| Chapter one | | | | creates a chain reaction that completes the circuit |
| Background to Theory | | | | before we even have time to consciously think |
| Most of you reading this I'm sure, will be familiar with | | | | about. Which comes first is still debated in the medical |
| those stage hypnotists seen on the television and in | | | | field, some feel that the chemical response is |
| the media, or even down at your local pub, but | | | | activated by the mere thought of danger, or by |
| Clinical Hypnotherapy is quite another matter, and it is | | | | acting as if frightened, others feel the unconscious |
| by no means a new phenomenon, in fact the use of | | | | instinctive part of our brain picks signals up we are |
| hypnotherapy and hypnosis to solve emotional and | | | | not aware of, and then produces the chemicals. But |
| psychological problems; in other words therapeutically, | | | | all we need to really concern ourselves with is how |
| dates back as far as 1779, with Franz Anton | | | | do we break this cycle, short circuit it and change |
| Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism, later referred | | | | the negative direction that the electrical current is |
| to as mesmerism. | | | | flowing in, to a positive one? This is where |
| We are still learning about how the mind works as | | | | Hypnotherapy, hypnosis and the |
| oppose to the brain, and although Clinical | | | | hypnotic-trance-state really start to work. |
| Hypnotherapists have been practising for a long time | | | | Whilst this situation of an over-stimulated flight or |
| using tried and tested methods, there are still a | | | | fight response will normally only affect our own |
| number of theories as to what the state of hypnosis | | | | physiological and psychological well being, horse riders |
| actually is, and how it works. | | | | have the added problem of dealing with how their |
| I feel that having some theoretical background | | | | responses affects their horse. A creature that lives |
| knowledge about these theories plays an important | | | | and survives by its own acute, more developed |
| part in the successful outcome of the process, and | | | | instinctive sense of its environment, including the |
| its ongoing usefulness for any individual that wants to | | | | observation of body language of other living |
| use it. I am therefore, going to briefly outline the | | | | creatures around it (visual and non visual), a superior |
| main theories or assumptions about the state of | | | | sense of smell, taste, touch, hearing and eyesight and |
| Hypnosis (as there are many more than those listed | | | | speed of reaction, and it because of these attributes, |
| here) and there are some excellent books available if | | | | horse can pick up, like a radar, how we are thinking, |
| you really want to get your teeth into the subject in | | | | feeling and behaving in any given situation, tuning in |
| some depth, suffice to say, that recent | | | | to every channel we broadcast. |
| developments have resulted in a common view that | | | | What we have to bare in mind then as riders, is that |
| the 'State of Hypnosis' is both scientific and | | | | only do we need to conquer our own fears, anxieties |
| phenomenological based. I will explain later what is | | | | and lack of confidence for our own benefit, we need |
| meant by the conscious and unconscious (sometimes | | | | to do it to stop us passing negative signals to our |
| also referred to as subconscious) minds, as this is the | | | | horses. If this isn't prevented as much as it can be, |
| cornerstone of Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and | | | | we run into the problem of the rider actually creating |
| Hypnosis. | | | | the very situation they are trying to avoid, a nervous |
| Disassociation Theory: | | | | horse which then makes a nervous rider, which |
| Theorists suggest here that the subject disassociates | | | | makes a more nervous horse and a more nervous |
| from conscious mental activity and external events, | | | | rider and so on and so forth. |
| whilst accessing other compartments of the mind | | | | Chapter Four |
| with the focus being on internal experience. This | | | | The Process of Hypnosis for the Horse Rider |
| theory claims that this can be likened to wakefulness | | | | During the state of hypnosis the conscious mind is |
| and full conscious activity to sleep and dream activity. | | | | bypassed, the unconscious part of the mind is |
| Altered State Theory: | | | | spoken to (and if we stay with the electrical circuit |
| Suggests that not only is another part of the mind | | | | metaphor); the negative current is short-circuited, |
