@mybrokenbones Hello and welcome to Connect. I'm sorry you've had 2 ankle fractures. That is a tough injury to overcome. My fear of medical issues and surgery didn't come from my fractured ankle. I had a deep rooted fear for many years, and when I went through spine surgery, I addressed my fears and figured out the source, and deprogrammed it. When I broke my ankle, it was from a fall from a horse that bolted. I didn't know I was falling until I was on the ground. It wasn't my horse. It belonged to a friend and we had gone out as a group trail riding and it seemed OK, but she was a little green, and spooked easily, but then she was over it. The problem was a loose dog came up behind and chased her. All the horses in our group spooked for that.

I didn't have fear in falling because I didn't know I was falling. I had an old horse who was not sound for the trip and really couldn't be ridden anymore. After recovering from my injury, I bought a new younger horse. I wanted a horse I can bond with an communicate with and I work on that all the time. He is super smart and very sensitive, so I tread lightly in my movements. I also always wear a helmet and work boots with toe protection. I learn as much as I can about communicating with and training horses and have gone to some training workshops. I feel this gives me the safest way to ride, and if the horse is nervous, I get off.

You do have to ask yourself why you have fear, and look for past experience that feeds into this fear. It may take a lot to unravel, but it is worth it. Your recent injury could have caused fear, but it also may have triggered something in your past when you were not in control.