Hypnotherapy? Psychologist? What would help fear of loss of control?

[Muddy unicorn]

A few months ago I had a nasty fall which resulted in me being thrown into a concrete wall at speed, breaking several vertebrae and ribs. I started riding again a few weeks ago and have been feeling surprisingly unworried about it until I tried cantering for the first time since my accident today. I got a few strides of canter but when I should have been pushing the pony on I just wimped out and he kept dropping back into trot.

At that point chaos broke out around the arena as several ponies who’d been in the next field suddenly decided to break through the hedge. The pony I was on did a few big sideways spooks and started getting very tense and anxious so I decided to call it a day and get off.

According to my instructor I am competent and balanced (I didn’t have any problems sitting to the spooks for example) and the problem with cantering isn’t a matter of lack of skill, it’s in my mind.

I would really like to get back to the stage of being able to canter happily and confidently both in the school and out hacking. I’m pretty sure I’m blocking the canter because I fear losing control - my fall happened when I got tanked off with in a very large arena. Any ideas how I get past this? If you’ve had a similar experience what’s helped?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Meditation right before you ride, my friend had a terrible fall too and broke her pelvis, we did mediation together to relax her and eventually her confidence grew again! You will get there. Is there any way you can ride with ponies out the field? To try help you relax, less distractions? A huge well done for getting back on! Good for you

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Karl Greenwood's book and YouTube have been really useful to me and I know others on here have found his stuff really helpful for confidence. I have a similar block about canter at the moment, and I haven't actually been tanked off with or fallen off! That probably doesn't make me a great example of overcoming it as I haven't got there...yet. I do have confidence that what I am doing is all building blocks to get me where I want to be though, and that I am remembering to enjoy all the steps on the way instead of classic me beating myself up that I haven't done it yet.

 

[scats]

A few years ago I had a bad fall getting thrown off and breaking my ankle (anyone sensing a theme here?? ). The horse absolutely turned itself inside out after going rigid and I developed a major fear anytime a horse lifted its back or suddenly felt different/sharp/spooky. I sort of ignored it for a while, as I trusted the other horse I had, but when I went looking to buy another horse I found it massively affected me at viewings and I realised I was really quite scared. In desperation, I found someone on FB who did NLP, which was basically a load of weird tapping on various parts of my body while I had this session over the phone. I thought it weird, felt fairly embarrassed, and made peace with the fact I had probably wasted some money. Until I got on a horse who suddenly went rigid through its body, which would normally have had me terrified, and I realised I didn’t feel like I wanted to get off. I don’t know much about NLP, and I don’t know if it was fluke, a placebo effect or what, but it did seem to work.
I’m not sure if my recent accident will throw up any old issues, as the same basically happened again, horse went rigid/back up and then all hell broke loose which resulted in a fairly traumatic accident. If so, I will definitely give the NLP another try.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Karl Greenwood's book and YouTube have been really useful to me and I know others on here have found his stuff really helpful for confidence. I have a similar block about canter at the moment, and I haven't actually been tanked off with or fallen off! That probably doesn't make me a great example of overcoming it as I haven't got there...yet. I do have confidence that what I am doing is all building blocks to get me where I want to be though, and that I am remembering to enjoy all the steps on the way instead of classic me beating myself up that I haven't done it yet.

I was also going to suggest Karl Greenwood.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I wanted to add, though it sounds like you have this covered, the other thing helping me is having the right instructor/coach. Mine is a great balance between being straightforward in her approach whilst being understanding. This helps me take pressure of myself in appropriate areas while developing discipline to do the things I need to do to ride well/safely/effectively (i.e., the 'bitesize' steps KG talks about) and I can do a lot of those in walk and trot. I also take confidence knowing she doesn't just say nice things to make me feel better so when I get the positive feedback I trust it!

 

[Emilieu]

My friend is a hypnotherapist and said she would be able to help me with a similar fear. She also highly recommended trying NLP. In the end I didn’t need either, it was the right horse that got me past it. Now however I wish I hadn’t waited so long to face it!

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Thank you - I’ve ordered Karl Greenwood’s book and will look at NLP/hypnotherapy too.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Karl Greenwood definitely!
But if you fractured several vertebrae only a few months ago I don't think you should be riding yet...I only fractured one and was in a back brace for 2 months followed by very careful physio. I rode about 6 months after my injury. Just worried that if you were to fall again your original fractures probably aren't stable enough for that yet.....