| accessed during hypnosis but also in addition, another | | | | overridden, and the current is reversed in a positive |
| level or dimension of consciousness is entered into. | | | | direction, and then rejoined to a positive terminal. |
| 'Hypnosis may be defined as an altered state of | | | | Once we have reprogrammed the unconscious mind, |
| awareness affected by total concentration on the | | | | and the unconscious mind reconnects with the |
| voice of the therapist. It will result in measurable | | | | conscious mind, our perception alters, we feel |
| physical, neurophysiological and psychological changes | | | | different, and depending on the reason for |
| in which may be produced distortion of emotion, | | | | hypnotherapy, we find that whatever blockage was |
| sensation, image, and time' (Waxman 1981) | | | | stopping us from achieving our goal, has either been |
| Essentially, theorists fall into two main categories; | | | | reduced to such a degree that we can now live with |
| State Theory and Non-State, but a common | | | | it, or it has been removed completely. |
| understanding and agreement that all theorists share, | | | | The first part of the process of hypnosis is the |
| is that the process of hypnosis can be utilised to | | | | "induction" of the trance state; a day dreamy state |
| benefit individuals psycho-biologically. | | | | of mind, often experienced when listening to music, |
| Well, now you have some basic knowledge of what | | | | or driving for a long time on a boring road, listening to |
| the theorists and experts in the field think hypnosis | | | | a long lecture, or during meditation. Think how many |
| could be, you can perhaps understand why it is so | | | | times you have driven home from somewhere and |
| difficult to answer in a few words when people ask | | | | you can't remember the actual journey; or in the |
| me, 'how does it work'. I guess what you really want | | | | middle of listening to someone you have drifted off |
| to know is 'will it work for me?' Well, like all | | | | to somewhere else; you are engrossed in a book or |
| alternative and complimentary therapies, there are no | | | | TV program to such an extent that you have |
| guarantees, much as there often isn't with traditional | | | | forgotten the time; that half-awake feeling as you |
| medicine, but if you have an open mind and an | | | | drift to the surface of sleep caught between |
| imagination, there is every chance it will do. | | | | wakefulness and sleep, these are 'trance' states or |
| It is generally accepted that 90% of the population | | | | 'altered states of mind'. |
| can be induced into the hypnotic trance state by an | | | | The Induction sequence of a trance state is to allow |
| individual Hypnotherapist, provided that the subject is | | | | your body and mind to move into a state of |
| willing and not afraid. Analytically minded people that | | | | complete relaxation. This prepares your mind and |
| try to work out the why and wherefores of what is | | | | body to transfer on to the next stage of the |
| happening to them during hypnotherapy, are not likely | | | | hypnotic process. Breathing techniques, relaxation, |
| to find the hypnotic process as easy to relax into as | | | | visualisation imagery, use of metaphors or |
| others, but even for these people sufficient depth of | | | | bombarding the critical mind with an overload of |
| the hypnotic state for successful treatment can be | | | | information can all induce the mind to start to alter its |
| obtained, with adequate preparation, patience, | | | | state of awareness. The old stereotypical image of |
| repetition and perseverance. | | | | swinging a watch in front of a subject's eyes is to |
| Whether the hypnotic trance state is arrived at | | | | some extent valid; it was just another technique to |
| through face-to-face Hypnotherapy or through | | | | get the conscious critical mind to switch off, to allow |
| Self-Hypnosis, (using pre-recorded audio CD's, MP3's, | | | | the subject to concentrate on what was being said |
| or Personal Computers) the procedure is very similar. | | | | to them and to start to focus on the inner self. |
| Unfortunately, there are few qualified registered | | | | Today there are allsorts of hi-tech gadgets about |
| Hypnotherapists, who also have first-hand knowledge | | | | that create moving shapes or noises, but they are |
| of what a rider goes through when they have | | | | just that - gimmicks, and when it comes to listening |
| reached an all-time low on the confidence-scale, so | | | | to Self-Hypnosis pre-recorded material, whether you |
