If you aren’t already a horse rider, then you might be interested to know about the many health benefits riding can bring. Perhaps it’s a new hobby to pursue when the world returns to some sort of normality and we can enjoy the great outdoors once again? Let’s look into why horse riding is good for the body and mind.

 

 

 

 

Whether you’re a first time rider or not, you can find all of the equipment that you need to start riding at Equi Supermarket. You’ll need a few essentials before you start such as the correct clothing, a helmet and footwear. A lot of items will be weather dependent of course, so you need to dress for the climate but bear in mind that you need adequate protection for your body.

 

Here are some great reasons why you should give it a try.

It’s a great source of all round exercise

Need to get on track with exercise? Riding physically strengthens the body, especially the core. It’s a full body workout which helps to increase your balance and improves your posture.

You’re using your whole body when riding and even a light trot can burn a decent amount of calories. It can reduce stress and anxiety, improve physical health, and even give more energy.

 

Improves your muscle tone and core

 

Horse riding gives your back a good workout, along with your pelvic muscles and inner thighs. Riding is an isometric exercise, which means it uses specific muscles to stay in certain positions, in this case, keeping balanced on the horse. This is what stops you bouncing around when in the saddle.

 

Helps with your balance

As mentioned above, balance plays a very important part in riding and you need a good sense of balance to react when your horse moves and turns. Many people cannot stand or jump on one foot or do a simple squat without losing their balance. Any exercise that helps develop balance on the ground will carry over into work on the horse’s back. The more you ride, the better your balance and coordination will get.

 

Better posture

You may be noticing that a few of these benefits go hand in hand. You’ll improve your overall posture because of the need for good balance. This is good news if you’re prone to stooping and not standing up straight.

 

It’s more than riding

It’s not just the actual riding that gives you a workout either, it’s tending to horses too. The tasks involved are not light tasks and require a fair amount of strength and endurance. If you choose to get involved with grooming and mucking out, then you’ll be improving on your strength, as well as burning calories.

 

Helps your mental health

Spending time with animals is believed to enhance your mood, so exercising with horses is going to be instantly uplifting and therapeutic – so it’s good for your body, brain and emotions. As the brain has to think about several aspects when riding, it’s also helpful to your mental status as it keeps your mind focused on the task. Horse riding is a well known stress reliever and can also help with confidence issues.

 

 

 

 

This post is a collaboration.