September is recognised as suicide prevention month, where organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness for those who are struggling with their mental health or suffering in silence. It is estimated that around half of the world’s population will experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, and roughly 1 in 4 adults in England will experience an episode of poor mental health each year. Those are some shocking statistics, and the equestrian community is not exempt.

Having horses is a wonderful opportunity, they are intuitive and emotionally intelligent creatures who never hold mistakes against you. If you’re into competing, there are so many opportunities out there to make the most of. But what happens when it all gets a bit much? We’ve all been there, horses can be time consuming, financially demanding, and unreliable. For most of us, horses are our respite and are there for our enjoyment in our free time. Even if horses are your full-time gig, it’s supposed to be enjoyable but sometimes it can all get a little overwhelming.

It's easy to look around and see other people out placing at competitions every week making it all look so effortless and catch yourself comparing your progress to theirs. Social media has only facilitated this and put everybody else’s journey on what feels like an unattainable pedestal. Couple that with the time constraints of juggling a full-time job or the school runs, financial pressures, and a horse’s prerogative to injure themselves at any given opportunity, and the equestrian industry can feel quite isolating.

We want to let you know that you are not alone in feeling like this! There are so many other equestrians out there who are also worrying about the winter drawing in, the price of hay, or the pressure of showing up for your horse for every ride. Here are a few of our suggestions to managing the low points and keeping your mental health in check.

Getting Back to Your Roots

With all the pressure to train and compete, win rosettes, earn money, spend time with family, and have a social life, we sometimes forget to enjoy the animal behind it all. Do you remember being younger and simply wanting to spend hours grooming and spending time with your pony? Forging that bond with them by being in their company is sometimes overlooked in the chaos of getting tacked up in time to catch the last of the light or rushing back home for a meeting.

Taking a step back and reconnecting with your passion for the animal is a form of therapy. Let your horse help to heal that worn out part of you by simply spending time in their presence without any pressure. Equine assisted therapy has been used for decades, even helping PTSD sufferers after the first and second World Wars. They provide a calming presence and help us to regulate our emotions. So, when you find yourself feeling anxious, loosing motivation, stressed, or depressed, why not go back to basics and just spend a bit of time with your horse? You don’t need to go for a ride every time you’re there, use that time to sit with them and reforge that bond that got your started in the first place. Your horse will also benefit as they thrive off connection too!

Horses are wonderfully non-judgemental, so talk to them! Tell them about your worries and anxieties, even just talking about how you’re feeling can lighten the load and help to ease the weight in your chest. You might feel a bit silly at first, but once you get going, we promise you’ll feel even just a little bit better after.

Practice Mindful Riding

With a busy show schedule, it’s easy to get wrapped up in training and forget to just go for a ride. Set aside the goals, the fitness plan, the pole work for a day and just enjoy going out for a slow hack in the countryside with your trusted side kick.

Take the opportunity to ground yourself and practice some mindfulness techniques. When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed there are several useful tools to help ground yourself back in the present and alleviate physical anxiety responses.

Whilst you’re out strolling in nature, make yourself aware of the birds chirping in the trees, and the wind rustling the leaves. Bringing yourself back to reality and aware of the sounds, sights, and smells around you will calm your nervous system and make space for rational thinking and reasoning. Whilst you’re out hacking give the 333 rule for anxiety a go. Look around and name 3 things you can see, 3 things you can hear, and 3 things you can touch. This is an excellent tool to ground yourself in the present moment and restore emotional balance through sensory awareness.

Talk to Someone

The equestrian industry can feel isolating at times, when you’re flat out just making it work or dealing with horse’s injuries it can feel like you’re the only one going through it. But we want you to know that you’re not alone in feeling that way, and there are so many people out there who are struggling with the same things that you are. Reaching out to people and talking about what’s worrying you or vocalising what’s been causing you stress can help to take the weight of your shoulders, and you might find that they’ve got some good ideas to share. Maybe it’s someone at your stables, a good friend, a trainer, or perhaps reaching out to someone online, whoever it is, it’s important that you don’t bottle it up until it becomes too much to deal with.

There are a number of amazing charities out there supporting riders through mental health struggles. Riders Minds is a fantastic charity providing equestrians with support and individual skills to manage their mental health. They offer a free call or text support line as well as access to tools and tips for self-help. Founded by riders themselves, they know exactly what the industry can feel like at times, but also the community that can be found here.

The equestrian world is full of amazing people all over the place. If you’ve been feeling a bit lost or alone recently, why not join a new riding club or team to branch out and meet new people? There are tonnes to choose from, and you’ll have a great time with your horse as well as meeting new people. Sometimes all you need is a little push to take that step, so here’s your sign to get stuck in and make some new like-minded friends to share the ups and downs of horses with.

If you’ve been struggling recently, this is your sign to take a step back and reconnect with horses all over again. Reignite the passion that brought you here and remember why we do it. If you’ve noticed that one of your friends or peers has lost their spark recently, reach out and start that conversation with them, you never know how much they might need to hear it.