| face-to-face sessions are rarely a practical option. But | | | | are using a traditional Hi Fi system, MP3's (iPods) or |
| with today's advance of audio technology, which | | | | via a PC, there is no concrete evidence that using |
| seems to change daily, access to pre-recorded | | | | headphones with two different voices in stereo |
| material is as easy now as hitting a button, and far | | | | sound, overlaying of voices one on top of another, |
| more cost effective. My self Hypnosis CD's can now | | | | or special sound effects and subliminal messages, |
| be downloaded for use on any MP3 player, (often | | | | actually increases the success of the process at all, |
| called an iPod, which is the brand name for Apple's | | | | furthermore, clients of mine than have tried these |
| version) or a personal computer or CD player. | | | | techniques elsewhere, have told me that they |
| However, I must emphasise that no hypnotherapy | | | | actually find these most annoying, and rather than |
| session should ever be undertaken whilst driving, | | | | allowing them to focus on the voice it actually |
| riding or operating any machinery or doing anything | | | | distracted them to such an extent that they gave up |
| that requires concentration. You need to be in a | | | | using the process. Why re-invent the wheel if it |
| relaxed, quite environment where you wont be | | | | works as it is? |
| disturbed. Therefore, the portability of MP3's, iPods | | | | The next stage of the hypnotic process is called the |
| and mobile phones really does make it easy now to | | | | "trigger". Depending on the therapeutic training of the |
| get away from it all, and really engage in the | | | | Hypnotherapist and their personal preferences, |
| hypnotic process whenever the opportunity arises. | | | | different techniques will be used to increase the |
| Chapter Two | | | | depth of the hypnotic trance state, sometimes a |
| How Hypnotherapy Works | | | | word is offered, or a particular behaviour, such as |
| Hypnotherapy works by accessing the 'unconscious' | | | | touching ones ear or pressing a finger and thumb |
| mind (also called 'subconscious'); so what is meant by | | | | together. This trigger can be used in the normal |
| the conscious and unconscious minds? | | | | waking state to reproduce the same state of |
| When we talk about the conscious mind, we refer to | | | | calmness and relaxation achieved during hypnosis. It |
| the thoughts that are going through our heads right | | | | can also be used to bring back to the conscious mind |
| now, the ones that we are aware of as we think | | | | any imagery or suggestion that the unconscious mind |
| about something, the little voice on the shoulder or in | | | | has visualised or heard during hypnosis. It is always |
| the head, the one you can hear right now, as you | | | | emphasised by the Hypnotherapist, that this "trigger" |
| think of your shoulder. The conscious mind is rather | | | | word or action, will ONLY take on this special |
| less significant than our unconscious mind. To make it | | | | significance when used in relation to hypnosis, in all |
| clearer, or not as the case may be, If you compare | | | | other circumstances the word or action will have the |
| your mind to an iceberg; an analogy that one of my | | | | same meaning as it always has. |
| lecturers favoured, then the tip of the iceberg that | | | | The next level of the hypnotic process is called the |
| you see above the surface of the water is the | | | | "deepener", this stage takes the mind through a |
| conscious mind, and the larger more substantial part | | | | process that encourages the critical conscious mind, |
| of the iceberg that is out of sight, below the water | | | | to fade into the background and the unconscious |
| line (but supports the tip), is the unconscious mind, a | | | | mind to come into the foreground, and a much |
| significantly larger part. | | | | deeper hypnotic trance state is established. This |
| The unconscious mind is the seat of our emotions, | | | | state is associated with a vivid involvement in |
| and directs nearly all our behaviour. Everything that | | | | imagined events, a shift into a context-free literal |
| has ever happened to us, and everything we have | | | | understanding of words and phrases, and a removal |
| ever seen, smelt, touched or heard is stored away | | | | of the restrictions ordinarily imposed upon conscious |
| there for future reference. It contains all our wisdom | | | | abilities and responses. Hypnotherapy is designed to |
| and intelligence; it is our source of creativity. The | | | | take full advantage of these characteristics. The |
