Getting Back On The Horse

Knowing when to step away and when to turn toward a challenge is a key moment and I am most in tune with these gut instincts when I am around horses.

When I was injured in a horse-riding accident, I was afraid to get back on. Was this weird shaky feeling fear or excitement? They are so closely related.

Tuning into my body, I noticed the difference between good butterflies in my stomach: an excited curiosity about a dangerous yet fun activity, as opposed to icky dread: don’t do this- walk away!– a thud in the pit of my stomach.

There is a fine line between excitement and fear and the only way to find out how I really feel is to tune into my body. Giving up something I love because fear got in the way would have been sad!

My horse accident was painful and scary, but it turned into a blessing. Getting in tune with my gut instincts helped me get the confidence to get back on the horse. I have a renewed sense of faith in myself as I listen to these body cues and trust my internal guidance system.

Photo by Maureen O’Leary-Burr