Horse riding is a wonderful activity, bringing together physical exercise, being outside and connecting with a beautiful animal. Whether it’s going for a trail ride, dressage or jumping, this will bring you alot of joy.
Health benefits include:
- Increases balance and core strength Sitting upright in the saddle and moving with the gait of the horse naturally strengthens your core and improves your balance. These are key requirements for keeping healthy as you age.
- Getting outdoors Being outdoors, observing and listening to nature is a natural way to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Doing this on a horse makes this extra enjoyable.
- Building trust and companionship Having connection with a beautiful animal like a horse can really stir your soul. This happens naturally as you learn to communicate together as you ride, pat and groom your horse.
- Working out beyond the saddle While riding is excellent exercise, you will also get a work out as you move around the stable. Mucking out, carrying tack and food, and grooming all use different parts of your body.
- Developing positive character traits Being and communicating with a horse encourages development of many fine character traits. Patience, trust, empathy, sensitivity and self-control are just some of these.
- Activates problem solving Horses don't ride themselves, and you must apply problem solving as you make decisions about where you're riding, what gait to go at, how to handle your horse if it resists and so on. There are a myriad of issues you'll work through without even noticing yourself doing it.
- Being social There are lots of opportunities to interact with others when involved with horses - fellow riders, instructors, owners, stable hands and so on. The horses are what you have in common and an easy way to engage in friendly conversation.
- Improving your posture If you're sitting like a sack of potatoes on a horse, you'll soon realise it. Riding is a great way to align your body and make your posture upright. You'll soon find yourself walking with a better posture on the ground.
"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom."