Why Learn to Horseback Ride?

The Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Side of Riding, Driving and Ownership
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.- Sir Winston Churchill From the outside, horseback riding may look like just sitting and that all a rider has to do is give the horse some simple instructions like go, whoa, and turn. In carrying the rider the horse is doing all the work, right? Wrong. There is far more to horseback riding than the casual observer might expect. And, there are benefits beyond simple enjoyment; physically, mentally and emotionally. Physical Riding develops balance and coordination. The movements required to cue a horse require body awareness. Riding also uses many muscles; most importantly the leg, abdominal, shoulder and back muscles. Riding does not depend on strength alone, but strong flexible muscles aid in stability and coordination. Most new riders will find that their inner thigh muscles, particularly the gracilis muscle, become sore, but the muscle will quickly become stretched and strengthened. Riding a horse at a walk stimulates the internal organs just as walking on foot does. This aids in liver function and digestion, and makes riding a great therapy option for those in wheelchairs. You will be burning calories. According to the Body For Life for Women, by Dr. Pamela Peeke, General Horseback Riding accounts for 5 calories per minute for a 150 pound woman. Increase the speed and distance you ride and youll increase the intensity of your work out and burn more calories. Calculate how many calories you burned riding or caring for your horse with About.com Calorie Count calculators. Horseback riding is a sport that people of any age can participate in. As many people approach their middle years they may finally have the time and resources to realize their dreams of riding or owning a horse. With proper instruction and guidance there is no reason why people in their forties and beyond cant learn to ride or drive. Lots of seniors have ridden or driven into their golden years with a favorite equine companion. As you groom, clean stables, carry saddles, equipment or bales of hay you are also doing weight bearing exercise that helps maintain bone mass. Although riding, grooming and mucking out is good exercise, many riders who wish to compete at advanced levels find it beneficial to lift weights and do core strength training such as yoga and Pilates. Mental At first you may feel that just learning to stay on and steer the horse is a challenge. When that becomes easy, many more learning opportunities present themselves. As you progress with

riding and horse ownership you will always have questions and problems. Even the most experienced equestrian would admit there is always something new to learn. Research has shown that lifelong learning may prevent memory loss. Just like your muscles, your brain needs exercise to keep young and supple. Riding provides an active avenue for keeping your brain exercised. Riding can provide many opportunities for success. Whether you learn to post the trot or receive high marks in a dressage test, youll feel good about what you are doing. Emotional/Spiritual For many a horse is a connection with nature whether they ride in the ring or down the trail. Many people find companionship and solace while working with their horse. Although riding can present its frustrations and challenges, most people find it a relaxing pastime. The camaraderie of people who enjoy similar activities is also appealing. Its fun to get together with friends for a lesson, team endeavor such as mounted games or drill riding, or a trail ride. If you crave solitude, riding or driving can provide that as well. Many horse owners feel their horse is somewhat of a kindred spirit in tune with their own feelings and emotions; more so than any human companion. In times of stress a horse can be a quiet friend, who is without judgment or guile.

There are Two Types Of Riders: Those Whove Fallen Off and Those Who Will
I think it's true. Falling doesn't automatically make you a superb rider, but you learn from falling off (ex. why did you fall? what are you going to do differently?) and your mistakes which makes you a better rider.

Horseback Riding as a Sport

You wont hear Dad on the sidelines yelling Get the Ball! Run! But theres a competitive sport going on just the same. You might hear a trainer quietly coaching, reminding her student to check his lead, or to keep her shoulders back, or to use more left rein. What youre watching is horseback riding. Its a sport where boys and girls are on equal footing, so to speak. And when done correctly, it is great physical exercise. Now youre probably saying, Ive gone horseback riding, and its not that difficult. Well, these kids arent just going for a ride, theyre getting exercise, developing strength in their legs, arms and torsos, as well as coordination. And make no mistake, this is a team sport. You have to be in sync with your partner (the horse, of course) if you want to succeed. In fact, many children who dont do well in traditional team sports (football, soccer, etc.) have excelled at riding. Perhaps thats because they can progress at their own pace, without pressure or humiliation. Many home schooling families

use riding as their P.E. requirement. Others have opted out of public school P.E. in favor of riding, and some states even have high school equestrian teams. Colleges, too, have intercollegiate riding teams, and recently riding has become a NCAA sport at a few universities. It is the only sport where men and women regularly compete against each other. What about different riding styles? We use English tack for several reasons, explains Laura McEvoy of Rancho Saguaro in Martinez. The saddles are lighter and less bulky, easier for small children to carry, so kids quickly learn the responsibility of tacking their own lesson horses. And the English discipline is more versatile, giving them many options for growth. At the beginning stages, the basics of controlling the horse are very much the same, so a student can easily switch to a different discipline, such as western pleasure, if he or she so chooses. She should know. As a lifelong rider, and having spent thirty years as a professional trainer, Laura has been involved in just about every facet of the horse world. Ive focused on jumping because I find it both physically and mentally challenging. And its a lot of fun! she adds.
After your first ride you may feel muscles that you never knew you had. This is due to the movement of the horse and its effect on the rider during the ride. As the rider reacts to the horses movements to avoid becoming off balance, the deep postural muscles of the trunk and pelvis and the adductor muscles of the thighs are continuously being conditioned.

Horse riding for pleasure has become an increasingly popular pastime in recent years Its popularity is largely due to the fact that this is a fun and exciting activity for all the family, where people can explore their local area in a healthy and environmentally friendly way.

Sarah Lyness of the Orinda Village Horse Store points out some other advantages. Growing up riding, showing, and spending time at the barn taught me responsibility, leadership, sportsmanship and respect. I also learned to work with others toward a common goal. Its very rewarding, and I think its kept a lot of kids out of trouble. Many stables offer the option of competitive showing. We go to about two schooling shows a month, and a few A-circuit shows each year, says Ms. McEvoy. Showing is an option for kids, and adults, who want to use their skills in a competitive environment, but we never pressure them to do so. Its also a good way for them to gauge their progress, and to observe what others are doing. And we do our best to make it fun and affordable. In short, there are many types of riding, styles of riding, disciplines to explore, but they all start with some basic riding lessons, something the whole family might enjoy together. And the side benefits are plentiful new friends, stress reduction (you cant interact with horses and stay stressed), mood improvement, life skills in addition to the physical benefits. So the next time you consider sports programs, for your kids or yourself, think about horseback riding. Theres more to it than most people realize.
Fangen Sie heute noch damit an, denn Reiten ist nicht nur ein Sport, sondern auch eine Bereicherung in vieler Hinsicht: Umgang mit einem zwar groen, aber sehr sanftmtigen Wesen - Verstehen und Entdecken mit dem Partner Pferd - Kontakte zu Gleichgesinnten sportliche Bettigung, die jung und gesund hlt - Reiten macht den Kopf frei und aller Stress ist vergessen - das Pferd bringt uns der Natur wieder nher.

Reiten ist fr die meisten pferdeverrckten Leute aber meistens viel mehr als "nur" ein teures aber sehr tolles Hobby, egal ob Freizeitreiter oder Sportler.