Horse Web

Ever wondered why horse people are so crazy about their horses? Because if you’ve ever had a friend who has a horse, rides competitively, or does pretty much anything with horses at all, you’ve probably noticed it’s almost all they talk about. But believe it or not, your friends aren’t just weird—there are a lot of amazing benefits to taking up horseback riding, and we’re willing to bet that by the end of this article, you’ll be horse crazy too! Not convinced? Just take a look at a few of our favorite reasons why horses change your life for the better.

Physical Exercise

Skilled riders make it look easy but believe me—there’s more to horseback riding than just sitting! Unlike being in a car, where your job is simply to sit back and enjoy the ride, horseback riding is actually a form of moderate-intensity exercise, so it has the same benefit as a quick treadmill workout at the gym. In fact, according to Pamela Peeke, a health expert at Body for Life for Women, horseback riding burns five calories per minute for the average woman. So, imagine how many calories you could burn by increasing your speed and ride time!

If you’re wondering why horseback riding counts as such great exercise, it’s because your body is constantly moving and adjusting with your horse’s. Instead of sitting in a static or sedentary state, you’re working your muscles with every movement. The only difference? You’re having more fun than you would at the gym.

Muscle Tone

We all want to be a bit more toned, don’t we? Everyone’s looking for that perfect workout routine or that ideal sit-up that will strengthen our core, tone our leg muscles, and help us get rid of those doughy parts of our belly we don’t like. The problem is, consistent toning workouts are difficult to keep up, and they require a lot more effort than convincing yourself to eat that extra cupcake. But horseback riding takes all the effort out of maintaining a consistent workout because it’s fun!

Because riding requires lots of concentration on staying upright and in tune with your horse as well as small muscle movements like switching the reins from hand to hand or using hand gestures to guide your horse, you’re more focused on the small things at hand than on the fact that simply riding your horse is the equivalent of a core workout on a fitness ball! So, if you’re looking for a workout you don’t have to think about, maybe invest in some riding lessons!

Emotional Benefits

You’ve probably noticed already that we think horseback riding is fun, but there are more emotional benefits to riding than a simple burst of pleasure. In fact, horseback riding is so beneficial, it’s often used as a form of therapy for people with sensory issues, cerebral palsy, autism, and anxiety, and has been clinically proven to elevate moods and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. So, whether it’s the special connection to nature you experience while riding, the companionship of interacting with a horse, or the stress-relieving properties of focusing on your ride instead of your problems, horseback riding is pretty much guaranteed to make you feel better.

Psychological Benefits

In addition to boosting your mood, horseback riding can also provide you with some unique psychological benefits. Because unlike other activities which might engage or distract you for a short time, horseback riding has the power to engage your brain and re-wire your self-esteem. It might sound too good to be true, but mastering a new skill can do wonders for your confidence! The more you practice, the better you’ll become, and the more tangible proof you’ll have to remind yourself that you can do new things and you are good at something! By learning a new skill, you’re not only increasing your self-confidence, you’re engaging your brain through a new challenge that will bring added meaning to your life. Who doesn’t want more of that?

You can Make New Friends

(And we’re not just talking about your horse!) Many riders report feeling a strong connection with their horse or a sense that their horse is almost an extension of themselves; the more time they spend together, the stronger the bond becomes and the more horse and rider get in touch with each other’s feelings. Some people even say their horse can be a better companion than their friends! But in addition to your new riding buddy, getting involved with horseback riding opens up access to the entire equestrian community, giving you the chance to make many new friends with similar interests. And whether you decide to ride competitively and engage in sport with other equestrian athletes, or you simply take riding lessons, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and socialize with others who— just like you— love horses, love nature, and love learning a new skill.

So, as you’ve probably guessed, these aren’t the only reasons you should take up horseback riding, but they’re a few of our favorites. So, what do you say? Ready to hop in the saddle?

If you’re new to horseback riding, chances are, you have a lot of questions. But luckily for you, we’re here with the answers! So, sit back and take a look at our answers to ten of the most commonly asked questions about horseback riding.

Is Horseback Riding Fun?

I mean, obviously we’re going to say yes since horses are kind of our whole thing. But we really mean it! If you love animals, nature, or trying new things, then horseback riding will probably be a lot of fun for you! Whether you’re trying it out for the first time as part of a vacation package or starting with riding lessons at a stable, you have the opportunity to test a fun new activity and learn the ropes before diving into the work of mastering a new skill. But even though it takes practice and effort to become an accomplished rider, many people stick with it because bonding with a horse and developing your skills is both timeless and enjoyable.

