The Physical Benefits of Horse-riding
Horse-riding helps to develop a child’s balance and improve coordination. It also has other great physical benefits, as the techniques involved in the sport strengthen muscles, increase the flexibility of joints and improve our cardiovascular system, blood circulation and visual awareness of space. These great physical benefits can also help the performance of other sports, such as the balance skills helping with gymnastic challenges. Horse-riding is also great exercise because it offers a stimulation that burns an average of five calories a minute, although this varies given the intensity of the performance. There are also a range of exercises designed specifically to support a jockey’s performance that has health benefits beyond sporting activity. And far from being a physically exhausting experience, horse riders find that once you get over the initial physical demands of the sport it is actually a great way to relax and reduce stress.
The Mental Benefit of horse riding
Being able to horse ride gives a child all kinds of mental strengths too. Firstly it has the invaluable power to boost their self-esteem and confidence as well as giving them a sense of self-discipline that can be used in all kinds of endeavors in life, whether they are sporting, educational or other kinds of challenges. Being outside in the splendor of the countryside will also give children a healthy pass time that will expose them to settings and lifestyles that they may be otherwise be unfamiliar with.
The duties of caring for and looking after a horse also has undeniable benefits for a child as it not only teaches responsibility through caring for a horse but also provides a close emotional connection with the animal that can help a child’s emotional development. Many riders have often remarked on the close emotional bond they share with their animal. Children will also build strong friendships with fellow young riders and their trainers which can help build their social skills through a shared mutual interest in the sport. Horse-riding also provides a mental workout as well as a physical one as it is a sport of strategy that requires strong judgement and quick reflex actions.
If your child has shown an interest in horse-riding or is already gaining experience of the sport, a great way to encourage this interest further is to arrange for them to attend one of the UK’s equestrian boarding schools where they can progress their skills in horse-riding while also gaining a first-class education in a range of other disciplines both sporting and academic.
Liam Brennan
