All the benefits from horseback riding

Looking from outside, it looks like horseback riding is an activity where the rider doesn’t have an active role. Those who are not informed well when it comes to this activity, think the horse is doing all the work. It looks as the rider just sits on the horse’s back and gives instructions, such as: turn and “whoa”. Let’s make it clear. Riding a horse is not just an extremely enjoyable activity, where the rider has passive role. There is so much more then you can imagine.

The unique relation and combination between the horse’s movement and the rider’s behavior produces so many benefits for the human body. The human body enjoys improvements in both, mental and physical sense. Here is a list of the benefits when getting involved in this activity.

-Horse riding is a work out that offers cardiovascular improvement. Although horse riding might look effortless, an hour of this activity can spend a comparable number of calories as 30 minutes of running or cycling.

-Riding offers muscle conditioning benefits. As an explanation of how it works, let’s start with the fact that the rider has to respond on every horse movement. By doing that the rider’s muscles are relaxing and contracting in relation with the horse movement. So, when getting on the horse’s back you may feel the muscles in your body you’ve never thought you have. As time passes, you will notice that your muscles get toned and strengthened.

-Riding improves the attention level. Starting from the basic care of the horse for ride to the dismounting, you have to pay attention to every element stated in the procedure. The most of all, you have to maintain your attentiveness, so you can bring together all your actions with the horse’s movement.

-Improves self-discipline. The art of horseback riding or horse care is a great example of inter-species communication. Every single action of your behavior affects on the horse’s behavior. So, in order to be a good horse rider you must achieve high level of self-discipline by performing multiple activities like smooth and rhythmical breathing, overall calmness…and so on.

-Improves patience. Riding a horse requires learning a whole set of new skills, which require time and patience. Understanding the physiology of the horses as animals is a process, too. Therefore, with regular riding one can learn to be more patient, and that is a huge quality.

-It works as a stress release. During the horseback riding, you need to be aware of the entire practice and procedure. This and the enjoyment of the ride is something that would definitely take your mind off the everyday worries.

-Improves self-confidence. The idea of being capable to control an animal much bigger then you, will absolutely increase the self-confidence. Also, the fact that you’re adding up a new skill to your repertoire, you’ll have the feeling of bigger self-confidence. Even a win in some race of the horse games can increases your self-confidence a little.

These are just the elementary facts about the health benefits of horse riding. There is so much more about this topic. It can be discussed for hours and still there is more to say. I would say, if you got interested in riding, you can look for more information about the horse’s basics, care of horses, about the places you can take your classes, things you’ll need to know before getting on the horse etc… there are thousands of books and articles on the Web pages, which can offer you the needed information.