Benefits of Horseback Riding for Children
Magazine Reads :: Everything Horse
Spending time in nature has many benefits. There are many activities that you can enjoy together with your kids like hiking and camping which can also help lower your cortisol levels and can help you relax after a busy week at the office, just don’t forget to get a youth moto helmet if you plan on going by motorcycle.
Recent studies have shown that children can also benefit a lot from spending time in nature. Horseback riding is one of the activities that can help your little ones stay active, healthy and happy. Here is a list of the advantages of this sport.
Health
Horseback riding is a way to encourage your children to be physically active as it requires the rider to utilize all the core muscles to keep his/her balance while riding. As a result, this activity can help riders improve their posture and maintain an optimum level of flexibility and muscle tone.
Moreover, because it requires riders to maintain a squat position, horseback riding is also a good way to burn calories and stay fit.
This is particularly beneficial given the worrying statistics that show that, in the UK, one in five children is obese or overweight by the time they have to start primary school. Even more worryingly, studies indicate that obese children become obese adults, and this leads to numerous health issues that they have to struggle with throughout their life.
It boosts confidence
By learning how to ride and how to care for a horse that is twice their size, children can feel empowered. With a good instructor that knows how to encourage a child when it shows signs of progress, kids can get a boost of confidence that is essential.
Additionally, by learning how to form a strong bond with the animal that they are riding, children can also feel more self-reliant. This feeling is important because it can encourage the little ones to try new things and to tackle every situation that life throws at them with an open mind and confidence.
By learning how to communicate with a horse, children also get to understand that mistakes are normal and that they can gain valuable lessons as a result. This way, they will no longer feel embarrassed whenever they make a small mistake that might interfere with the outcome of their work.
Fun
More than anything, riding a horse is fun. If you live in a big city, and your children have little opportunities to spend time outdoors, taking horseback lessons can be just the activity to break the monotony of city life.
In a world where they are surrounded by technology, the opportunity to escape from it and simply unwind is a great alternative that they will surely find thrilling.
Out in nature, they get to form bonds with the horses that they ride and they also get to meet other children of similar ages that are passionate about the same things as they are. Given that horses look for non-verbal directions from the riders, children are encouraged to communicate with the animal.
This can help shy children overcome their timidity and it can stimulate them to come out of their shell and to improve their social skills.
Self-discipline
Self-control and rigorous discipline are two key benefits that horseback riders learn. These lessons are important later in life and they can prove useful in other areas of their life, especially in the classroom.
Because they have to interact with an animal, they also get to understand the importance of patience and respect, and, as a result, they can become accustomed to the value of teamwork, a skill that is highly useful in life.
Riding is also a great way for children to understand the value of problem-solving and handling real-life situations. Once again, this can have a great effect on their school learning and their relationships with friends and peers.
Responsibility
Riding is also an opportunity to teach your children about responsibility. Grooming and feeding a horse takes quite a bit of effort from the behalf of a child and it can be a good chance for him/her to learn about how important it is to put the wellbeing of an animal first.
Once they understand that they are a part of an animal’s life, children will feel responsible for the care of the animal and they will learn about the value of altruism and love.