Karl Greenwood's book and hypnosis tape really helped me change my way of thinking so I could let go of the what-if thoughts and fears.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

@Sossigpoker - I was lucky in that my fractures were stable so I didn’t need surgery or a brace - just rest and physio. I wasn’t allowed to do anything jarring or with a risk that I might fall for 3 months after the accident and I waited another month before getting back on.

 

[melody-maker]

I’m in a similar position to you, though after a much more minor fall (no injuries, but did have to replace my helmet), and I’m off to do the Rider Confidence Course that Karl Greenwood runs this weekend, which I’m really hoping will help. In the meantime, I’ve found it a little easier to do short bursts of canter - maybe just the short side of the school - and then being very intentional about the downwards transition so it’s my choice to go back to trot, even if we only cantered a few strides. I’ve also found cantering away from a jump (after coming in in trot) has been a good way of getting the canter without it feeling like quite such a big deal.

 

[Kunoichi73]

I’m in a similar position to you, though after a much more minor fall (no injuries, but did have to replace my helmet), and I’m off to do the Rider Confidence Course that Karl Greenwood runs this weekend, which I’m really hoping will help. In the meantime, I’ve found it a little easier to do short bursts of canter - maybe just the short side of the school - and then being very intentional about the downwards transition so it’s my choice to go back to trot, even if we only cantered a few strides. I’ve also found cantering away from a jump (after coming in in trot) has been a good way of getting the canter without it feeling like quite such a big deal.

I'd love to hear what you think of the course once you been. I've been considering doing it at some point. Particularly for the falling off part.

 

[daydreamer]

I did the rider confidence course and really enjoyed it, especially the falling off part. I did it as I have a youngster and though it might give me extra skills rather than because I was generally not very confident. Sadly it didn’t help at all when my youngster had me off the first time I got on him after he came back from being backed! Recently I have been following Jane Pike, search for the confident rider podcast and joyride. To get the full benefit you need to subscribe and work through a lot of movement work but there are some gems that should work in the short term. It is all about trying to make our body more adaptive and able to stay in the moment rather than getting stuck in our heads.

 

[eahotson]

I did the rider confidence course and really enjoyed it, especially the falling off part. I did it as I have a youngster and though it might give me extra skills rather than because I was generally not very confident. Sadly it didn’t help at all when my youngster had me off the first time I got on him after he came back from being backed! Recently I have been following Jane Pike, search for the confident rider podcast and joyride. To get the full benefit you need to subscribe and work through a lot of movement work but there are some gems that should work in the short term. It is all about trying to make our body more adaptive and able to stay in the moment rather than getting stuck in our heads.

You are going to think me terribly ignorant but I have never used podcasts.How do I get them?

 

[LEC]

I used Jo Cooper - http://www.equestrianconfidence.com/nlp.html

It’s not cheap but it works! Make sure you spend about an hour writing down EVERYTHING which might bother you. Eventing now I am sick as a dog off the horse before competing at a new level eventing but very calm on the horse.

 

[Kunoichi73]

You are going to think me terribly ignorant but I have never used podcasts.How do I get them?

Do you have a smartphone or tablet? If so you can download an app (I use Google podcasts) and then search for the podcasts you want on the app and play them. You should also be able to do this using a PC or laptop.

 

[eahotson]

Do you have a smartphone or tablet? If so you can download an app (I use Google podcasts) and then search for the podcasts you want on the app and play them. You should also be able to do this using a PC or laptop.

Thanks

 

[Jellymoon]

NLP/CBT, and bite size steps, and the latter being the most important. Prob a bit soon to canter, go back a step or several until it gets really boring.
I got my confidence back after a non-riding injury by just getting on for 30 secs, sitting there, and then getting off again and putting horse away. Built up from there and fully back into it now. I was properly sweating and shaking…really bad…and now I’m off competing again. Took about two months I think, but I can’t really remember! Which is cool as it was such a big deal at the time, was giving me sleepless nights.

 

[dorsetladette]

I was also going to suggest Karl Greenwood.

Another vote for the Karl Greenwood books.

 

[ponynutz]

Is he sensible out hacking? As in could you canter him away from the setting of an arena and not be worried he'd slip into gallop and you'd feel out of control again.

 

[daydreamer]

You are going to think me terribly ignorant but I have never used podcasts.How do I get them?

