PinkKittyKat Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I have a phobia that I have had my entire life that I'm considering trying to get over. Ever since I was little, I have always been frightened of horses. I was the only little girl in my class that didn't have rainbow horses and crap plastered all over my binders/walls/etc. There have been no traumatic events involving horses, In fact, one of my friends' birthdays when I was 10 involved pony rides. I had to be cajoled into getting on and spent every minute fearing it would turn it's massive head and chomp me. I went to the petting zoo with my bf last year and while he petted the head of the large clydesdale there I was paralyzed with fear. It's head was as big as my torso. My bf tried to get me to go over and pet the horse, but I was too scared of being kicked/bitten/knocked over. I am not scared of dogs, as they are not as large, don't have hooves, and I can "read" when a dog is going to be friendly. I can't tell when a horse is going to be violent/friendly, and this unpredictability adds to my fears. Whenever anyone finds out about this, I get mercilessly teased and told "Horses aren't SCARY!", but no-one helps me get over this. I then look up pictures of horses and they seem so huge and intimidating. I have seen horse bites, and heard stories of being kicked and broken bones and concussions. Isn't that scary? People also try to say "Oh, but they're such beautiful animals!" and I try and try but I just can't see it... They have weird lumpy bodies and scrawny legs... huge long faces with weird lips and ugly teeth... So, looking past the appearance to appreciate them on an aesthetic level won't overcome my fear reaction... I have always been "high strung", and I recently had to start taking an anti-anxiety medication. I'm afraid of heights, but it's now at a manageable point. I have to walk by many deep construction sites in my city and it was a big impetus to "get over it". I used to be afraid of dogs, but it was only because my aunts' dog was bigger than me and quite enthusiastically friendly. A large black lab jumping up on a 6 year old WILL knock her over and give her pause when she sees a dog in future! I never come in contact with horses regularly, but I don't want to have a phobia "hanging around" in the back of my head. I know for a fact that if I was waiting at a crosswalk and an RCMP officer rode by on a horse I'd be petrified and scamper off, maybe even go inside whatever business was nearby to get away! Parades are also no fun when the horses wander by! I always think they're going to freak out, bolt, and start biting and kicking people. I want to get over this and at least be comfortable enough to know how a horse shows it is friendly, how to avoid getting kicked/bitten/trampled. My bf's aunt has a property outside the city and has some horses, so I would have access to them if that is necessary to get over it. I'm not afraid of cows. donkeys, deer, or those tiny miniature horses. But horses, llamas, camels, zebras all freak me out. I can't quite explain why...
underpants Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 Llamas are cool. Horses scare me too for some reason. I have never riden one. Although I have riden an elephant so really the fear/anxiety is kind of stupid. Fear of them biting me, or me being thrown. It just freaks me out and that is the last mindset you need approaching such a beautiful animal. I commend you on facing a fear. Share the concern with the handler and let them pair you with an experienced animal. Make sure you trust this person. Report back how it goes. I myself have wanted to try, and have had offers but I talk myself out of it each time. Maybe you could ride a shetland and work you way up.
2sure Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I grew up in an area where some of my friends had horses AND the area has many Lama and Emu Farms. Like you, I am afraid of horses and wish I wasnt. BUT THE LAMAS...you SHOULD be afraid of them.
Author PinkKittyKat Posted February 4, 2009 Author Posted February 4, 2009 I grew up in an area where some of my friends had horses AND the area has many Lama and Emu Farms. Like you, I am afraid of horses and wish I wasnt. BUT THE LAMAS...you SHOULD be afraid of them. Yeah, llamas are mean. I'm more scared of their spit though. And I petted an emu at the zoo last week, and it rumbled in it's belly. I think emus are sortof cute. Thanks, underpants and 2sure.... I'm relieved to see that I'm not alone in this.
underpants Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 Yeah, llamas are mean. I'm more scared of their spit though. And I petted an emu at the zoo last week, and it rumbled in it's belly. I think emus are sortof cute. Thanks, underpants and 2sure.... I'm relieved to see that I'm not alone in this. Llamas don't freak me out in the slightest. I do know to stay away from the projectile of the mouth. They have side vision as I would assume horses do. So I approach from the side and feed under toward the mouth and pet them with my other hand. I've never had a problem, but I might be lucky. Horses just wield that big head around and they have big teeth. Like a giant set of dentures. If it were me I'd want a horse named Slow Poke, Depressed or Glue.
