Everyone wants to stay healthy. But most people might want to avoid hitting the gym and doing exercise. However, there are many fun ways to stay healthy, too. One of these fun ways is horseback riding.
Horseback riding, or riding horses generally, is good for your health. Riding horses is a great way to exercise, build muscle, and improve your mental health. It’s an easy way to get outside, enjoy nature, and have fun with friends or family.
Not-So-Humble Horse
There is a reason why horse riding is called equestrian. But you don’t have to be a horse lover to enjoy learning this sport. You can use your newfound skill for leisurely rides, work with horses in the field or even become an eventer.
Some people think that riding a horse must be hard. It isn’t so! Once you get used to it, learning how to ride will be second nature. Transitioning from sitting on your first pony at the stables to trotting along on your own two legs may take some time, but things get fun once there!
It is advisable to start early, so consider enrolling your child in a school where they can learn to ride. There are many such schools, like the Stonar School. Stonar School, located in Wiltshire, UK, offers an extensive equestrian program to riders of all levels. You can easily find such horse riding schools through a simple search on the internet. Research a bit about the school and pick one nearby that suits your requirements.
Horseback Riding Improves Muscle Tone
Horseback riding is the way to go if you’re looking for a fun way to get in shape. It’s a low-impact exercise that can improve your muscle tone and posture. If you want to take up horseback riding as a hobby, it might be best not to start by going too fast or too far. A study published in 2020 found that professional riders had more excellent muscle tone. It also concluded that these riders could use their core muscles better than other novice riders.
You should slowly build strength in your legs and arms to be ready for more challenging activities later. You should also be sure that the horse has been trained well before taking it out on your rides; if not, there could be serious accidents involving injuries or even death!
In addition to being well trained, horses should be properly equipped for your safety, as their comfort plays a crucial role. Saddle pads, in particular, require special attention as they come in close contact with the horse. Ensuring that they are both comfortable and of high quality is essential. Moreover, considering the various types of saddles available, it is important to use the appropriate saddle pad for each specific purpose. For instance, LeMieux offers a range of saddle pads in different shapes and sizes, designed to cater to the horse’s age and specific activities such as exercising, trail riding, or participating in horse jumping shows.
Helps With Weight Loss and Improves Posture
According to the American Quarter Horse Association, when you are on a horse, someone looking at you from the side should be able to draw a vertical line through the middle of your ear, shoulder, and hip, right down to behind the back of your heel. This position is known as “the correct riding position,” and it helps to improve posture and reduce back pain. The rider’s weight is distributed more evenly over the horse’s body, which means less strain for both parties.
By improving your balance and posture, you can lose weight. Riding for about 45 minutes at a walk, trot, and canter can burn up to 200 calories, as the American Heart Association reported.
When you improve how you feel about yourself and how others perceive you, it is easier for you to maintain an active lifestyle. One can achieve a healthy body weight by exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet. This can help improve one’s health and fitness levels overall.
Benefits the Heart
Horse riding can be good for your health if you have heart disease or have had a heart attack. The rhythm of the horse’s gait can help to improve blood circulation in both arms and legs, which may help to reduce symptoms associated with cardiac conditions such as angina.
Horse riding can also be an enjoyable exercise for people prone to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions. The American Heart Association recommends horseback riding to promote cardiovascular health, as more than 80% of riders report feeling relaxed and happy after riding a horse.
Boosts Mental Health
Horse riding is a great way to relieve stress. It helps you focus on the present moment, think more clearly, relax, and unwind. Why? Because horse riding is a form of meditation, you must tune into your body, listen to the horse’s movements, feel how it responds to your commands, and learn how to coordinate with another living being.
According to Verywell Mind, equine therapy is proven beneficial to help manage anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. Equine therapy involves doing activities, such as grooming and feeding a horse.
Improves Balance and Coordination
Horse riding can improve your balance and coordination. To understand how horse riding helps with this, let’s examine how balance and coordination are related. Balance is a person’s ability to control their body to stay upright without falling over or moving around too much. It is controlled by the nervous system and the body’s muscles and joints.
Coordination refers to how well different body parts work together when you move. A person with good balance can walk, run, jump and do other activities without losing their footing or falling down because they have good control over their muscles and joints while moving around on their feet.
A Lot of People Don’t Know the Health Benefits of Horse Riding
Many people don’t know the health benefits of horse riding, but many have to do with happiness. You probably know that horse riding is good for your physical health. It’s a great workout and can help you lose weight and build muscle. But did you know that it’s also good for your mental and emotional health?
Horse riding makes you happy because it’s an enjoyable activity—everyone needs more fun in their lives! It also helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, which makes you happier because meeting new people gives you something interesting to talk about at parties or other social events.
Conclusion
Horse riding is an excellent sport for people of all ages and abilities. It allows you to get outside and enjoy nature while improving your health. This article has covered some of the most important reasons horseback riding is good for you, but many more are out there! So whether you’re looking to improve your physical condition or just want an excuse to spend time with friends outdoors. Give it a try!
