Fear of open spaces

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Sassylassy

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I'm a reasonable competant rider, if not the most confident. I have a sensible horse who has never done anything to scare me (yet!) and I love to hack out with my hacking buddy. But our regular route round the farm takes us along tracks around the edges of recently harvested wheat fields and, for some reason I can't explain, the sight of all those open acres of stubble is triggering a severe anxiety reaction in me, to the point where I am considering cancelling hacking for a while. When the fields are under growing crops, and we stick strictly to the tracks, I have no issues. But the idea of straying on to the stubble for a little trot is genuinely making me feel quite scared and anxious. Can anyone relate to this and even offer some sort of explanation and coping strategies so I can get back to enjoying my riding time? Or do I have to wait until the fields are back to being cultivated and re-seeded so, in my head at least, they off limits for riding? I really feel like I'm going a little bit crazy. All helpful advice from other riders would be much appreciated. Thank you.
 
Have you recently been through some traumatic events? I had very similar feelings after a serious trauma and I think it was part of the whole feeling that the world is not a safe place. Maybe something in other areas of your life is causing you heightened anxiety and it’s spilling over into this feeling? I’d stick to places where you feel safe until you are feeling generally more self assured x
 
Maybe try and out yourself between the other horse and the hedge for a while whilst you build confidence? Sounds like you have a sensible horse. Just walk if that’s all you feel comfortable doing for now, and don’t go faster until you feel ready.
 
This is me too. I'm not sure why either. In my past I have been run away with in big open areas but my current one isn't the running away type. I've got a lot more nervous in the last few years since some health issues.
I can go across the moors if there is a track but an open field or beach makes me very nervous. Oddly , I'd sooner ride down the main road than an open field.
 
I am wary but that's because I used to ride an ex racer who would canter sideways until let go at any remote open space, every time . And be really hard to stop. This was a long time ago, I don't suppose you were run off with at some point, even if 20 years ago?
 
Even if your own horse has never taken off across a stubble field, you still know they can and that other horses do! Valid to be anxious!

Keep walking, don't even think of a trot. Tell yourself its completely forbidden. A farmer will come out with a shotgun if you do! One day, maybe, you'll not care about the gun and you'll want a trot anyway 😈 Or maybe you won't and you just keep having a little walk. Either way is fine! We're supposed to do this for fun!
 
I'm really lucky as my boy will pootle along buckle end anywhere so I'm probably not the best person to reply to this but... if you are riding along a hedge line or beside a crop filled field there is always potential for something like a bird or rabbit to pop out and spook the horses. If you are in a big field you can see all of those things. Also if your horse gets a bit faster than you would like there is ample room for turning, pulling up etc. Could you try walking right on the edge of the field and build from there? To be honest I wouldn't want to do much more than walk on the fields near me, the ground is awful.
 
This used to be me! And still is some days if I just feel like the vibes are off. As others say, if I feel like this then I just walk until I feel calmer, even if that is the entire field, and don’t let the person I’m with try to convince me otherwise. I also try and stick to the edge and put myself between the other horse and the hedge so it feels much less open. I try to release my grip on the reins and I end up yapping about absolute nonsense (or singing tbh) to try and keep my breathing steady.

But take things at your own pace and only do what you’re comfortable with. Maybe one day you’ll be happy upping the pace but it’s also completely fine if you’re not. Hacking is meant to be enjoyable!
 
I'm wondering if it is fear of the unknown? Have you ever had a high speed canter/gallop on this horse in an enjoyable, controlled way? I don't mean in an arena, but out hacking on a nice long bridelway? I'm wondering if you could set this up, with a trusted, relaible companion, it might reduce the fear of the potential speed? Perhaps even hire some gallops? But only do this if you feel totally up for it and ready to enjoy the speed. Just go as fast as you are enjoying, which is why your companion must be totoally trustworthy and pull up as soon as you say 'enough'.. I wouldn't want it to make you feel worse!
 
I'm the opposite! I prefer something like a stubble field because I can stay away from hedges! I look at open spaces as I/we can see what's ahead and have prior warning at anything about to jump out!
 
Thank you to you all for the replies. I'm comforted to know that I'm not the only one who gets anxious in this type of situation. I will try to keep myself between the hedge and my hacking pal, and I count myself fortunate that she is a sensible and sympathetic person who understands my concerns.

As far as I can recall, I have not had any previous bad experiences of the being-galloped-off-with type and am happy to continue at my own sedate pace. Perhaps I just need to get a grip and get on with it and see how it goes. Thank you again.
 
I wondered the same as @Cragrat
Have you tried a canter out hacking where you feel safe? Or do you have a friend who would like to go for a canter on the stubble you could watch so you see how your horse reacts?

It might give you confidence to give it a go if you see your horse behaving with someone else or it might give you more confidence just to walk in the stubble fields if that’s all you want to do.

@mariew my ex racer was the same. When I finally let her go I would spend half the time trying to get my stirrup back 🫣 I only had one place I could gallop her so that she tired herself out and I didn’t need to fight her to stop. But it was amazing.
Current pony just does as she’s asked, walk, trot or canter and I must admit it is far nicer 😂
 
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I can relate to this a bit. But only because I lost my nerve completely and didn't ride for 10 years. Now I am happily cantering on open moorland which has surprised me a lot.
I have a theory that much of my own loss of confidence is down to the menopause and hormones, and now I am past that I feel free of a lot of my old fears.
 
For me some of it feels a bit like agoraphobia, where I don't have anything close to focus on. On a beach is worst where I feel like I'll lose my balance and fall off unless I can find a landmark. Really odd and I can't see a reason for it. It's a bit like some people feel riding over bridges.
 
Are you perimenopausal by any chance? Before I started HRT, I was ridiculously anxious about riding (and only riding) having not been that anxious before. HRT (and a change of horse but that's a completely different story) made a huge difference.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to, just walking across the fields is fine but if/when you want to try going a bit faster, do you have a decent hill you can go up? Stopping at the top of a hill when they're tired is always easier.
 
Annagain said:
Are you perimenopausal by any chance? Before I started HRT, I was ridiculously anxious about riding (and only riding) having not been that anxious before. HRT (and a change of horse but that's a completely different story) made a huge difference.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to, just walking across the fields is fine but if/when you want to try going a bit faster, do you have a decent hill you can go up? Stopping at the top of a hill when they're tired is always easier.
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Lol! No, sadly a bit older than that, which might be part of the issue. Maybe I'm getting too old for all of this.
 
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