boldjack Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I was born and raised on a farm and could ride (bareback) almost as soon as I could walk. We've always had horses, in my home state (Kentucky ) it's an obsession. Having said that , they are not for the timid or in experienced. They can and will bite, I have several scars to prove it, and if a horse kicks you with it's hind feet and is shod, better have the name of a good mortician handy. You ladies are right to be very careful around them. A little fear si the best way to prevent accidents. If you want the experience of riding, find a reputable stable in your area, preferrably one that has riding classes. They will have older more experienced calmer horses and you can learn how pleasurable riding can be. Good luck
Taramere Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 If you're scared of horses, it's probably best to just steer clear of them. Unless they're really kind docile, "schoolteacher" type ponies/horses, they'll pick up the fear and get nervy around you.... or even try to dominate you. They are often unpredictable. I had one in my teens who was an absolute whore of a horse. She'd never been badly treated in her life (one previous, very kind owner) but she was just an ill-tempered redhead. A bit like this, but with a longer and broader blaze of white lightning down her face. I'd go over to the gate where she'd be waiting for me, all alert and friendly looking with her ears forward. I'd pat her, and she'd carry on looking sweet and friendly. Then I'd turn my back to do something - but keep a careful eye on her. The moment she thought I wasn't looking, the ears would go back, the eyes would roll and her mouth would open in readiness to take a chomp out of whichever bit of me was closest to her. You had to be really quick and alert around her to avoid getting hurt. There were only two living creatures she was consistently okay with. One was a cat that slept in her stable, and another was the smaller pony she shared a field with. She hated everyone and everything else. You could always get hypnotherapy - but that's really just for irrational phobias, I think. It's fairly rational to be wary of a large animal that has teeth like tombstones and feet like bricks.
Adunaphel Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I can't see why many people would dismiss horses phobia and take spiders phobias or insects phobia seriously, even in countries where there are no dangerous species. As Taramere said, horses are large animals, and dealing with a mad horse is no laughing matter. Out of curiosity... do you feel while looking at pictures of horses, watching movies where horses appear, or reading novels/stories where horses appear? Your idea of learning to interpret horse behaviour sounds great. Perhaps your bf's aunt would be willing to help you with it!
Geishawhelk Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 ....... BUT THE LAMAS...you SHOULD be afraid of them. Actually, the Dalai LAMA is a pretty harmless guy....
Geishawhelk Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I can't see why many people would dismiss horses phobia and take spiders phobias or insects phobia seriously, even in countries where there are no dangerous species. As Taramere said, horses are large animals, and dealing with a mad horse is no laughing matter. My biggest phobia - one that still worries me - is for hypodermic needles. hate them. lordy how I hate them. I had to undergo psychotherapy and aversion therapy to just get me to look at them, but it's now down to the case where, much as I hate them, I control my fear, it doesn't govern me. I still hate to see injections or needles on TV, and if one suddenly appears in shot, it does shock me. But if I need injections, I can psych myself up for it. I just have to alert the medical staff, and ask them to work with me. To date, nobody has ever belittled me, or ridiculed me or told me to not be silly. Phobias can ruin and govern your life if you let them. if you think you're ever going to need to be in close proximirty of horses, then ask your Doctor to refer you to a clinical psychologist for assistance. Hypnotherapy is also good. if you don't think you'll ever need to get too close to them, approach the situation gradually, and do what you can for yourself... good luck, I wish you well. I know where you're coming from.
Adunaphel Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 After re-reading the thread, I feel like I have worded my other post the wrong way, I just feel that it is very unfair that some phobias get more understanding than others. I have a phobia for earwigs, which are harmless, and no one ever teased me; I find it upsetting that the OP is being teased about her horse phobia.
Geishawhelk Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I agree. But people tease because they have no personal concept of what it's like to fear something so badly. Another poster on here has a phobia about mice, and despatched one in a somewhat drastic way. The thread ballooned into a big debate about whether we have any right at all to kill anything just because we can (I was arguing that we didn't) but not once did I ever intimate that their phobia was either unreasonable or laughable.
whichwayisup Posted February 4, 2009 Posted February 4, 2009 I want to get over this and at least be comfortable enough to know how a horse shows it is friendly, how to avoid getting kicked/bitten/trampled. My bf's aunt has a property outside the city and has some horses, so I would have access to them if that is necessary to get over it. Exposure therapy will help you confront your fears..Slowly. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy will help. Talk to your family Dr and also do some googling to see what CBT Therapists are in your area. You can work through your fears and anxiety's.
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