its just the way it works. there is no way you can avoid it really. i have been rideing horses my whould like and you just have to face your fears and get on.

Answer 11

Maybe you should try and bond with the other horses by brushing or stroking them if possible...then you will be more willing to trust them with your life.  

Answer 12

Forget it dont do it

Answer 13

If your that afraid, ask the instructor if you can start riding the other horse (the hors which u are uncomfortable on) around in a round yard or on a lunge rope, to start building your confidence

It is better if u take risks, plus the more times you fall off and get back on the better rider you will be, and the more horses you ride,which are different in size, temprament or speed, the better, it will improve your riding skills..

hope this helps