The Many Benefits of Horseback Riding
Going to the gym every day gets old quickly. Finding unique hobbies that are fun and equally beneficial to your health is essential to staying in shape and staying positive while doing so. Horseback riding is an activity many people overlook as a physically challenging and mentally stimulating activity. The health benefits of horseback riding make it worth adding to your list of active hobbies.
Video Overview
Improved Mood and Reduced Stress
Like any physical activity, horseback riding releases endorphins, and spending more time with an animal like horses increases serotonin output. Both endorphins and serotonin improve one’s mood.
Horseback riding also requires a natural rhythm that is calming and improves circulation. Improved circulation, the natural rhythm of horseback riding, and increased endorphins and serotonin all contribute to reduced stress levels. Even with the many movements and techniques to remember, horseback riding can be a time of relaxation to reset your mood.
Exercise Your Mind
Horseback riding requires a lot of moving parts, especially within your mind. You must learn to communicate with your horse, execute movements, and tackle obstacles at once. This is certainly a more challenging mental workout than a simple run on the treadmill.
Tighten Your Core
If you’re looking to tighten your core, horseback riding is the activity for you. While fitting in the right saddle contributes to your ability to balance on your horse, an engaged core is the most important part of maintaining proper riding posture and balance.
Builds Muscle
Outside of your abdominal region, horseback riding increases muscle strength in your entire body. Riding contributes to building back, chest, thigh, and arm, and pelvic muscles. Even you aren’t riding, carrying equipment and grooming helps tone your muscles. After a while, you won’t even notice how heavy your horse’s saddle is when you’re carrying it around the stables.
Improved Coordination
Improving your coordination can help in all realms of fitness, from calisthenic workouts to sport-specific training. Horseback riding vastly improves coordination. As previously mentioned, horseback riding requires a lot of moving parts. As you become a better rider, your coordination will improve through performing various riding movements at once.
Healthy Competition
One of the less common health benefits of horseback riding is that it provides a healthy and motivated outlet for competitiveness. A little competition helps eliminate complacency in our daily lives. With the ability to compete in all types of horseback riding competitions, riders will gain a sense of healthy motivation and have a positive outlet for competition.
