For many riders, going out for a ride on their own is perfectly normal. For me, it's something special. Because I used to be quite a nervous rider.

And now, for the first time, I went out with my Icelandic horse without another horse coming along. Well, not completely on my own, because my daughter came with me on her bike. But I was riding. And I really enjoyed it!

Just one week earlier, I didn't dare

The weather was lovely, and I had thought about taking my Icelandic horse out for a short ride. Just a familiar route we'd done many times before, either with another horse or on foot.

But somehow, it didn't feel right. So instead, I went to the riding arena.

Afterwards, I thought: What a shame. That could have been such a lovely ride. And then another thought came to me: I want to be able to do this. I want to go riding with my horse, even when there's no one else riding alongside us.

And I don't have to achieve that overnight. I can prepare for it. I can walk the route with him first, see how he reacts, and build up some experience. Step by step.

I don't have to push myself too hard. But I also don't want to let my fears limit my life more and more.

And then we just did it

When I told my daughter about it, she said, "Come on, I'll ride my bike with you."

And that's exactly what we did. My daughter on her bike, me on my Icelandic horse. We went along our familiar route.

And you know what? It was simply wonderful!

I could enjoy our time together. I felt comfortable and relaxed. And afterwards, I was so happy.

Maybe this sounds like a small thing to you. But for me, it was a big step. I did it! And yes, I'm proud of myself.

In the past, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it

I still remember how tense I used to feel when riding. My mind was constantly showing me pictures of what could go wrong. What if my horse suddenly jumped sideways? What if he got frightened? What if I lost control?

I was always on alert, constantly scanning my surroundings for anything that might be dangerous. My body was tense, and inside, I was on high alert. Even when everything was calm, I couldn't really enjoy riding.

Over the past few years, I've spent a lot of time working through my fears and insecurities. I've processed difficult experiences and learned how to deal with tension and anxiety differently, not just when riding, but in everyday life too.

And little by little, things have changed. Today, I can ride much more calmly. I trust myself more, and I no longer constantly expect something bad to happen. And as a result, my horse is much calmer too.

I want my world to grow bigger, not smaller

This became especially clear to me during our ride.

When we no longer feel confident doing something, we often avoid it the next time too. And over time, there are more and more things we'd rather not do.

Maybe you only ride in the arena now. Maybe you only go out when other riders come along. Maybe you avoid certain paths or situations that once felt completely normal.

Little by little, our world can become smaller. And that's exactly what I don't want.

Not because I have to be able to do everything or face every challenge. But because I want to choose what I do with my horse, rather than always letting fear make those decisions for me.

That doesn't mean I have to force myself to do anything. I can take small steps, ask for support, and sometimes decide that today just isn't the right day. But I want to stay open to what might become possible.

And right now, I'm simply enjoying the memory of our lovely ride. I'm grateful for my Icelandic horse, who was such a reliable companion. For my daughter, who simply said, "Come on, I'll ride my bike with you." And I'm happy that I found the courage to do it.

It was only a short ride. But it made my world feel a little bigger, more alive, and full of joy. 🌿