| number of activities our unconscious mind performs | | | | Trigger and deepener stages are interwoven with |
| and controls for us is quite humbling and astounding. | | | | each other and the listener is taken ever further |
| Whenever we need to remember something, a | | | | from the conscious world. |
| name, date, place, an instruction, an understanding or | | | | During the next stage, the 'therapeutic' stage of the |
| insight, up it pops out of our unconscious mind like | | | | hypnotic trance state, the unconscious part of the |
| magic, weather the conscious mind wants it to or | | | | mind is spoken to with more precise language with |
| not. Without ever being consciously aware of it, we | | | | either direct or indirect suggestions; the negative |
| breathe, walk, talk, drive a car and use complicated | | | | electric current is short-circuited, overridden, and then |
| pieces of technology, never giving a second thought | | | | rejoined to positive terminals. R. A. Havens and C. |
| as to where all that knowledge came from. However, | | | | Walters (1989) say: 'As a result of these changes in |
| the conscious mind constantly takes credit for, and | | | | conscious attitude or state of mind, clients in a trance |
| finds explanations for the activities of the | | | | are able to pay closer attention to their own |
| unconscious mind, over which it actually has no | | | | unconscious resources of potential information and |
| control and about which it is unaware. | | | | guidance. They also are able to more comfortably |
| Over many years, the conscious mind becomes very | | | | accept indirect and even direct statements from the |
| good at this act so that it is able to offer such | | | | therapist...while in a trance state, clients can |
| impressive rationalisations and explanations for its | | | | experience imagined events with such clarity and |
| behaviour that we don't even question it. | | | | relaxed involvement that they undergo many of the |
| Nevertheless, the unconscious mind is much more | | | | same changes in learning, performance and belief that |
| observant, wise, intelligent, adaptive, and skilful than | | | | they would in the actual situation'. |
| the conscious mind could ever be; it is said that the | | | | Once the unconscious mind is reprogrammed, using a |
| conscious mind can only hold eight thoughts at any | | | | variety of techniques such as deep relaxation, |
| one time; usually in small chunks, which is why we | | | | therapeutic language, positive imagery, metaphors, |
| tend to remember numbers more easily if they are in | | | | indirect or direct suggestion, and post hypnotic |
| small bundles. | | | | anchors, the unconscious mind can then positively |
| The unconscious mind can also delete information | | | | influence the conscious mind in any given situation or |
| from our awareness. It would be impossible to | | | | series of events. Our perceptions of the situation can |
| process all the information we receive consciously, so | | | | be altered, we feel differently about it, and |
| the unconscious mind sorts it and then presents us | | | | depending on the reason for the hypnotherapy in the |
| with a summary of what is taking place. We have all | | | | first place, we may feel more relaxed, calmer, |
| heard anecdotal stories of extreme bravery when | | | | optimistic, energised, healthier, motivated and more in |
| someone has badly injured himself or herself, but | | | | control of our responses, habits and behaviours. This |
| feels no pain and has no awareness of their own | | | | control increases our confidence. With growing |
| injuries until after the traumatic event. The | | | | confidence comes the realisation that we can actually |
| unconscious mind had sorted through the information | | | | achieve those goals that we never thought possible - |
| and decided what we need to know to help our | | | | and the actual subsequent achievement is our |
| actions at that moment in time. The interaction | | | | biofeedback. However, hypnosis can go further than |
| between the conscious and unconscious minds is | | | | this, we can actually change the way our body |
| going on all the time and we never give any of this | | | | functions, reducing heart rate, improving blood supply |
| process a second thought. | | | | and boosting the immune system are but a few. |
| Our conscious mind uses questions to reason, our | | | | All through a Hypnotherapy session and the hypnotic |
| conscious mind; the voice in our head, is always | | | | trance state, whether it be face-to-face or listening |
| evaluating - critically and analytically - by comparing, | | | | to a Self-Hypnosis Recording, positive language is |
