How Can EMDR Therapy Help Horse Riding Related Trauma?

“EMDR therapy has enabled me to enjoy riding again.”​ 
Lizzie from Manchester

In November of 2021, I had an accident whilst out hacking, where I fell from my loan horse. I was taken to A&E in an ambulance and was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis. I spent a number of days being looked after in hospital and then recuperating at home. However, I realised that I had more long-lasting symptoms which were diagnosed as PTSD caused by the accident. I love horses and horse riding, and I did not want to live with these traumatic thoughts and risk not being able to enjoy riding again.

A friend recommended that I seek professional advice, and so I spent ten face-to-face EMDR therapy sessions with Geraldine. This gave me the opportunity to talk through what happened in the accident and how this made me feel by visualising a place personal to me where I felt safe. This process allowed me to address the trauma of the accident whilst being able to return to my safe place at any time. The EMDR uncovered that I had two main types of emotional trauma. I was experiencing fear of riding which could result in a significant injury to myself, and I was also experiencing guilt caused by the significant injuries which happened to the horse when she fell.

“Geraldine helped me to unpick my trauma, re-process it in an alternative way, and gave me the ability to re-frame it without my original negative emotions, and I am free from my PTSD.”

Experiencing a certain level of anxiety is natural for me, but I am now a lot more knowledgeable and realistic about my riding. I have a better understanding of horses and, importantly, I now know my own parameters, and this helps me to stay confident and not restrict me from riding and enjoying the time I spend with horses and riding.

I feel better equipped to deal with the trauma of the physical changes and potential disability which could have been caused by my accident. EMDR has allowed me to move forward both in terms of practical progress and also provided me with a better gauge and understanding.

“Importantly, the therapy I undertook with Geraldine enabled me to return to riding the horse that I fell from, whom I care about deeply, and could not imagine my life without spending time with.”

Lizzie from Manchester, 25th September 2025.

Geraldine Claire Therapy provides EMDR therapy from her office in Central Wilmslow. For more information contact me at admin@geraldineclairetherapy.co.uk