Are you tired of constantly being afraid when you ride, nervous over every little thing, always looking forward to riding and yet dreading it at the same time?
Would you like almost more than anything in the world (yes, almost), just to be able to relax on horseback and enjoy your time with your horse (while you are actually on your horse)?
Imagine for a moment, if your worries were only little ones ....
You are thinking about going riding later on in the day, and all you are worried about are things like;- "Will it be raining? I'd better wear a coat. Or where will I go? I might go to the woods, or will the gate be locked?"
Little things like that, instead of secretly and silently being very afraid, every time you thought about your ride (and you probably thought about it a lot).
Would you like to learn how to use tools that you already have, to calm your fear of riding, and to make a real connection with your horse, so you can both enjoy your time together, you and your horse.
You can learn how to use your energy, and your breath, to go deep inside your body and to transform your fear into genuine Awareness, which is the opposite to Fear.
I can show you how to do this, through the medium of Equestrian Tai Chi exercises specifically designed for practice on horseback, and Taoist Breathing exercises specifically designed for riding.
Please note, these exercises are designed for riders who are already able to ride competently and who have a horse they are able to manage.
If you are desperately afraid, you must bear in mind that your fear will also make your horse afraid and I feel it would be better if you sought the help of a local Riding Instructor that is sympathetic to your fear and that you both like and trust, these two things are very important as sometimes it's hard to be vulnerable with someone who is not understanding. Then combined with that professional help, my training would be excellent for you. I want you to be safe.
If you are a 'regular (I know sounds strange but you'll know what I mean if you are one!) nervous rider', this course will be of great benefit to you!
I always think it is so strange, that we all love riding and want to do it so much - even if we are very afraid.
I wanted to find a way to make people independent, for them to be able to manage their own fear, so they could find within themselves, the strength and the courage, to be able to ride happily and to enjoy their time with their horse, while they were actually on their horse.
HAVING A FEAR OF RIDING IS VERY COMMON, HERE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY PEOPLE FEEL AFRAID ....
1. They have had a bad experience, or a series of bad experiences and it has knocked their confidence. They may have had a bad fall, or a very bad fright.
2. They know someone, or they have heard about someone, who has had a serious riding accident and it is constantly on their mind.
3. They have an injury or injuries, and they are worried they might aggravate an old injury, or worse if they took a fall.
4. They were over-horsed. They may have been riding a young nervous animal whose energy frightened them, or a horse that was too strong for them, or they may have been riding a badly schooled horse, whose behaviour they didn't know how to correct.
5. They have become a parent. It is very common for people who have children to see danger everywhere. There is also the added responsibility of being a parent and worrying who would take care of their child if something should happen them.
6. They are getting older. It is natural to be worried about falling and being injured as we get older. Bones don't mend as quickly and our reactions may not be as sharp as they were when we were younger. Also there is the worry or not being able to drive if they were injured, or not being able to work, or to meet financial commitments, or to take care of their family. There is also the worry of not being able to take care of their horse.
7. They just can't pin it down to anything. Some people don't know why they are afraid, it could be a combination of things, but nothing of significance. They just feel uneasy and anxious a lot of the time.
I often hear nervous riders being given advice like, 'repeat a Mantra', or 'just breathe'. People giving this advice may mean well, but a rider who is extremely frightened needs much more than this to calm their fear.
Most people know that deep breathing helps to calm fear, but if that was all it took, then nobody would be afraid when they were riding.
It is true that deep breathing is great for calming fear, but in reality, people are not able to sustain it for long, unless they practice it, and more importantly, unless they practice the right type of breathing.
Taking few deep breaths and then going back to being scared again is not contributing to lasting change. It is not going to give you the confidence in yourself, when you are going out for a ride, that you have the ability to control your fear.
The exercises in Taoist Breathing For Riding take into account that you're in continuous motion, and are in close contact with your horse, who'll be affected by your breathing.
I have spent years developing the exercises that are compatible with riding and calming fear into a system, that gives people strategies for different types of situations.
I have been teaching Tai Chi professionally since 2002. I'm a registered Tai Chi Instructor for The Tai Chi Union For Great Britain and a Registered Riding Coach with Horse Sport Ireland.
Taoist Breathing & Equestrian Tai Chi for Confident Riding is a system where all of the parts go together. Everything is based on Tai Chi and Taoist methodology.
1. By practicing Equestrian Tai Chi, you will awaken and develop your internal energy. This is a shared practice for you and your horse. It will deepen your connection, and give you both a chance to enjoy time together, when you are not frightened, until you can get used to not being frightened when you ride.
2. Because you are awakening and developing your internal energy, it gives you the ability to use your energy and your breath, to monitor and adjust how your body feels. You do not control your fear, or suppress it, or ignore it, or pretend it is something different. You harmonize with your fear and accept it, you pay attention to it's physical symptoms, and then you change them.
3. You learn how to apply what you have learned in Equestrian Tai Chi and Taoist Breathing For Riding, so that you can feel less afraid when you ride.
Maybe you have tried other things to get over your fear and they haven't worked, maybe you've given up hope, that you will be able to get over your fear, maybe you think you will do it sometime soon, or even next year. Maybe you think that you have tried everything.
But here's the thing, you haven't tried tried this. If you begin now, you could actually start to enjoy your riding, to even look forward to it. Imagine only missing your ride, if your really had to, and not being glad of any excuse not to go riding. Does that inspire hope in you, that you could actually feel that?
Horses feel so much happier with us when we are not afraid, they can relax and enjoy the special time they have with us. Would your horse have more fun with you if you were more relaxed?
Would you not really enjoy it, if you could just relax with your horse, and be carefree and happy?
Isn't that how it should be, you both happy, and relaxed and connected together?
If you'd like to find out about my course Taoist Breathing & Equestrian Tai Chi for Confident Riding, please message me in the gold chat button and I'll come back to you later on today!