Good questions DD.

I'd say I lean towards the side of wary with horses I don't know (and some I do) but not fearful. I've gotten to the point with myself that I can trust my ability to read them more, and since I'm now listening to my gut more I don't really have a reason to be on edge. I'm usually one step ahead if something is going to go wrong.

I LOVE the adrenaline that comes with horses and sometimes the uncertainty. And really, my serenity comes from going for a hard ride and just jogging along. I think my happy place always come when the horse learns something and GETS it. I just get all warm and fuzzy when we communicate to each other effectively.

I feel safest on a horse I know. Once I map them out, I'm good. When I feel danger usually is when other people are involved. I hate adding that variable of the unexpected. Some people at my barn have (IMO) horses that are just bad and they let them get away with murder. When riding a greenie and someone is barreling at you uncontrollably on a 17hh WB, I get the fear pretty good. Usually by the point I'm riding a greenie with others they have a pretty good handle on things and they don't want to get run down anymore than I do so they'll remove themselves from the situation.

That and people driving by. I have to try not to get nervous. Comes from being in a real bad wreck as a kid because of some old bastard who insisted "horses didn't belong on the road"

And also trailers. I teach all mine to load themselves because I HATE it in there. Again, just crushed in a trailer good as a kid, and I hate the feeling of being in there. Brings back some really fun flashbacks. *shudder*

I feel safest when I'm doing things on my own terms.