Why Horse Riding Is Good For You

    Any rider will tell you the wonderful and varied benefits of riding horseback. Be it English, western, bareback, for competition, for exercise or just plain old fun, there are dozens of reasons to get out of doors, and get "a leg up". Most riders, if asked to describe their equine experiences, will talk for hours about their escapades, daredevil adventures, their horse and his personality, what he eats, how much his shoes cost and how their spouse complains about the hay bill. If you listen closely, ( And I know that if you are not an equine enthusiast you might not listen actively for more than 10 minutes - but try. ) you will probably hear more about the positive emotional benefits of riding than about the physical component. 

       That's what I find so exhilarating about being on horseback - it can be calming, exciting, challenging and uplifting and at the same time I am getting very good physical exercise but I don't focus on that part. If I did, I probably wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much. "Exercise" as I think of it, is difficult, unpleasant, time consuming, sweaty and just not fun because the word exercise brings to mind a gym, jogging, time away from the barn ( yikes )! I grew up on the backs of horses and it has been such a wonderful experience. There have been, however, the dreaded hiatus from riding ( childbirth, childrearing, Master's deree, etc. ) and those were the times when I realized just how important riding was to me not only emotionally but physically as well. My legs got larger and less toned, my derrierre did not look as good in jeans, my arms were weaker and less than sexy, my abdomen not something to be proud of. A rider uses virtually every muscle while seated in the saddle, it definitely improves posture, circulation, reaction time, coordination, is aerobic and can be anaerobic as well. If you are simply trailriding at the walk, you aren't getting the same workout as, say, jumping a 7 mile cross-country course. As with any exercise, the more you put into it the more you get out. I can remember finishing a course such as the one I mentioned years ago and having a spectator ask me at the end why I was out of breath. Hah! Let him try to stay on a horse's back at full gallop, in a half seat position most of the time, counting strides, mentally focusing on what your horse is doing and what he might be thinking as well. Every muscle in your legs, back, arms and torso are working together to keep you in the proper position, synchronized with the movement of your mount, and don't forget the adrenaline rush you need to keep it up for 7 miles! Riding dressage, which is a classical form of riding dating back many centuries is equally challenging. To watch a very good rider execute a dressage test gives the impression that the horse is dancing around the arena, performing these beautiful moves while the rider simply looks "pretty" in their shadbelly coat, top hat, bright white breeches and gloves, highly polished black leather boots and sitting in a saddle that costs more than most refridgerators. Getting into the arena takes years of practice, lots of concentration and discipline on the part of both horse and rider. 

          You won't generally see overweight individuals riding dressage ( or rounding up cattle for that matter ) which is a hint to the onlooker that these people are putting incredible amounts of energy and many, many hours into what they are doing and are making it look efforless which is key to their success in the ring ( or on the range in the case of the cowboy). People usually associate runner's high with, well, running. This is due to the release of endorphines ( your body's own painkillers ) and it happens to anyone who puts in a vigorous workout. Most riders spend an inordinate amount of time caring for their beloved animal in between rides ( and most enjoy it as much as the rides ) which includes a lot of daily physical activity. From cleaning stalls to carrying bags of shavings and 50 pound bags of grain, to running up to the hayloft for a few large bales of hay, to lugging fresh water in 5 gallon buckets from spigot to stall and paddock and grooming your best friend from ear to tail and wither to hoof, up on tiptoe and down on knee so that he looks better cared for than most people. Exercise? Call it what you will. I call it love.