HeresHoping
Well-Known Member
In the Cambs area? I have permission to ask this.
I have a friend with a lovely, but young and scatty, Oldenburg x TB. She needs to get out and about more to improve balance, fitness and, let's be honest here, confidence. The horse can be nappy and silly when uncertain. Friend is a very good rider and trainer, with BHS Stg 4 under her belt.
However, 4 and a bit years ago, my friend was out hacking and was hit by a car from behind. She lost her horse in an absolute horror of an accident. She was covered in hi-vis, as was the horse. The driver of the vehicle was subsequently banned from driving.
Understandably, she is now petrified of riding on or near the roads. She hears/sees a car and visibly tenses, which of course results in horse being silly and not safe. I ride out with her on a rock steady neddy, and block her against the traffic where possible. She has been brave in trying to get out once a week, but because we have to travel down a few roads to get anywhere, by the time we're in a safe area she needs a good 10 minutes to get her own heart rate back to normal.
There're always one or two p***ocks, though, aren't there, who sees fit to cause chaos? We were travelling back up through the village at a gentle walk, horse behaving beautifully and not blinking at the few cars that passed, when some prat in a fiesta creeps up behind and starts revving the engine. I had, being on the outside of her, already asked him to slow down. He revved and thought the consequences hilarious. Poor friend, she was white as a sheet, holding on for dear life and shaking like a leaf. Of course, this tension has adverse consequences on the horse. To crown it all, some twit coming the other way decides that horses in the middle of the road should be driven at, refused to slow down, and did some shouting to boot.
My friend really would like to try and get over this panic. I suggested hypnotherapy, but wondered whether it was best to try a therapist who understood the equine needs, too. Could you recommend anyone, please?
Or do you have any alternative suggestions, please?
I have a friend with a lovely, but young and scatty, Oldenburg x TB. She needs to get out and about more to improve balance, fitness and, let's be honest here, confidence. The horse can be nappy and silly when uncertain. Friend is a very good rider and trainer, with BHS Stg 4 under her belt.
However, 4 and a bit years ago, my friend was out hacking and was hit by a car from behind. She lost her horse in an absolute horror of an accident. She was covered in hi-vis, as was the horse. The driver of the vehicle was subsequently banned from driving.
Understandably, she is now petrified of riding on or near the roads. She hears/sees a car and visibly tenses, which of course results in horse being silly and not safe. I ride out with her on a rock steady neddy, and block her against the traffic where possible. She has been brave in trying to get out once a week, but because we have to travel down a few roads to get anywhere, by the time we're in a safe area she needs a good 10 minutes to get her own heart rate back to normal.
There're always one or two p***ocks, though, aren't there, who sees fit to cause chaos? We were travelling back up through the village at a gentle walk, horse behaving beautifully and not blinking at the few cars that passed, when some prat in a fiesta creeps up behind and starts revving the engine. I had, being on the outside of her, already asked him to slow down. He revved and thought the consequences hilarious. Poor friend, she was white as a sheet, holding on for dear life and shaking like a leaf. Of course, this tension has adverse consequences on the horse. To crown it all, some twit coming the other way decides that horses in the middle of the road should be driven at, refused to slow down, and did some shouting to boot.
My friend really would like to try and get over this panic. I suggested hypnotherapy, but wondered whether it was best to try a therapist who understood the equine needs, too. Could you recommend anyone, please?
Or do you have any alternative suggestions, please?
