Ridecamp: RE: [RC] Helmets and fear

I've gone through at least 5 helmets in the 8 years I've been riding. I
NEVER  ride without one!

I would say I've never been able to get really over the fear of falling off.
I do experience a noticably increased tension or alertness that translates
to something between fear and excitement before every event I've entered
although I've never had a bad accident during an event. The accidents are
usually on training rides.

Every time I get on a horse, that fear factor is there. Maybe it's not fear,
but a respect and attentiveness to the occasion of riding a 1000 pound
animal who really does have a mind of it's own. Every time I mount, it's
special and has it's own set of good and bad experiences during that
session. I just do what I can to avoid an accident and then have to trust my
God to take care of the rest. He is really in control of what happens to me.
I just have to keep my stupidity factor at a minimum.

Happy Tails!

Susan & Fly Bye

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Dolores Arste
> Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 6:54 AM
> To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [RC] Helmets and fear
>
>
> So, since so many of you have taken some pretty big spills. Do any of you
> have fear left over?
> And, how do you deal with it?
>
> I was a fearless rider and then had a nasty spill on the road with no
> helmet. unconscious for a day and unable to work for 8 months my
> brains were
> fried. I didn't ride for 2 years maybe more. Then a fox hunting
> friend took
> me foxhunting and scared the daylights out of me and got me riding again.
>
> But, there is a residual fear a tightness that I did not have before. Its
> there every ride, every time. I am successful most of the time in fighting
> it and going on anyway. After the first 10 miles its gone. Doesn't have
> anything to do with the horse or horses I should say. I'd like to be a
> better rider even though I've bee riding most of my life.
>
> Someone suggested bareback riding to get balance really improved.
> I am short
> with short legs so I don't have mush weight to weeble wobble on:) Any
> thoughts?
>
> Dolores
>
>
>
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