As equestrians, keeping fit physically and mentally in the New Year is a lot easier than you think. Riding can challenge and exhilarate your mind, and it also boosts your health, well-being and much more. In this article, we’ll explore some ways you may or may not know horse riding and horse care can help you be healthier.
Owning a horse presents some challenges – it can be expensive, they’re not easy to care for, and they have different preferences and needs depending on their breed, size, gender and more. But the benefits far outweigh these things.
Let’s explore a few ways owning and riding a horse benefits you and your steed:
It’s a workout for your whole body
With the grooming, mucking out and exercising, owning a horse is 100% a full-body workout. The British Horse Society (BHS) conducted a study with the University of Birmingham that found “Horse riding and activities associated with horse riding, such as mucking out, expend sufficient energy to be classed as moderate intensity exercise.”
Starting with your lower body – your legs, thighs and glutes must work together to grip the saddle while you ride. Then your core muscles get twisted and turned as you keep your balance or sweep, scoop and brush your horse and their environments. Finally, consider your arms, chest and shoulders working in repetitive motions as you groom and clean.
There is so much strain on your body that, from your feet up, you need the correct gear to ensure your body is prepared to deal with the stress, muscle strain and movement. It’s not just special boots and gel-cushioned riding breeches, your core muscles need support, and your arms, hands and head need protection – it’s a full-on experience.
All these kinds of movements are called isometric exercises. They’re static and repetitive movements – less about the joints and more about the muscles, like squats or planks. So, remember to feed your body and properly warm up and cool down your body before and after working with your horse.
It helps release endorphins
Due to the amount of exercise needed to care for and ride horses, it’s an excellent way to help your body release endorphins. Also called ‘Nature’s Morphine’, endorphins are a natural hormone your body releases after exercise – think of the runner’s high after a long race or the happiness you feel after completing an activity. As well as improving your mood, these hormones are natural pain relievers and can help reduce stress levels.
It can be like Animal Therapy
There are therapy dogs and cats, but Equine Therapy is a very real and beneficial form of care, too. It’s most used to help those with negative behaviours like addiction and focuses on caring for the animal as opposed to riding them. As they’re such calm and gentle creatures with intelligence and a naturally non-judgemental manner, they’re well-placed to be involved in this kind of therapy.
So, just by caring for your horse, you could be improving your mindfulness and helping yourself overcome any potential negative behaviours. In addition to that, working with animals and experiencing the freedom and joy of riding through nature can help you feel like you’re escaping into an almost meditative state.
It’s good for developing social skills
We’ve touched on how comforting and understanding horses can be, but the people around horses can be, too. With the cost and time dedication needed to care for a horse, you’re more likely to find kindred spirits and those with similar interests at your yard and stables than anywhere else. Ergo, it should be slightly easier for you to develop social connections and meaningful relationships.
It can help boost your confidence
There are multiple benefits to owning a horse, and seeing one thrive and live happily under your care is one of them. Feelings of accomplishment and love are excellent mood and confidence boosters as you become more resolved with your skillset and aware of your capabilities.
The same can be said of learning to ride a horse – learning a new skill boosts your confidence, and getting comfortable being in and using a space can help, too. This is because you’re more likely to ask for help, offer advice and interact with others, thereby boosting your confidence and mental well-being.
All of these things are great for you and your physical and mental health, but they help your horse, too. As you build a relationship of trust, support and care with your equine friend and spend more time with them, you’ll be more equipped to recognise unusual behaviour like Head Flicking or Heat Stress, even hoof issues or dietary concerns.
So, go all in with your horse care, exercise and ride them when you and they feel like it, spend time with them and make sure they’re happy and healthy – before you know it, you’ll be feeling fitter, healthier and happier too.
