How do you recover from an accident mentally?
That quickness of breath, the sweaty palms, the tension rising in the body happens to me when I think about my accident.  The interesting thing is watching my horses and realizing that they also feel the memories of accidents.  I can see their neck arch, their breathing increases, maybe even to the point of snorting, and their whole-body fills with tension.

I am so good at working with my horses, to help them overcome their memories of accidents.  But I wasn't as good at doing the same thing for me and I really started to look at the differences.  With my horses, I would teach them to relax.  I have a few favorite tools that I use to get them "up" and then I show them how to relax.  I have to change their memory of what happened by showing them a different way to be, showing them, they are in control of their emotion.

Wow, showing them control.  That is also the key for us, or at least it was for me.  I looked back at the accident, and I dissected it.  What led up to it?  How did it happen?  Were there signs I could have seen before it happened?  Even if I didn't know the answers, I could put the things in place to at least going forward, control the pre-accident situation.

It was so powerful to put the pieces into place to know that I had prepared myself to prevent future accidents.  Can they still happen, yes, but that feeling of control helped in the recovery from the accident mentally.  It built my confidence and courage and allowed me to continue enjoying riding.  I really thought about a car accident I had; did it stop me from driving?  Why let the horse accident stop me from riding?

The pieces I put in place are my pre-ride checklists.  One for the rider, is my mind right.  And one for the horse, are they ready to be ridden.  I feel like a pilot checking out an airplane before a flight.  It is methodical.  It is predefined.  They follow it exactly, every time they fly.  It prevents accidents to the best of the ability.  We can do the same for riding our horses and bring a piece of mind, even after an accident.

If you enjoyed this, you might enjoy my free guide:  3 Ways to Stop Panic

0 Comments

Leave a Comment


Hey there! I’m Elise Hittinger—Fear Slayer, Confidence Creator, and your go-to Courage Coach.

 
Once upon a time, I was that fearless kid riding deep into Angeles National Forest without a second thought. Then bam—life threw me a plot twist. A horse flipped on me, pinning me beneath it, and fear crept in like an uninvited guest who wouldn’t leave.

That moment tested everything. But here’s the wild part—I walked away with only bruises and a divine reminder that I wasn’t done yet. Fear may have stolen my joy for a while, but it did not get the final say.

Fast forward to a move to Kentucky, where the trails were calling my name. I had two choices: let fear keep the reins or take them back. Spoiler alert—I took them back. Now, I help other riders (and, honestly, anyone sick of fear running their life) do the same.

I make fear pack its little bags and GTFO. Whether it’s through hypnotherapy, NLP, or a little well-placed humor, I help people trade anxiety for confidence, doubt for courage, and overthinking for action.

So, if you’re ready to kick fear to the curb and rediscover the joy you deserve—I’m here for it. Let’s do this.

Contact

Copyrights © 2025 held by respective copyright holders, including Elise Hittinger.