| contrasting and noticing, but in hypnosis, and the | | | | used to encourage you, to motivate you and reward |
| hypnotic trance state, the conscious mind is | | | | your achievements, positive confidence building are |
| dampened down and this allows excellent | | | | the foundation blocks of the whole process, and |
| communication with the unconscious mind, and | | | | added to this are other more specific elements. |
| without it's critical analytical partner, changes in core | | | | Interwoven within the language are suggestions, |
| beliefs and behaviours can take place. | | | | concepts, and ideas that will help you long after the |
| But this ability of the unconscious mind to accept | | | | session has finished. You will experience the actual |
| without critical analyses has a downside, because it | | | | event or events that you are struggling to deal with, |
| can just as easily hang on to negative experiences, | | | | but this time you will only experience positive |
| so that whenever a similar event to that previously | | | | sensations, you will see the goal you want and |
| experienced occurs again in the future, the old | | | | actually be there. You will use all your senses, of |
| feelings of discomfort that were felt the first time, | | | | smell, hearing, taste, touch, and feelings to |
| are instantly brought back to the conscious mind in | | | | experience this achievement; feeling all the positive |
| an attempt to protect us; this is how phobias start. | | | | emotions associated with that achievement. All |
| If you had a bad experience on your horse, your | | | | negative non-productive thoughts, concepts, ideas, |
| unconscious mind may bring back all the negative | | | | feelings, and behaviours are reduced or rationalised |
| thoughts, feelings, and behaviours associated with | | | | and put into their true perspectives. Post hypnotic |
| that experience the next time you ride. This is very | | | | anchors are used to enable you to make an instant |
| frustrating for the rider who knows rationally and | | | | connection between the thoughts, feelings, and |
| logically that there is nothing actually happening in the | | | | emotions you have experienced during the hypnotic |
| present time to create these unwanted thoughts and | | | | state, to the here-and-now situation you're in. |
| feelings, (it's a doubly hard pill to swallow when you | | | | The final stage, "The Termination" is when the |
| aren't even sitting on the same horse anymore | | | | hypnotic trance is brought to an end, and the subject |
| because you had to get a new one to satisfy | | | | is gently brought back to full consciousness and |
| yourself that is was the horse that was the | | | | wakefulness. During this process, the subject is |
| problem!). | | | | offered the option of bringing back with them into |
| So to recap, during a hypnotherapy session, it is the | | | | their conscious world, all the thoughts, feelings, and |
| unconscious part of the mind that is spoken to, | | | | behaviours that they have experienced during the |
| where new ideas, concepts and affirmations can be | | | | hypnotic trance, and they can also leave behind any |
| implanted, and it is here that old limiting beliefs can be | | | | that they do not want. This suggestion allows the |
| changed. Past phobias and learnt negative behaviours, | | | | subject to decide for himself or herself what feelings, |
| feelings and concepts can be looked at and laid to | | | | thoughts, and emotions they have found most |
| rest, allowing the conscious mind to adopt a more | | | | pleasurable and beneficial, that they may wish to hold |
| rational positive outlook. The subconscious part of | | | | in their conscious mind. |
| our mind has no critical awareness, and is only limited | | | | When the session is finished, you should be left |
| by our imagination. | | | | feeling very calm, relaxed and peaceful. The positive |
| Chapter Three | | | | feelings of motivation and confidence can often take |
| How nerves affect the rider. | | | | some time develop. There doesn't seem to be any |
| Well if you first of all accept that horse riding is | | | | particular reason why hypnotherapy works instantly |
| potentially a dangerous activity, you are more than | | | | for some people, but takes time for others. And |
| half way there to understanding what's going on | | | | even when it feels that nothing at all has actually |
| inside your mind and body when you ride. | | | | happened, you'll be surprised at just how much has |
| Nature has been very clever in installing a small chip | | | | changed, but this is only noticed in retrospect when |
