Well I admit it, they scare the living daylights out of me and i'm not tough
I used to love riding, and wasn't particularly afraid, until I had a bad fall that could have been terrible. My horse slipped over on an asphalt road, falling on top of me as a vehicle was passing us. Nobody was hurt, I just had a bruise to show for it. It was a 'convenient' time to quit though. I was going off to college, the riding school was closing down, and my horse was going to retire.
Six years later I find myself living on a ranch, and find out I have developed a real fear of horses. It doesn't help matters that I grew up riding English, and can only ride Western here. The horses aren't your typical lesson horse, and I don't feel like I have any control if i'm sitting 'wrong' and my reins are hanging loose. It really is starting to seem like the horses are out to get me. They have me sized up before i've even got on, and the slightest argument with them makes me want to get off and walk home
I know I have to win these small battles before they turn into anything bigger, but I don't feel like I know what i'm doing or when it's me doing wrong and when it's the horse. They are all pretty much barn-sour out by themselves, and will do anything from not travelling in a straight line and constantly trying to turn back, to head-shaking, running off, and threatening to rear.
I am not nearly as scared when i'm actually doing something on a horse, like helping gather cattle. The horses don't seem to give me nearly as much trouble either, perhaps because they are bored in the arena and picking on me is entertaining. My husband says I have to 'cowboy up' and convince them i'm not scared, but I usually end up physically shaking i'm that afraid. On the ground if they make a sudden move I find i've run off before I even knew I was going to! I just wish I could get pleasure from something I used to love doing. I thought about taking a couple of English riding lessons to get used to being around horses and having fun again, but I don't know if that would help. Have any of you conquered a fear of horses?

Six years later I find myself living on a ranch, and find out I have developed a real fear of horses. It doesn't help matters that I grew up riding English, and can only ride Western here. The horses aren't your typical lesson horse, and I don't feel like I have any control if i'm sitting 'wrong' and my reins are hanging loose. It really is starting to seem like the horses are out to get me. They have me sized up before i've even got on, and the slightest argument with them makes me want to get off and walk home

I am not nearly as scared when i'm actually doing something on a horse, like helping gather cattle. The horses don't seem to give me nearly as much trouble either, perhaps because they are bored in the arena and picking on me is entertaining. My husband says I have to 'cowboy up' and convince them i'm not scared, but I usually end up physically shaking i'm that afraid. On the ground if they make a sudden move I find i've run off before I even knew I was going to! I just wish I could get pleasure from something I used to love doing. I thought about taking a couple of English riding lessons to get used to being around horses and having fun again, but I don't know if that would help. Have any of you conquered a fear of horses?