Equiteam member Charlotte Feast, shares how she went from considering giving up riding, to finding her confidence and joy again.
Horse riding has always been a passion that I have adored from being a small child – the smell, the noises, the unconditional love. I’ve spent hours trying to improve my position, confidence and mental resilience using various techniques to be better for the horses in my life. My biggest struggle has been in between my ears where my brain seemingly controls my body and relentlessly criticises me.
Confidence seeped away and slipped through my fingers like sand during my early 20s and has become so deep rooted I feared there was never going to be a way out of it. At 40 I began to really think I would sell my horse and get a Shetland – at least that was a valid reason to never have to ride again but I would still get the horsey fix. The pressure built, negative self-talk increased and affected all areas of my life, doubt creeped in, the sickness in the tummy, the weakness in the body and that incessant chatter in the brain that telling me I’m not good enough, you can’t do it and no matter how hard I tried I could not stop that feeling. For me that came in everything I did with my horses that involved me being in the saddle.
Being part of EquiTeam gives me the opportunity to hear about great people so, as a last-ditch attempt, I thought let’s give something different a try and so began my journey with hypnotherapy via Kerry at Fresh Focus Hypnotherapy.
I picked the Total Confidence package that has 5 sessions and includes a worksheet for each one. I find it better to lie down whilst listening as the aches and pains in my body make sitting a little uncomfortable and my mind just can’t focus properly. I have never fallen ‘asleep’ and easily wake when Kerry ends the session, they are easy to fit in and although at first the sensation of entering hypnosis felt strange I now really look forward to that moment of calm when I hit that little play button. I just go somewhere completely different. On the odd occasions I get interrupted mid-session I am right out of the hypnosis and the person gets a very large frown!
Fast forward a few months and my life is looking very different. Not only have the sessions had had a significant impact on my riding and desire to want to ride but also in my personal and working life.
The most surprising and influential impacts have come by way of positive physical and mental changes – my mind is clearing, focus at work is increasing, and I’m making positive physical changes to the way I eat, care and speak to myself. I never thought it was possible to get back to a place where I wanted to get on my horse never mind thinking ‘You’ve got this’’ – getting that same buzz I used to as a child.
Horses have always been a lifeline and riding was the icing on the cake of being able to explore and talk to my best friends and let’s face it breathe our troubles away.
I am aware confidence is a skill that needs continuous work and focus and there will be times it is put to the test, but I now know I have the tools to overcome and carry on. I trust myself and Harry just that little bit more each time we come together in the saddle.
The ripple effect into all areas of my life, the investment of time, money and effort has been worth it, we spend it all on horses so why not ourselves.
Would I recommend – 100% no hesitation.
Charlotte x
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