Millions of people worldwide experience the mental and emotional stresses associated with depression, anxiety, and mood imbalance.
And while it’s perfectly normal to feel some levels of stress, if it is having a debilitating impact on your life, then finding treatment is critical for your long-term well-being.
Friends, family, and medical professionals have probably suggested various treatment options to help you, including pharmaceuticals and natural alternatives.
Today, let’s explore a non-traditional but highly effective way to start feeling better – riding horses!
It’s an activity enjoyed by many and available to almost anyone, even if you live in the city. You may have to venture a few miles from home to partake, but it will undoubtedly be worth it!
From physical benefits such as improved strength and coordination to mental health improvements like reducing stress and increasing focus, horse riding is a holistic approach to personal development. Furthermore, equine-assisted therapy has proven effective in treating various mental health issues by fostering emotional connections with these majestic creatures.
We invite you on this journey through equestrianism as we examine its many benefits. By understanding all facets of this rewarding pursuit, you’ll be better equipped to harness its potential for physically and emotionally enhancing your life.
Physical Benefits of Horse Riding
Horse riding is not only a fun and exciting activity but also offers numerous physical benefits that can improve health.
Strength Building
Riding a horse requires the use of various muscle groups throughout your body. As you learn and maintain the correct stance while riding your horse and direct the steed’s movements, you will actively engage and fortify your core, arms, and legs.
Improved Flexibility
The constant movement involved in horse riding helps increase flexibility in multiple body areas. For instance, riders should stretch their leg muscles before mounting or dismounting a horse. While on your horse, maintaining an upright posture works wonders for spine flexibility.
Better Balance & Coordination
Riding a horse may feel a bit intimidating at first because you’ll feel off balance. Still, as you learn to maintain stability on a moving animal, you will significantly hone your balancing skills.
Likewise, controlling your horse’s reins effectively demands good hand-eye coordination; this skill gets refined through consistent training sessions.
Aerobic Exercise & Calorie Burning
Horse riding provides an enjoyable form of aerobic exercise that increases heart rate and improves cardiovascular fitness levels. You’ll burn calories at varying rates depending on factors such as rider weight or intensity level, so not only will you build strength, but actively riding a horse may help you lose weight. Harvard Medical School estimates that a 155-pound person can burn approximately 149 calories during a half-hour of light horse riding.
Mental Benefits of Horse Riding
There is no doubt that your physical health will improve with horse riding, but so, too, will your mental health. Perhaps even more so!
Horse riding can be a pleasurable and beneficial experience, aiding in sharpening mental acuity, increasing focus, relieving stress, calming anxiety, and improving your mood and feeling of self-worth.
Improved Focus and Concentration
Riding a horse requires intense concentration as riders need to maintain their balance while controlling the horse’s movements. This process demands constant attention to detail, leading to improved focus and engagement over time. Studies have shown that people who participate in even light equestrian activities exhibit enhanced cognitive abilities compared to those who do not.
Stress Relief
Riding a horse has proven to be an effective way of reducing stress levels for many people. Combining physical activity, the invigorating surroundings of nature, and a sense of closeness with the outdoors can create an atmosphere that encourages calming and psychological restoration. Research shows that spending time with horses can lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for causing stress. Reduced cortisol means a more relaxed state of mind.
Mindfulness Practice
Engaging in mindfulness activities while riding can help create a heightened sense of awareness, leading to improved mental health and an enhanced quality of life. Fostering an increased sense of mindfulness can have long-term benefits on mental well-being and overall satisfaction with life.
Social Benefits of Horse Riding
Horse riding is not just a solitary activity; it offers numerous social benefits that can help you build relationships with other riders and horses. Participating in this activity allows you to connect with those who share your enthusiasm, creating companionship and collaboration.
A Sense of Community
Joining a riding club or equestrian center allows you to meet new people who share your passion for horses. These clubs often organize events, competitions, and group rides where members can bond over their shared interests. This sense of community helps create lasting friendships while providing support and encouragement as you progress in your horse riding journey.
Horse Riding For Kids
In addition to its physical health benefits for kids who may spend a lot of their time sitting at a desk or on a couch, horse riding is an excellent activity for promoting cognitive development in children.
Learning to ride horses necessitates the utilization of problem-solving, choice-making, and spatial awareness – skills that are indispensable for optimal cerebral development.
Additionally, engaging in equestrian activities has been shown to improve memory function, further highlighting the numerous mental benefits associated with this enjoyable pastime.
Children who experience stress or mood disorders may find the experience of riding a horse to be calming and clarifying, helping to reduce tension and anxiety.
Building Bonds with Horses
Beyond the connections formed with fellow riders, horse riding also allows you to build a unique bond with your equine partner. This relationship is based on trust and understanding as you learn to communicate effectively through body language and cues. Making this connection can be advantageous – not just for you but also for your horse!
Caring for horses brings joy and a sense of accomplishment and offers numerous health benefits that can significantly improve your overall well-being. From physical fitness to increased empathy towards animals, horse care provides many advantages.
Even if you don’t own the horse you’ve created a bond with, ask their owner if you can learn to groom them or muck out their stalls. Your horse will be paying attention and will love you for it! Creating this bond will not only help you, but your horse will feel less anxious and happier, too.
When working with them, you’ll also want to reward your equine friend with a treat or two. Horses who may have their own social anxieties or stresses, especially when first being ridden by someone they don’t know, will benefit from being rewarded with apples, carrots, horse cookies, and in some cases, snacks that are infused with CBD for horses. Of course, you’ll need to ensure the owner provides these healthy snacks for you, as they know the horse’s dietary requirements best.
How To Start Riding
Caring for horses fosters compassion and understanding by teaching responsibility, patience, and trust-building techniques. As you develop strong bonds with your equine companion over time, this connection often extends beyond just one animal – increasing empathy towards all living beings around us.
It can be a rewarding experience with numerous physical and mental health benefits.
To get started, search for horse riding or horse lessons in your local area or zip code. You’ll undoubtedly find a horse ranch or trainer nearby that can help!
