If you've ever been afraid to ride your horse, you've probably heard some version of this:
Just get on.
Push through it.
Don't think about it.
Don't let the fear win.
And sometimes?
That works.
Sometimes we need a little nudge to do something that feels uncomfortable.
But sometimes...
The pressure to push through fear might be exactly what's keeping you stuck.
Pushing Through Riding Fear Isn't the Same as Working Through It
You can be afraid...
Get on your horse anyway...
Ride...
Get off...
And still be just as afraid the next time.
Because getting on doesn't automatically address WHY you were afraid in the first place.
If your entire strategy is:
IGNORE FEAR → GET ON HORSE
You're missing a really important step.
Listening to what the fear is telling you.
Your Riding Fear Isn't the Enemy
Fear has a job.
It's trying to keep you safe.
That doesn't mean everything fear tells you is TRUE.
And it doesn't mean fear gets to make all of your riding decisions.
But you can stop fighting it long enough to listen.
Instead of:
“How do I make myself get on?”
Try:
“What am I actually afraid of?”
What does your brain think is going to happen?
What would help you feel more prepared?
What's the root fear telling you?
Now you have something you can actually work with.
Give Yourself Permission NOT to Ride
Yep.
I said it.
Give yourself permission not to ride.
Take away the HAVE TO.
You don't HAVE to ride today.
And you don't HAVE to ride because you're afraid that if you don't...
the fear wins.
Now ask yourself:
Do I WANT to ride today?
Because there's a HUGE difference between:
“I have to make myself get on.”
and...
“I'm choosing to ride today.”
Not riding isn't automatically moving you backward.
And riding isn't automatically moving you forward.
You get to choose today.
If You Choose to Ride, Make a Plan
Choosing to ride doesn't mean:
“Well, let's get on and see what happens.”
NOPE.
Make your plan BEFORE you put your foot in the stirrup.
Start with your pre-ride checklist.
Know your GO / NO GO decision points.
Then decide exactly what you're going to do.
One of my riding plans was...
FOUR STEPS.
That was it.
Four steps.
And here's the part horsewomen are REALLY good at screwing up:
If the four steps go beautifully...
DO NOT MOVE THE GOALPOST.
Don't suddenly decide:
“Well, that went well. Maybe I'll do a lap.”
Nope.
You planned four steps.
Do the four steps.
Get off.
Celebrate.
Put those Courage Pennies in the bank.
And repeat.
That's how four steps can eventually become something much bigger.
You Don't Have to Prove Anything
The goal isn't to become REALLY good at forcing yourself through fear.
And the goal isn't to never feel afraid.
The goal is to hear what the fear is telling you...
Decide what you need...
Make a plan...
And take one step forward.
Sometimes that step will be riding.
Sometimes it won't.
And tomorrow?
You get to choose again.
If you've been trying to “just get on” and wondering why your riding fear keeps coming back, you may not need to push harder.
You may need a different plan.
A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's actually creating your riding fear and figure out what your next step could be.
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