| into our brains that is designed, amongst other things, | | | | you look back at how you were before you started |
| to protect us if something life threatening is | | | | using hypnosis. |
| happening, or about to happen, (the Hypothalamus - | | | | Often during hypnosis, you may experience various |
| part of the endocrine system) and not surprisingly, | | | | physiological and biological changes. Your Legs and |
| when we do something that this chip perceives as a | | | | arms may feel particularly heavy as if they weigh |
| potential threat to its host, it starts to react, and this | | | | more than normal, or they may feel light as if they |
| is when we run into problems. | | | | are floating or you experience a tingling sensation in |
| The unconscious mind starts to ask questions like; | | | | them or sometimes they feel as they are not there |
| "why are you doing what you are doing? Do you | | | | any more. You may be aware of your heartbeat |
| need to do what you are doing? When will you stop | | | | slowing down and your breathing becoming shallower. |
| doing it? Do I need to take action?", and then our | | | | Sometimes the stomach can start to bubble and |
| conscious mind analyses the situation from the | | | | gurgle and be quite noisy. There maybe increased |
| stimulus it receives via our environment and our | | | | watering of the eyes and fluttering of the eyelids. |
| senses such as smell, sound, sight, temperature touch | | | | Others report that they feel as if they have become |
| and so on. If the host - that's you and me - doesn't | | | | at-one with the chair or couch they are resting on, |
| come up with a sensible, rational, logical, objective | | | | there can be a reluctance to move, and there is a |
| explanation, and the unconscious mind makes a | | | | distortion in the passing of time (often an |
| connection between the outside stimuli and a | | | | underestimation of the time spent in hypnosis). As |
| previous negative experience, the chip in our brain | | | | you start to drift back from the hypnotic state, you |
| starts to take charge and produces chemicals that | | | | may experience a feeling or euphoria and wellbeing. |
| will help the body to survive an attack; that's the | | | | Chapter 5 |
| flight or fight instinct that all of us horse riders hear | | | | Resistance and Blockages to Process. |
| so much about. When this happens we feel the | | | | For some, Hypnotherapy, and particularly |
| effects in all sorts of places, our stomachs, legs, | | | | Self-Hypnosis, does not work, and there are different |
| arms, wrists, ankles, heart and head, and | | | | theories as to why this is, as mentioned earlier, those |
| psychologically it causes feelings of anxiety, stress, | | | | people that are very analytical, and question |
| panic and fear; phobias can be created associated | | | | everything to such an extent that they find it |
| with this perceived threat, that can last for days | | | | impossible to accept a concept that they perhaps |
| months and even years. In prolonged periods, it can | | | | don't fully understand, may find the hypnotic state |
| cause stress leading to distress, and in sever cases, | | | | eludes them. If you find loosing control or enjoying |
| depression, a less effective immune system causing | | | | yourself doesn't come easy, then this is can also |
| general ill health, and heart problems. | | | | make relaxing into a hypnotic state very difficult. |
| So let's look in more detail at what's going on. Stress | | | | Sometimes hypnosis fails because we self-sabotage |
| and anxiety have some rather devastating affects on | | | | the process, and I know this sounds odd when you |
| the human body. When we are stressed, anxious or | | | | really are convinced in your own mind that you want |
| frightened, the chemicals our brain releases are: | | | | something to change, but just imagine this scenario. |
| Adrenaline, Noradrenaline and Cortisol - an 'Alarm | | | | If you are nervous about riding out, and therefore |
| Reaction', part of the Sympathetic Nervous system, | | | | avoid it by staying in a safe environment, such as the |
| and this creates all sorts of problems, the eyes | | | | arena, removing the issue that is creating this |
| adjust to long vision, in preparation for finding an | | | | situation also means that a valid excuse has been |
| escape route, so that near vision becomes blurred; | | | | removed. When you no longer have an excuse to |
| the skin sweats and becomes pale as blood is drawn | | | | avoid a situation, you are then faced with the reality |