Does Horseback Riding Count as Exercise?

Yes, but in a fun way! If the word “exercise” raises anxiety-inducing flags for you, you might be encouraged to know that while horseback riding does bring a lot of physical benefits, it’s so much fun that you probably won’t think of it as exercise! The simple act of staying upright on a horse strengthens your core and works your muscles, so even if you’re riding at a nice, slow walk, you’re working out whether you realize it or not. Even a light amount of riding can burn five calories per minute, so once you learn to ride at faster speeds and longer paces, you’ll just increase the physical benefits! Plus, you’re also boosting your reflexes, memory, and hand-eye coordination all over the course of a simple ride.

Is Horseback Riding Expensive?

The short answer is: it doesn’t have to be! You may have heard horseback riding discussed in the context of country clubs and elite boarding schools, giving the impression that it’s not a hobby that’s accessible to everyone. But in fact, nothing could be farther from the truth! Although some types of lessons can be pricey and actually purchasing a horse yourself is definitely an investment, the truth is that you don’t have to own a horse in order to enjoy riding and you don’t have to break the bank.

Taking lessons at a local ranch is often a highly affordable option, and part-boarding can be a great alternative to owning your very own horse. If you’re not familiar with the term, part-boarding is an option offered by most local stables and it means that you can pay a fee to be guaranteed a certain number of lessons with a specific horse you’d like to ride at that stable. Think of it like “renting” a horse or maybe owning a horse “part time” in the sense that you get to bond with your horse and experience all the fun without being solely responsible for the fees and upkeep.

Is Horseback Riding Dangerous?

You might have heard the popular myth that horseback riding can be more dangerous than riding a motorcycle or that it’s one of the top ten most dangerous sports to engage in. But the truth is, horseback riding is only dangerous if you fall off, and there are plenty of precautions you take to protect yourself in the event of a fall. While you might not be able to prevent falling in the first place, you can prevent damage like head injuries by wearing a helmet and other safety equipment every time you ride.

Is Horseback Riding Hard to Learn?

This is perhaps one of the most commonly asked questions and the answer is simpler than you’d think. The fact is, as in the case of learning any other sport, horseback riding takes a lot of practice and effort. It’s just the same as learning to play soccer or football in that there are some basic skills you have to learn and follow in order to get involved. And while there is an extra element involved—learning to control the horse in addition to yourself— in practice, it’s not much different from learning to control yourself in relation to a ball.

Because in each case, you have to be skilled enough to make the ball or horse do what you want it to do. And just like any other sport, once you get those basics under your belt, you’re good to go! If you want to move beyond those basics, however, and master some more advanced riding techniques or ride competitively, you’ll definitely have to put in more time, effort, and practice.

What do I do if I’m Scared of Horses?

This is another common problem and the good news is that you might not have an incurable fear of horses. Many beginners love the idea of horseback riding at first but get intimidated at the thought of actually sitting on top of such a tall and powerful animal. Likewise, even an experienced rider can face some anxiety at the thought of riding again after a bad fall. The good news is that, in each case, these fears can be overcome with a little time, practice, and patience. Starting off slow with an experienced riding instructor can help a new rider build confidence and learning more about the way horses think can remove some of the fear factor as well. So, if you’re afraid of heights or simply worrying about that horse is thinking, don’t let it keep you from a fun experience! Nerves can get the best of all of us from time to time, but we can always overcome them.

While this is by no means an exhaustive list of the questions people have about horseback riding, they are a few of the most common, and we hope they’ve helped to make you feel more confident about taking up riding! Have other questions? Just let us know!

As we relaunch horse-web, let’s talk about some interesting facts about horses first:

• Horses can sleep both lying down and standing up.
• Horses can run shortly after birth.
• Domestic horses have a lifespan of around 25 years.
• A 19th century horse named ‘Old Billy’ is said to have lived 62 years.
• Horses have around 205 bones in their skeleton.
• Horses have been domesticated for over 5000 years.
• Horses are herbivores (plant eaters).
• Horses have bigger eyes than any other mammal that lives on land.
• Because horse’s eyes are on the side of their head they are capable of seeing nearly 360 degrees at one time.
• Horses gallop at around 44 kph (27 mph).
• The fastest recorded sprinting speed of a horse was 88 kph (55 mph).
• Estimates suggest that there are around 60 million horses in the world.
• Scientists believe that horses have evolved over the past 50 million years from much smaller creatures.
• A male horse is called a stallion.
• A female horse is called a mare.
• A young male horse is called a colt.
• A young female horse is called a filly.
• Ponies are small horses. More pony facts.