Equinophobia

Equinophobia is an extreme fear of horses. The name of the phobia is derived from the Latin word “eqqus”, which means horses, and “Phobos” which means deep fear or dread. It is also known as Hippophobia. The phobia is not always just limited to horses but people having Equinophobia may also fear other ungulate animals like ponies and donkeys.

Causes of Equinophobia

It is observed that animal related phobias are more common amongst women than in men. However, the phobia is never innate and always develops from a traumatic or negative experience related to horses in people.

Like, if in your childhood you were kicked or fell off from a horse while riding it, then it’s more than likely that you will remember the pain that was caused by the horse, even if it has been ages since that incident happened. The large teeth of horses also add to the fear in children.

Academia in phobias also suggests that some phobias tend to run in families. One or both the parents if are Equinophobic, then this might be introduced in the genetic strain of the offsprings, and may also lead to adrenaline insufficiency.

An accident or disaster that is even remotely related to horses might also lead to the development of the horse fear for a lifetime. Wild horses, especially are frightening creatures due to their speed and unpredictability.

Actor Christopher Reeves, famous for his role in Superman, was paralyzed neck down while shooting when he was thrown off by a horse and more such reportage around the world intimidates people more when they are around horses.

Actress Kristen Stewart self-admitted that she is an Equinophobe and had a hard time filming Snow
White and the Huntsman.

Symptoms of fear of horses

In most cases, the symptoms of Equinophobia are not life-altering, but it can be worrisome for people with a heightened level of phobia or in cases where they can’t avoid the object that triggers their phobia.

Some Equinophobes display the following physical and emotional symptoms:

• Panic/ Anxiety attacks

• Palpitations

• Sweating and Trembling

• Feeling of terror at the sight or mere mention of horses.

• Crying, screaming, or getting hysterical.

• Nausea or gastrointestinal problem.

Young children dealing with this phobia are often subjected to teasing and bullying by their peers as well as they might experience anxiety and other phobic developments.

Treating and overcoming Equinophobia

Amongst the most effective ways to overcome this phobia is Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which is a form of talk or psychotherapy, that consists of breaking the self frightening thinking patterns in the phobic.  This therapy enables the individual to keep an open mind and be aware while they are near their object of fear, in this case, horses.

Self-enlightenment and reading about horses can also help Equinophobic people overcome their fear and understand that it was irrational. The tamed horses are generally harmless and the study shows that  horses do not harm humans as long as necessary precautions are taken while around them or riding them.

Another way of overcoming the phobia is systematic desensitizing, wherein the patient slowly acclimatize themselves to horses by looking at their pictures, reading and thinking about them, and eventually being able to touch or ride them.

Every individual in this world fears something or the other, but when that fear starts intervening with their daily life then it becomes a phobia. But it is not necessary that a person has to live in that phobia  forever,one can overcome it with therapy and with a strong mindset to win over their deepest fears