Whether you ride competitively or for pleasure, working with horses is a very “mental” activity. You want to feel relaxed and confident when you interact with them. They are also expert interpreters of body language. If you’re angry, tense, nervous, or uncertain; happy, relaxed, or confident, the horse knows how you “feel” before you get in the saddle. As prey animals, horses look to a herd leader (boss mare) for reassurance and confidence. She is the one who tells the herd when (it’s safe) to move, where to go, how fast to get there, and when to stop. As long as the herd stays together, everyone is protected and feels “safe.” Every time you ride a horse, you need to be the “boss mare” in your herd of two.
Even “small” horses are big, strong animals compared to the humans who ride them. I offer hypnotherapy to help equestrians find that mental and emotional space of comfort, confidence, relaxation and focus they need to assume this leadership role.
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
