Overcoming Dog phobia and Riding fear after a fall: Hypnotherapy that makes a huge difference

Fear around animals can reshape an entire life. It can limit where you go, what you do, and how safe you feel in everyday situations. But it can also change often faster than people expect - when the body and mind finally learn to regulate instead of react.

Today I want to share two real client stories. Different animals, different fears but the same underlying principle: when your nervous system calms, your body, your mind and the animal all respond differently.

Client story 1: From terrified of dogs to petting one for the first time

One client came to me with an intense fear of dogs. “Intense” is actually an understatement, she couldn’t even take her children to a local park if there was a chance a dog might appear. Her whole body froze, her breath locked, and her nervous system reacted as if every dog was a direct threat. Total Panic.

Enjoying outdoors (and dogs) without fears

During our first meeting, I simply stood with my leashed dog (a border collie) at a distance of about ten meters. That was the absolute closest she could manage without panicking. Even from that distance, her shoulders were tight and she said, it looks nice but not closer please.

But after two hypnotherapy sessions focused on calming her internal responses, retraining her system, and shifting the emotional imprint behind the fear… something remarkable happened.

She didn’t just walk closer - she learned how to pet a dog for the very first time in her life.

It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t dramatic. It was natural, grounded, steady. She reached out, the dog was of course relaxed, and she enjoyed the experience.

The look on her face - a mix of relief, victory and disbelief - said everything. And yes, she has already taken her kids to the park without fear. Aware of the surroundings but no fear.

Animals reflect us more than we realise

All animals respond to human energy. Not in a mystical way - but through basic survival and animal instinct.

• If an animal is a prey species, they’re wired to read subtle tension. That tension can make them jumpy, unsure or reactive. Simply a survival instinct (Horses for example)
  

• If it’s a predator, tension can confuse them. They sense something is “off” and try to interpret whether it’s danger or not. they try to read a humans body language for instance (dogs, cats etc)

Knowledge and respect for an animal’s behaviour is always essential - but fear or anxiety and stress signals give animals mixed messages. Where is the danger?! When you change your inner state, the animal’s behaviour often influence and changes right alongside it.

Client story 2: Overcoming riding anxiety after a fall - and rebuilding the connection with her horse

After a sudden fall during a jumping session, nothing felt the same. Although she wasn’t physically so injured, the emotional impact was immediate and overwhelming. Every time she sat in the saddle, her body tightened, her breathing became shallow and a familiar wave of stress washed over her... and her horse sensed everything.

Like many riders who struggle with riding anxiety after a fall, she noticed her horse becoming tense, unsure and reactive. Horses are highly sensitive to a rider’s micro-signals - muscle tension, breath, posture, intention even bodyposture where you look, and her fear created a loop where both she and her horse fed into each other’s nervousness.

Despite reassurance and training from her riding instructor, her confidence continued to crumble. Riding, which had always been the place where she felt happiest, turned into something stressful and draining. And with an upcoming jumping competition, the pressure only increased.

Horsejumping worked again

Two hypnotherapy sessions that changed everything

Through focused hypnotherapy for rider fear, performance anxiety and nervous-system regulation, she learned how to calm the instinctive stress response that had locked into her body after the fall. As her nervous system softened, her body language changed - and her horse immediately felt the difference. I incorporated several different techniques that is used in athletics too. (Since I have been an athletic trainer for many years, and riding horses myself)

When she learned how to ride in a light, relaxed state, something remarkable happened:

Her horse became calmer, more connected and suddenly - more teamwork feeling. It was as though the bond between them switched on.

The fear-driven tension dissolved. Her cues became clearer. Her seat and breath steadied. And her horse followed.

A dramatic shift in confidence and connection

The transformation wasn’t only physical - it was emotional. She felt joy again, balanced again, and truly present with her horse. Everyday riding became enjoyable rather than stressful, and situations that once triggered stress and almost panic now felt grounded and manageable.

If you have any fears that hold you back - know that it does limit you - and by changing it you are in control instead of stressed out or panic. And that´s healthy and liberating.

Welcome to try hypnotherapy and take control of your life