Not at all, I only discovered podcasts in the past couple of years! If you google confident rider podcast you will reach her page and it has direct links to series 2 episodes. You can also get to the 1st series from there and there is a blog too.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I was also going to suggest Karl Greenwood.

Me too been on one of his confidence courses well worth the money.

 

[eahotson]

Not at all, I only discovered podcasts in the past couple of years! If you google confident rider podcast you will reach her page and it has direct links to series 2 episodes. You can also get to the 1st series from there and there is a blog too.

Thanks.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Is he sensible out hacking? As in could you canter him away from the setting of an arena and not be worried he'd slip into gallop and you'd feel out of control again.

Unfortunately the horse I fell from has had to be retired so I’m on riding school horses for now until I find a suitable one

 

[Maxidoodle]

I’m in a similar position to you, though after a much more minor fall (no injuries, but did have to replace my helmet), and I’m off to do the Rider Confidence Course that Karl Greenwood runs this weekend, which I’m really hoping will help. In the meantime, I’ve found it a little easier to do short bursts of canter - maybe just the short side of the school - and then being very intentional about the downwards transition so it’s my choice to go back to trot, even if we only cantered a few strides. I’ve also found cantering away from a jump (after coming in in trot) has been a good way of getting the canter without it feeling like quite such a big deal.

I would also be really interested to hear what you think of the course, I’ve recently bought his book and found it life changing, I’m planning on doing his course when I can get back to the UK.

 

[Ceriann]

I’m in a similar position to you, though after a much more minor fall (no injuries, but did have to replace my helmet), and I’m off to do the Rider Confidence Course that Karl Greenwood runs this weekend, which I’m really hoping will help. In the meantime, I’ve found it a little easier to do short bursts of canter - maybe just the short side of the school - and then being very intentional about the downwards transition so it’s my choice to go back to trot, even if we only cantered a few strides. I’ve also found cantering away from a jump (after coming in in trot) has been a good way of getting the canter without it feeling like quite such a big deal.

Please let us know how you get on. A young horse destroyed my confidence and my hip and whilst my current horse is amazing I still have blips, especially if I don’t ride regularly. Right horse does help but they are all capable of an off day or a reaction - I can sometimes brush these off with new horse but sometimes I can’t and it takes ages to resolve eg months of not cantering after a miscommunication resulted in a fall. Every forward transition to canter (what you want right?!) would have me back at trot. I would love to resolve it properly too.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would also be really interested to hear what you think of the course, I’ve recently bought his book and found it life changing, I’m planning on doing his course when I can get back to the UK.

The course is really good it helped me before I did it I was struggling to even school either of my horses without crying.

I had a bad accident in the school while cantering my horse fell and my leg got trapped underneath him, I had 2 fractures in my ankle had to have surgery took me nearly 4 months to ride couldn't walk for ages.

I still have a bit of a mental issue with that menage but generally riding I am much better.

 

[Maxidoodle]

The course is really good it helped me before I did it I was struggling to even school either of my horses without crying.

I had a bad accident in the school while cantering my horse fell and my leg got trapped underneath him, I had 2 fractures in my ankle had to have surgery took me nearly 4 months to ride couldn't walk for ages.

I still have a bit of a mental issue with that menage but generally riding I am much better.

thank you, that is really helpful, the course sounds really worthwhile going on. Confidence is such a fragile thing. I totally lost mine after a very bad accident too and I make all sorts of excuses to not ride, even though my mare is wonderful (and not the horse I had the accident on).

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

thank you, that is really helpful, the course sounds really worthwhile going on. Confidence is such a fragile thing. I totally lost mine after a very bad accident too and I make all sorts of excuses to not ride, even though my mare is wonderful (and not the horse I had the accident on).

If you find Karl's Facebook he puts lots of confidence stuff you can do all the time it's really helpful I read his book all the time and he has hypnosis recordings you can save on your phone to listen to.

 

[Maxidoodle]

If you find Karl's Facebook he puts lots of confidence stuff you can do all the time it's really helpful I read his book all the time and he has hypnosis recordings you can save on your phone to listen to.

Oh fabulous thank you, I’m not on Facebook so I’ll Google and see if I can see it, the hypnosis recordings to save on your phone sound amazing! I have an archive room in work I spend a lot of time in at work, sounds like the perfect excuse to suddenly do more archiving!