| from the surface to important organs; muscles under | | | | of actually having to do something. So in this case, |
| the skin partially contract in readiness to spring into | | | | you would now have no excuse for staying in the |
| action causing 'goose pimples'; the heart increases its | | | | arena and not hacking out; but just suppose that you |
| output and blood pressure goes up so you feel your | | | | really rather liked the convenience of riding in the |
| heart pounding; breathing becomes more rapid so | | | | arena, because it kept your horse cleaner, dryer and |
| that adequate oxygen can be transferred to the | | | | you could save time and energy. Perhaps you don't |
| blood; the spleen releases more red blood cells from | | | | actually have the inclination or energy to hack out, |
| its store; and non essential systems are inhibited, so | | | | but up until now, you could always convince yourself |
| the digestive system slows and speech is difficult. | | | | and others this wasn't the case. |
| With all this going on in the body, it's not surprising | | | | Alternatively, perhaps you have been avoiding |
| that we feel sick; we feel hot or cold; we get | | | | competitions because you felt too anxious and |
| headaches; our muscles go into spasms; we feel | | | | panicky when you did, but in actual fact, you are not |
| there is as a knot in the stomach and we can't eat; | | | | really that competitive, but others feel you should be. |
| we are short of breath; our mouth goes dry; we | | | | Perhaps a partner or parents are pressuring you to |
| shake; we can't get our words out; our minds go | | | | justify the expense of your hobby if you don't |
| blank and our concentration starts to deteriorate. Is | | | | compete, and it's easier to say you are fearful, than |
| this sounding familiar? | | | | you really aren't that interested. On the other hand, |
| Well - if it's any consolation, at least you now know | | | | perhaps you are more worried about failure, or not |
| that you and your body will be prepared, and | | | | living up to others expectations', so avoiding the |
| function perfectly normally should a Sabre-Toothed | | | | situation altogether is a safer alternative. |
| tiger appear in the middle of your dressage arena, | | | | If there are other underlying reasons for the |
| pop up behind a show jump, or jump out from | | | | preservation of a phobia or fear, then these really |
| behind a bus shelter! Be assured though, that you and | | | | need addressing, if the desire to hang on to these |
| hundreds like you feel just like this every time they | | | | thoughts, feelings and behaviours is very resistant to |
| so much as even think about getting on their horse, | | | | removal, it maybe that they are serving a useful |
| let alone actually doing it. | | | | purpose. |
| This flight and fight response stuff is understandable, | | | | Another blockage to this process could be that the |
| and as I've said, acceptable and very useful when | | | | issues around riding are only a reflection of what is |
| faced with something that is actually life threatening, | | | | going on elsewhere in your life. If you are a nervous, |
| like that approaching Sabre-Toothed Tiger, (I never | | | | anxious person generally, and you find situations at |
| actually came across one by the way, but sometimes | | | | work, home or socially provoke similar feelings of |
| I'm sure my horse did!!) but when there is only a | | | | panic, nervousness and fear, then it's a lot to expect |
| moderate danger, or none at all (other than in our | | | | that in this one area of life, riding, you are suddenly |
| distorted perception) we need to be able to reduce | | | | going to become a very confident, self-assured calm, |
| the output of these chemicals, and dampen down | | | | relaxed person. Finding help to deal with a non-horse |
| the psychological, emotional and behavioural | | | | related issue in your life, could lessen or remove the |
| responses they create. Changing our perception of a | | | | horse related problem. |
| situation; the way we think, changes the way we | | | | However, taking all this into consideration, for most |
| feel, and changes the way we behave. | | | | people the hypnotic trance state is attained easily |
| Our thoughts, feelings, behaviour and emotions are | | | | and the process works well. For many it has been |
| so closely intertwined with one another, this | | | | the last clutch of the straw before throwing the |
| sequence is more like an electrical circuit, when the | | | | grooming brush to the floor and hanging up the boots |
| circuit is activated anywhere along its length, it | | | | for good! |