Embrace your emotions

MEET THE TRAINER

AURÉLIE SEGUIN is an instructor at Ferm de Gué equestrian centre in Normandy, France. She specialises in coaching riders through fear, using knowledge of horse and human emotions and psychology. Working with the principles of nonviolent communication, she has trained thousands of riders via YouTube, online courses and her blog. Visit adadamondadou.com.

A LOT OF RIDERS struggle with nerves and anxiety but, according to mindset coach Aurélie Seguin, many are reluctant to confess to suffering with them. She recognises that being told to brush ourselves off and keep a stiff upper lip, “like a good rider would”, after a fall or a scare isn’t helpful. Despite fear being a totally natural part of riding, it results in riders beating ourselves up as ‘irrational’ or ‘stupid’ when we feel afraid.

I spoke to Aurélie after a traumatic fall from a youngster. I was thrown off four times, at full gallop. The horse’s owner kept saying, “it’s not his