Horse riding is a great way to get out and explore the outdoors while improving your overall health and well-being. There are many benefits of horse riding that you may not be aware of, and that’s why we’ve put together this list of 7 surprising health benefits of horse riding. Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian or just getting started, you’ll be surprised at how much your body can benefit from horse riding. Keep reading to discover the excellent health benefits of horse riding.
1) Improves posture
Good posture is important for overall health and well-being, and horse riding is one of the best activities to help improve posture. The constant movement of the horse, the strength and stability it takes to keep your balance, and the subtle shifts in your body, as you adjust to the horse’s movements, are all great exercises that help build up core strength. This improved core strength enables you to maintain a better posture while riding and even while not riding.
Additionally, having a stronger core can improve posture in other activities, such as running and weightlifting. Horse riding also improves your posture by increasing flexibility in your spine and hip muscles, which can reduce back pain. Overall, horse riding is a great way to improve posture and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle.
2) Increases balance and coordination
Horse riding is a great way to improve balance and coordination. Riding a horse involves maintaining balance and coordination as you move with the animal, making it an excellent workout for your core muscles.
Riding requires you to constantly adjust your weight and centre of gravity, thus increasing both your balance and coordination skills. It also forces you to stay aware of your surroundings, so you can anticipate the horse’s movements and adjust accordingly. This improved balance and coordination can help you in all aspects of life, from sports to everyday tasks. Horse riding can also lead to better posture since you must use proper form when sitting on a horse’s back.
As well as improved physical benefits, horse riding has emotional benefits that come along with it too. Spending time around horses can be calming and therapeutic, reducing anxiety and stress. Even if you are an experienced rider, there is still room to learn new skills, such as advanced dressage or trail riding, which bring benefits. As these activities require intense concentration, they allow riders to challenge their minds while still getting exercise. With such wide-ranging benefits of horse riding, there’s something available for every level of rider – beginner or advanced.
3) Strengthens muscles
Horse riding is an excellent form of exercise that can help strengthen your muscles. Riding requires a lot of balance and coordination, strengthening muscles in the back, legs, and core. Not only does horse riding engage your lower body muscles, but it also helps to improve upper body strength by engaging the arms, shoulders, and back muscles. The resistance of the horse against the rider helps to increase muscle strength throughout the body, even more so than other forms of exercise.
4) Builds bone density
Horse riding is an excellent form of exercise that can help to build and maintain strong bones. Horse riding is low-impact, but it still provides enough force to stimulate bones and build their density. The constant pushing against the saddle and stirrups when riding a horse helps to strengthen the bones and protect them from conditions such as osteoporosis.
Regularly engaging in horse riding helps prevent bone loss, as it encourages the body to produce new bone tissue. Furthermore, studies have found that horse riding can increase bone mineral density in pre- and post-menopausal women. So horse riding might be just the ticket if you’re looking for an enjoyable way to improve your bone health! It’s important to note, however, that horse riding also carries some risk of injury, so take all necessary safety precautions before participating in this sport.
Aside from building bone strength and density, horse riding has plenty of other benefits. For example, riders experience improved cardiovascular fitness due to increased heart rate during exercise. It’s also an effective way to develop muscular strength and endurance, especially in the legs and lower back muscles. In addition, riders can benefit psychologically due to its calming effects; being around horses has been linked with reduced stress levels and improved moods. Lastly, horse riding may also lead to improved posture due to proper posture while riding a horse. By understanding these various benefits of horse riding, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision on whether or not this sport is right for you.
5) Boosts cardiovascular health
Horse riding is a great way to boost your cardiovascular health. When you ride, your heart pumps faster, breathing deepens, increasing oxygen levels and strengthening your lungs. The horse’s rhythmic movements help your body move in a more coordinated and efficient manner than walking or jogging, helping to improve your aerobic capacity and reduce your risk for heart disease. Additionally, controlling a large animal provides an increased challenge for your body that can help you build up your endurance over time. All these benefits come together to make horse riding a great way to improve cardiovascular health.
Furthermore, horse riding helps increase bone density by working muscles rarely used in other forms of exercise. This means that riders are less likely to suffer from osteoporosis or fractures from minor falls. Horse riding also helps to improve flexibility and range of motion as riders must coordinate their bodies with those of the horses they are riding. Those who have mobility issues may find horse riding particularly beneficial as the horse takes on most of their weight while they are in the saddle, meaning they don’t need to use as much effort to stay upright as they would with other forms of exercise. Finally, horse riding has been linked to improved mental well-being and concentration due to its calming nature and focus on precision movements. As such, many people find horse riding both physically and mentally rewarding!
6) Aids in weight loss
Horse riding is a great way to aid in weight loss. Riding a horse can burn up to 200-400 calories per hour, depending on the speed and intensity of the ride, making it an excellent form of aerobic exercise. It not only helps with burning fat but can also help tone and strengthen muscles in the legs, buttocks, and core. Not only that, but horse riding also provides a low-impact workout that is easy on your joints. This makes it especially beneficial for people looking for an alternative form of exercise due to physical limitations. So if you’re looking to lose weight and get fit, consider adding horse riding to your workout regimen. Even an hour or two of riding each week can make a big difference!
Additionally, horse riding has been shown to reduce stress levels and boost mental well-being. Spending time with these gentle creatures has been found to reduce cortisol levels (the hormone linked to stress) while increasing endorphin production (a natural mood enhancer). Horse riding is also known to improve posture by encouraging riders to sit upright in the saddle and use their core muscles to maintain balance. In turn, this helps improve spinal alignment and reduce back pain. What’s more, horse riding increases flexibility as riders need to move their body in tune with their horse’s movements, which helps improve joint mobility. Finally, as discussed horseback riding can even positively affect cardiovascular health as it strengthens the heart muscle and increases blood circulation. All these benefits make horse riding an ideal activity for anyone looking for both physical and mental health benefits!
7) Relieves stress
Horse riding is a great way to reduce stress and relax. Not only does the calming nature of being around horses help to soothe stress, but the physical activity involved in horse riding can also help to reduce tension in the body. The rhythmic motion of horse riding encourages the release of endorphins, which can produce a sense of calm. Additionally, the mental focus required when horse riding can help to distract from worries and concerns.
Horse riding can be a therapeutic experience that brings peace and clarity, allowing you to let go of stress and take time out for yourself. Even though it can be physically demanding, horse riding exercises both the mind and body in harmony, making it an ideal form of exercise for both children and adults. Furthermore, studies have shown that horse riding can improve balance, coordination, posture and core strength, as well as help with cardiovascular fitness.
Horse riding can also build confidence and resilience through problem-solving challenges and developing trust between horse and rider. In addition to this, research has found that horse riding can help to reduce symptoms of depression due to its natural environment and meditative qualities. Finally, horse riding can even benefit individuals who have autism by providing them with more control over their lives and building communication skills between horse and rider.
Conclusion
As you can see, the benefits of horse riding are vast and varied. Whether it’s for yourself, your children or someone close to you, the physical and mental health benefits from horse riding cannot be overstated. So why not give horse riding a try?
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Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.