Feeling Stressed?
- Mar 29
- 5 min read
Let’s set the scene… the horses in the paddock are inevitably starting to run (for no apparent reason), the group in the walker need to be taken off and suddenly four horses are required for clients (groomed, wearing all white and more often than not completely filthy!). One extra thing, you’re short-staffed. Situations like these can cause even the most ‘monk-like’ of employees to panic, and there are always going to be factors that are completely out of your control. “That’s life” as they say! However, before jumping ship and spiralling out of control, take a little read of some tips EquiHaven has to offer. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a ‘life raft’ to cling on to…...
By now we all know that a life with horses will inevitably come with bumps in the road…. And for a lot of people, they’re one call away from recruiting a road repair team! All jokes aside, this way of living can be a combination of the most uplifting and rewarding, yet crushingly stressful experiences we face.
Stress is inevitable, but how you handle it makes all the difference!
Firstly, although probably stating the obvious, stress can be defined as a ‘state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation’. There are multiple reasons as to why we feel stressed, and most importantly, it is a completely natural human response to threats in our lives. However, how we perceive, respond to and manage our stress is crucial. Stress is completely unique on an individual basis, just like we see with our horses. The quiet, off their food and inwardly nervous type or the explosive, screaming dragon. Further to this, learning to not let the (less than desirable!) behaviour of others form a negative impact on our daily functioning is the Holy Grail.
Physiological effects of stress: | Psychological manifestations of stress: | Risks associated to long-term stress: |
· Increased heart rate | · Irritability or aggression | · Stroke |
· Breathing quickens | · Feeling of loss of control | · Headaches |
· Muscles tighten (can include headaches) | · Exhaustion | · Heart attacks |
· Blood pressure rises | · Depression | · High blood pressure |
Now, let’s ditch the science and focus on how we can pull you out of that stress whirlpool….
Being in positions of excessive workloads, understaffing, under-use of skills and long, unsocial or inflexible hours have unfortunately become the norm within our industry.
If you’re anything like me, a stressful day at the stable would follow me home and chip away at my mind until late in the evening. That was before I discovered some of these techniques to take a minute, channel how I was feeling and use the stress I experienced for a more positive outcome. There ARE ways to push away the physiological and psychological effects of stress, even if only for a while. Anyways, the journey of stress management is no sprint…. It’s most definitely a marathon.
There are of course a plethora of generic stress-busting techniques out there (and I’ll include some of them here). However, as EquiHaven is here to support grooms and equestrian workers, there have to be Equine related ‘nuggets’ to offer! First thing’s first, take a deep breath…
Breathing techniques: ‘Box breathing’ is a fantastic technique used globally, often by those working in high pressure jobs (such as firefighting, Navy Seals and…grooming!). The instructions are as followed: Slow deep breath in through the nose for 4 seconds – hold for 4 seconds – breathe out through the mouth 4 seconds – hold for 4 seconds. Repeat for 3-4 rounds. Positive effects include stress reduction, increased mental clarity, energy and focus.
Stand your ground: As scary as this sounds, creating your own boundaries of how you wish to be treated is extremely important for your general well-being. Learn the power of graciously saying “no” when your boss comes to you with unreasonable requests. This over time will sink in with your employer and allow you to stop always playing catch-up!
Ask for Help: Just like standing your ground, asking for help is crucial to coping with stress. You don’t have to let yourself become overwhelmed – simply asking for help can feel like a weight off your shoulders. Often grooms run around like headless chickens feeling that only ‘they’ can perform certain tasks. Why not ask your boss if other employees could receive training days or even offer to teach certain jobs yourself? This way, others learn new skills and you feel that you don’t have to do everything!
Talk to someone: Message a friend for a catch-up or phone call, talk with your boss and even with colleagues. A good laugh and re-assurance are always good for the soul.
Always have something planned to look forwards to: This one will always put a smile on your face! Try to always have a few activities/events in the pipeline that get you excited. That beach holiday? Dinner with close friends? Catching up with other grooms at shows? In times of despair, lean in on these plans.
Take breaks: Yes, I know this sounds shocking… but grooms are entitled to taking a break too! Grab that cup of coffee, eat your lunch, unwind with your favourite horse (we all have favourites!) or even go for a little walk with your dog. Breaks are good time to practice box breathing too.
Stay organised: Keep a set of whites in or close-by the tack room for those pesky last-minute clients. Don’t cut corners – groom/clean horses and their hooves properly when they come in from the field/sand paddock. This saves time in client emergencies and a whole less stress for you!
Side hustles and passions: Why not use stress and frustration to better your situation? Why not turn your passions into ways to earn a little extra cash? I’m serious. Ever thought about creating an online course or selling photos you took on Etsy? By having more ‘strings to your bow’, stress created by feeling ‘stuck’ in your workplace can fade away. If that’s not for you, try experimenting with different sports or clubs outside of work. This is a good one for those who literally ‘live’ at work.
Reminders, reminders, reminders: Set reminders on your phone throughout the day to breathe or think of something that makes you happy!
Gratefulness: This one is BIG. Have you ever realised that you cannot be feeling stressed/overwhelmed and grateful at the same time? Funny, isn’t it. The two don’t coincide with each other. When you’re starting to feel stressed, take a moment and think of a few personal things to be grateful for. Family? Friends? Even how great your morning coffee tasted. We all have something to be grateful for!
I hope you took at least one tip that you can incorporate into your daily routine or in ‘those’ moments at work. Remember, stress is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to take joy away from what we love… caring for our horses.
Keep smiling,
Steven,
Team EquiHaven
Helpful Tools and Resources:
The Mel Robbins Podcast
New York Times best-selling author and one of the world’s leading experts on change, motivation and habits
The Marie Forleo Podcast
Entrepreneur, writer and philanthropist
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