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[RC] fear..long - Amber B FortI didn't see the first post about this topic and I put it in ALL lower case on purpose. fear use to be FEAR for me as well. I have been an avid rider since the age of 8, you know the 'go everywhere at a full gallop' type kid. I took my share of unskeduled dismounts like anyone would expect and they never fazed me, just hopped back on cause I was NOT walking home.;) Anyway, around the age of 25, I found that my courage/confidence (or stupidity) suddenly left me with a triple unskeduled dismount on the second colt that I trained by myself. I realized after having the wind knocked out of me that I don't bounce like I used to. I suddenly had FEAR of riding. It took me a really long time to conquer this as life stuff was happening and I wasn't able to ride as much as I really needed to, to get over it. I ended up selling the jack in the box colt after having someone else ride him through his acrobats since I can't sit a buck worth a crap. His new owner never had a problem by the way. But I still had this ISSUE with FEAR. After about 5 years, things in my life settled and I was confronted with starting a young Arab stallion from scratch. Once he was to the point I could ride him, I kept telling myself that "no one else was going to do it for me" and asking my self HOW BAD do I want to ride. After awhile of dedicating myself to safe riding practices and telling myself the above, I noticed that FEAR had turned into Fear, then fear and now I think has been changed to a healthy self presevartion thing. I try not to put myself or my horse in a dangerous situation if at all possible. The first thing, I think one must ask is HOW bad do you want to ride? How much time do you want to dedicate to changing the way your thinking/feeling? Then take steps to 'fix' it. Like someone else said, find a solid friend with a solid horse and ride with them for awhile. Get them to coach you through your moments and keep you distracted by chatting and reminding you to breath! IF you really want to conquer this, then make a plan and start working on it and you to can change FEAR to fear and eventually Respect for the 1000 pound prey animal that you happen to love to ride. By the way, the young Arab stallion that helped me get through my issues is my boy, JerryO. And I am immensly glad I stuck it out with him and thankful he has laid claim to me for his personal keeper. Good luck, Amber Fort Knight Hawk Ranch "Performance with out parameters" Home to the Black Arabian stallions: Kaysa Jerry (72% CMK) Black Streak (Pure Polish)
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