Horse Sport Psychology

response just enough to assess our situation. 
Step 2 Assess the situation. Am I in danger? There are two possible scenarios here. 
The first is that you are facing a legitimate high level of risk or danger. For example you are being asked to get on a horse that has just twisted itself inside out on a lunge line and is now staring at you with wild eyes. In this case its critical that we acknowledge and consider the level of risk we are taking on and make an appropriate decision. Ask yourself am I comfortable with this level of risk? What can I do to reduce the risk so that I can feel safer continuing? Sometimes the best thing to do is not get on at all or to dismount. 
The second scenario is that the level of risk we are facing is quite low but our bodys signals are in reaction to the memory of a previous trauma or scary incident. Maybe you were bucked off a horse the last time you asked for a canter transition and now although you are sitting on a different horse your body is anticipating a similar outcome. You feel frozen and unable to ask for the canter. In this case we need to recognise that our body is reacting to a memory as opposed to a real immediate risk. Although there is always a level of risk when sitting on a horse in this case the risk is not as high as our bodys reaction implies. Remind yourself that you are safe. Ask yourself am I willing to accept the low level of risk here and continue? Continue to breath and break the task down into very small steps focusing on each step one at a time. Ask for support from