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Maybe you’ve always wanted to ride a horse. Maybe you’ve never had the inclination. Either way, you may not know how physically and mentally rewarding it can be to climb onto a saddle and just ride. Many men and women think that horseback riding wastes time and energy, but there are actually plenty of reasons to get yourself to your local barn ASAP.
Here are five reasons why every woman – and man – needs to learn how to horseback ride.
Horseback riding isn’t just sitting on a horse for an hour. You have to complete multiple steps, both before and after a lesson, that make horseback riding a bonafide exercise routine. You have to feed and water your horse, carry bales of hay, muck out stalls, brush and wash your horse down and complete countless other tasks. While this kind of work burns calories and builds muscle, the act of riding itself requires far more exertion. The New York Times references a study which showed that riding your horse at a gallop expends as much energy as activities like roller blading or playing squash. Not only that, but according to a study by the British Horse Society, horseback riding can improve men and women’s balance and posture, joint mobility, coordination and blood circulation. Riding is a physically challenging sport, as any rider will attest.
If you’ve had a bad week at school or work, there’s nothing more relaxing than a few hours of horse therapy. You’re getting out of the house and into a fun environment where you can hang out with your pony and the other men and women who love horses just as much as you do. Just the smell of hay and the thumping of hooves on the ground can help relieve stress. According to the Certified Horseman Association, “Therapeutic riding has shown to reduce muscle spasticity as tight muscles are stretched due to the natural motion of the horse.” Studies have also shown that stroke victims, cancer patients and those suffering from depression respond well to animal-assisted therapy. Long story short, horseback riding is actually great for your health.
When you’re a rider, you don’t just show up with your horse already tacked and ready to go. You have to brush your horse down, make sure your equipment is comfortable and clean, and make sure your horse stays healthy. Horseback riding comes with a lot of responsibility, which is one reason why it’s such a great sport for younger kids. One Detroit horse camp recognized the unique lessons kids learn taking care of and riding horses. In particular, David Silver, founder of the non-profit organization, says that “the [horseback riding] camp develops character and traits like perseverance, responsibility and compassion … throughout the week.” The earlier you start riding, the quicker you’ll realize how much work it takes to care for an animal – and how much this work can help you grow as a person.
Horseback riding isn’t always about trail rides or circles in the arena (though it can be!). The more you ride and the more skills you master, the more you might consider riding competitively. You can learn jumping, dressage, cross-country, racing or even rodeo. With horseback riding, you can develop your competitive spirit, winning medals, awards and even scholarships! However, succeeding at competitive equestrianism is not easy. In fact, it requires passion, resilience and “a strong backbone” to get to the top. But because the sport is so competitive and requires such hard work, when you do start winning medals, you’ll know exactly how you got to that place: a lot of perseverance and character.
Maybe you don’t need a reason to horseback ride other than it’s fun, simple as that. Riding horses is one of the most enjoyable activities you can do; there’s nothing better than feeling the wind on your face as you canter around the arena, maneuvering a powerful animal over three foot jumps. As rider Sarah Evers Conrad explains, “There is an adventurousness to [horseback riding]. It offers freedom, movement, and makes amazing feats of athleticism possible.” Over time, you’ll even develop a unbreakable bond with your horse.
So if you’ve never climbed into the saddle, now is the perfect time to give it a try! You might be surprised by how much work it can be, but you’ll also be surprised by how much you’ll enjoy – and learn from – the experience.
