PICTURE THIS: YOU have left the roads, ridden along a lovely bridleway and now you are faced with a sprawling expanse of field ahead of you. You think about how lovely it will be to canter along the track and your horse's ears prick up. But there's a niggle at the back of your mind full of the ‘what ifs’ and the many things that could go wrong in such an open space.
“Some people worry about losing control, or their horse bolting, while others are concerned that he may nap, buck, or spook. Then there are external factors that can play on riders’ minds — people walking, dogs, cyclists, vehicles,” says Rebecca Mills, a BHS Stage 4 senior eventing coachthings could be rushing through your mind, and it's completely understandable why you might be nervous.”
