Fear of horses (equinophobia)

En español: lee sobre este miedo en Fobias.org.

A fear of horses can show up in fields, on country lanes, at riding stables or even near a horse in a picture. They are large and can move suddenly, and the fear can be helped.

Understanding this fear

Equinophobia, also called hippophobia, is an intense fear of horses that can extend to ponies, donkeys and mules. It is more than feeling cautious around a large animal you do not know. With a phobia, the sight or sound of a horse can bring on panic, and you might go out of your way to avoid fields, bridleways or stables. Some people are unsettled even by pictures or films of horses.

There are no figures for how many people have this fear, partly because many keep it to themselves. Specific phobias in general are thought to be fairly common, and they seem to affect women more often than men. This fear often starts with a frightening moment such as a fall, a kick, a bite or seeing someone else get hurt, and it can link with fears of heights, falling, injury or animals more widely. It can affect riders who have had an accident as well as people who have never been near a horse.

Common triggers

• A horse moving suddenly or rearing
• Snorting, neighing or stamping
• Hooves on the road behind you
• Being near a horse’s head or back legs
• Being asked to ride or groom
• Horses running loose in a field
• Pictures or films of horses
• The smell of stables or tack

Where it shows up

• Fields and footpaths through farmland
• Country lanes and bridleways
• Riding schools, stables and livery yards
• Agricultural shows and race days
• Beaches and parks used by riders
• City streets with mounted police
• Tourist carriage rides

Symptoms

In your body

• Racing or pounding heart
• Sweating or chills
• Shaking or freezing on the spot
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or an upset stomach
• Dizziness

In your mind

• Fear of being kicked, bitten or trampled
• A sense that the horse could bolt at any moment
• Fear of falling if riding
• Dread of being cornered with a horse nearby
• Embarrassment when others seem relaxed around horses

What you might do

• Avoiding country walks through fields
• Crossing the road to get away from riders
• Refusing to visit stables or watch a child ride
• Turning off programmes that show horses
• Checking routes for horses before a walk

What causes it

Many people can point to a frightening moment, such as being thrown, stepped on or bitten, losing control of a horse, or watching someone else get hurt. Horses are big, strong and can move suddenly, so it makes sense for the mind to be wary, and one bad event can turn that wariness into fear. Children can also pick up the fear from an anxious parent. A family history of anxiety may make phobias more likely. Avoiding horses brings relief, which teaches the mind that keeping away is the only safe option.

How it can affect your life

A fear of horses can limit walks, holidays and days out in the countryside, and it can feel awkward if a partner or child loves riding. Riders who develop the fear after a fall may lose a hobby that meant a great deal to them. Even in towns, mounted police and carriage rides can be hard to avoid, which can make outings feel tense.

Things that can help day to day

• Look at pictures or videos of calm horses for short spells and let your breathing settle
• Learn how horses behave and what relaxed body language looks like
• Breathe slowly if you meet a horse on a path, and give it plenty of room
• Plan walks on routes you feel comfortable with while you work on the fear
• Only get closer with an experienced handler and a calm, well known horse

When to get help

If the fear stops you walking, joining family activities or enjoying the countryside, or if you are having panic attacks, it is worth getting help. Your GP is a good first port of call if anxiety is affecting your sleep or daily life. If you were injured by a horse and still have pain or upsetting flashbacks, mention this to your GP too.

How I can help

Common questions

Is it sensible to be wary of horses?

Yes, some caution is wise, because horses are large and can startle. A phobia is when that caution turns into panic or avoidance that limits your life, even when the horse is calm or far away.

Can I get my confidence back after falling off a horse?

Many riders do regain confidence with the right support. Working on the memory of the fall, then building back up slowly with a calm horse and an experienced instructor, can help a great deal.

Why do horses frighten me when I have never been hurt by one?

Fears can be learned from other people, from films or simply from a horse’s size and sudden movements. You do not need a bad experience for the fear to feel very real.

Why am I afraid of such a gentle animal?

Many horses are gentle, but they are big and can be unpredictable. One frightening moment is often enough to start the fear. It is easy to understand, and it can ease.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Further reading: Cleveland Clinic: Equinophobia, fear of horses · NHS: Phobias · Mind: About phobias

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices