Anticipation vs. Worry

During a recent riding lesson with Penny, the word anticipation kept coming up. It made me think about anticipation and worry, and the differences especially when it comes to navigating our next steps. Horses, as prey animals live in the present, but are always aware of what’s next. They anticipate what might happen, without spiraling into worry, and if nothing happens they return to grazing and a calm state.

We have a lot to learn from horses, both when riding and everyday life. When we worry, we mentally rehearse possible problems, often repeatedly with a negative tone (what could go wrong). Instead of preparing, we become saturated in fear which in turns takes us away from the present, drains energy, reduces clarity and increases feelings of distress, which ultimately can exacerbate the situation.

During a recent ride with Penny, instead of worrying about the what ifs, I tried to anticipate her next move by increasing my alert presence. For example Penny always likes to stop by the arena door, so instead of worrying if she’ll stop, I anticipated that she may stop, and used more leg as we neared the door, which kept her moving forward. Anticipation has a more neutral and hopeful tone, and focuses on readiness rather than becoming distressed and ruminating. Anticipation when riding helps foster a feeling of safety and connection, whereas worry can create tension.

Worry and anticipation both involve looking ahead to the future, however the difference seems to lie in the tone and impact. Next time you start to feel worried, simply ask yourself if you’re experiencing worry or anticipation, and aim to reframe worry into a preparation-focused thought. Once again, horses help us to remain present by showing us to prepare for what’s coming, while also staying grounded in the moment without fear.