I am a rider overcoming lack of confidence issues.
My mare Bailey had tendon problems and was off work for eight months or so. Well the idea of riding her for the very first time frightened me. But ‘everything for a reason’ I like to believe.
The forced time off her, allowed me to complete the four modules of this course. I had got into the habit of doing Equestrian Tai Chi practice in the field and in the stable. I also had got into the habit of doing the breathing exercises. I got a lot of practice in before I really needed it. The Equestrian Tai Chi Form is flowing now and not clunky as at first. It’s not like Jenny’s yet, but I’ll keep trying. I know The Form now without the videos, but it’s also good for me to re-watch the videos and find ways to refine the movements.
The very first ride on Bailey was the test for me. I worked her on the ground. I tacked her up. I mounted and I did the full Equestrian Tai Chi Form on her back for the first time! I finished and I asked her to walk on. We did a little walk and a trot and I was thrilled.
How I believe it works for me is:
It gives my mind something else to do, than worry about the ‘what if’s’. I realised that while doing the ‘something else to do’, that I didn’t die.
The reason being that the ‘something else’ was deliberately drawing breath into my body, relaxing my muscles and reducing my heart rate, and thereby calming my emotions and interrupting the fear story that gets rerun in my head.
The energy field that me and my horse share has been calmed. There is no need for Bailey to be worried or anxious, her herd members are calm, so she is. This leaves us both free to deal with the real issues, that can, and do arise, without wasting our energy on imagined ones.
Equestrian Tai Chi is not a quick fix, it is a health enhancing habit, that every horse rider needs to practice, especially important to anyone who suffers from anxiety. Thanks so much Jenny Pim.
– Margo Murphy,
Ireland