Help for Nervous Horse Riders | Building Confidence in the Saddle and on the Road

When a Scare on the Road Shakes Your Confidence

The lady in this story reached out to me after a frightening experience left her doubting whether she could keep riding at all. To protect her identity, I’ll call her Sue.

Sue, in her mid-forties, had grown up around horses. Riding was simply part of her life. She was a committed equestrian who spent much of her spare time at the yard with her horse, Harvey—a Hanoverian-cross Draft—working on his schooling and enjoying their partnership. But one day, everything changed. During a routine hack on a familiar road, Sue and Harvey had a near miss with a motorcyclist.

A Close Call That Triggered Lasting Anxiety

Avoiding the roads wasn’t possible due to the built-up area around the yard. On the day of the incident, Sue was trotting along the shoulder, following safety guidelines as she always did. As she rounded a bend, a motorbike came up fast behind her and skimmed past far too close.

The rider swerved at the last second, just managing to avoid a serious accident. Harvey reacted, of course, but not as badly as he could have—and Sue somehow managed to stay in the saddle. Neither she nor Harvey was physically hurt, but the shock hit hard. The motorcyclist didn’t even stop.

Harvey quickly settled, but Sue didn’t. The “what ifs” began to take over. What if this happens again? What if I can’t keep us safe next time? What if the outcome is far worse?

Being a wife and mother, the thought of something happening weighed heavily on her. With only a small, muddy paddock available, roadwork was unavoidable—but fear had begun to overshadow her love of riding.

When Sue Reached Out for Help

Sue had read about my Confident Rider Series in Your Horse Magazine and learned that self-hypnosis can help riders move past fear, especially after a bad experience.

We had a long conversation, and she initially wanted a face-to-face session, but distance and cost made that difficult. Instead, she decided to try one of my downloadable recordings. Based on what she described, Roadwork with Confidence was the right fit.

You’ll find more information about how the process works further down.

I’m happy to say that within a short time, Sue was riding Harvey on the roads again. She listened once a day for five days, then dipped back in now and again to keep herself topped up. Her confidence grew, her calm returned, and before long she was back to enjoying her hacks.

How does Self-Hypnosis work for nervous riders?

Nerves can creep in quietly and then take over. You feel that tightness in your stomach, picture everything that might go wrong, and lose the joy of simply being with your horse.

Self-hypnosis helps break that cycle.

Think of it as guided mental training that teaches your mind to switch off the noise and reconnect with calm, steady thinking. Through deep relaxation and positive suggestions, you start replacing those “what if this goes wrong?” thoughts with “I can handle this” instead.

It helps you:

• stay grounded

• ride with a clear head

• stop replaying past scares

• stop worrying about what might happen

• enjoy being in the moment with your horse

Many riders tell me it feels like gaining a reset button—something they can come back to whenever life, nerves, or old fears start creeping in again.

Why Pre-Recorded Self-Hypnosis Works So Well for Riders

Using a pre-recorded session has several advantages:

Convenience—You can listen anytime, anywhere. No appointments, no travel, no scheduling issues.

Affordability—Far easier on the budget than one-to-one sessions.

Privacy—You can work through things at your own pace without needing to share personal details face-to-face.

Repeatability—If you need a boost, you can replay the session whenever you want.

Rider-Specific Insight – My recordings come from someone who rides and understands horses. I’ve been around them all my life, so these sessions are built around the real challenges riders face.

Important Safety Note

If you have a history of the following, please speak with a doctor or licensed therapist before using hypnotherapy:

• schizophrenia, paranoia, psychopathy, or any form of psychosis

• violent behaviour

• uncontrolled high or low blood pressure

Because hypnosis can affect blood pressure, it’s important that your doctor is aware if this applies to you.

Practical Road Riding Tips for Nervous Riders

Riding on the road can be daunting—especially after a scare—but many of us have no choice. Here are a few straightforward tips to help you feel more in control:

Choose Your Route Wisely

Pick quieter roads when you can and avoid areas with roadworks or heavy traffic.

Make Sure Your Horse Is Ready

A well-schooled, responsive horse makes all the difference. Riding with an experienced instructor can help you both feel more secure out on the road.

Ride With a Companion

Having another rider with you can boost your confidence and provide support if you need it.

Take Your Time

Don’t rush. Allow extra time so you aren’t riding in busy periods or under pressure.

Make Yourself Visible

Wear reflective gear, and consider reflective equipment for your horse. Let drivers know your intentions clearly.

Stay Calm and Steady

Your horse feels your tension. Deep breaths, steady hands, and a relaxed seat go a long way.

Put Safety First

If something feels unsafe, there’s no shame in hopping off and leading your horse until you feel comfortable again.

Do Horses Sense Rider Anxiety?

Absolutely. Horses are incredibly perceptive. They pick up on tiny shifts in breathing, posture, muscle tension, and overall energy. If you’re worried, they often become unsettled too.

Keeping your mind calm helps your horse stay calm. That’s one of the reasons I created the Confident Rider website—to support riders who want to replace fear with steady, confident thinking.

What You’ll Find on the Confident Rider Website

Our online shop offers a wide selection of downloadable self-hypnosis sessions written and recorded by me, Sharon Shinwell—a UK-qualified clinical hypnotherapist with a lifelong riding background.

These include:

• Hacking with Confidence

• Jumping with Confidence

• Dressage with Confidence

• Cross Country with Confidence

• Roadwork with Confidence

• The Nervous Rider Action Plan

The sessions are simple to download and work on any device. Alongside these, the blog offers support, advice, and real-world guidance for everyday riders. If you have a topic you’d like me to cover, just let me know.

My work has been featured in Your Horse, Horse and Rider, and Horse and Hound, and I’m also co-author of the book Ride With Confidence, which was forwarded by Kelly Marks.

The Nervous Rider Action Plan

The Nervous Rider Action Plan is designed to help you move past tension, fear, and old patterns that keep you stuck. It blends workbook-style self-help tasks, relaxation tools, and a powerful hypnotherapy session—including our most popular download, Hacking with Confidence.

If you’ve found yourself avoiding certain rides, overthinking every outing, or imagining worst-case scenarios, this plan gives you a complete step-by-step path toward riding with more ease and reassurance. You can download it directly from the site.

Ready to Start Feeling More Confident?

If you’re ready to take those first steps toward calmer, happier riding, visit the Confident Rider website. You’ll find a discount on your first purchase when you join the mailing list at the bottom of the homepage. I only send the occasional email—just when there’s something genuinely useful to share.

And if you’d like support from others who truly understand what you’re going through, join our Facebook group:

Support for Nervous Horse and Pony Riders We have almost 3,000 members, and you’re very welcome.

If you would like to try a short taster of my self-hypnosis recordings, you can find it on my other website, which is non-equestrian: JUST CLICK THIS LINK

ABOUT US.