The benefits of horseback riding are numerous, for youth, young adults, and adults.

“Dr. Robert Leavitt, who has a Ph.D. in sports medicine, has confirmed that horse-related activities can burn as many calories as many other physical activities. For example, riding a horse at various gaits can burn as many calories as walking, riding a bicycle, or playing a game of basketball. Additionally, the daily care of a horse such as mucking out stalls, stacking hay, grooming, etc. promotes physical fitness also. According to Dr. Leavitt, grooming a horse can be equivalent to playing doubles tennis in the number of calories burned.” 

American Horse Council

A horse barn can be a great place for anyone to spend their spare time.  Working with horses can be a great avenue to getting us or our children off the couch, away from the computer, games, and into the great outdoors. Equestrian activities can play an important role in reconnecting anyone with the outdoor environment.  Obesity in our children is a great concern today. There are many horseback riding exercise benefits. Horse riding provides the physical activity that develops muscle and burns calories. Working with and around horses can develop physical strength, coordination, endurance, and flexibility. And while reducing stress for us and our children, it improves balance and fine motor skills as well. Riding horses can improve posture and cardiovascular health.  Just with any exercise regime, being involved with horses raise levels of the mood-enhancing hormone serotonin, so it’s good for your body, brain, and emotions. Most important to consider, horses do not, and horseback riding does not discriminate. It is an activity that uses a child’s athletic skills of all levels and can be accessible to anyone even with disabilities.

To fully experience the benefits of horse riding, I recommend children become as fully involved in the lesson barn as they can. Find a stable that allows your child with supervision, of course, to help with daily chores. Not many barn owners will turn down help with sweeping the aisles, mucking stalls, throwing hay, cleaning lesson tack, feeding, etc. There are a thousand things that can be done around the barn. And my experience has shown me that if a child wants to be with horses, they won’t turn down an extra hour mucking a stall. A great time for your child to be with horses for an entire week is during the summer at horse camp. These camps help with keeping active during their break from school.

Below are a list of activities performed at the barn or riding that can equate to going to the gym: (this is not a complete list)

• carrying bales of hay that can way 30-120#
  • average weight might be #60
• repetitive throwing hay to horses
• pulling cart with bales of hay on it
• grooming horses
  • repetitive arm movement
  • reaching down and up
  • holding heavy hoof and cleaning
• mucking out stalls
  • transporting wheel barrel of manure and dumping

Riding horses can be a good way to burn calaries and gain muscle as well:

• just riding at the trot creates the same calorie-burning as moderate exercise
• keeping balance in the saddle builds core muscles and improves posture
• inner thighs, back muscles, and pelvic muscles get a good workout