Actually, horseback riding, an exercise of moderate intensity, has a positive physical and emotional impact. Horseback riding works important core muscles: abs, back, pelvis, and thighs. These stabilize the torso while fortifying coordination, stability, balance, and flexibility.
For a person weighing 150 lbs, riding at a walk burns approximately 136 calories in a 30 minute session. If you increased the horse's speed to a trot, that same person would expend 72 additional calories over that same 30 minute period of time (208 calories). Galloping a horse burns 261 calories per half hour.
Nevertheless, horse riding also burns calories. According to the British Equestrian Federation, trotting gently for 30 minutes burns around 360 calories and it helps to tone your stomach. Essentially, it's a moderate intensity form of exercise, which can be controlled by how hard you decide to ride.
The study found that horse riding meets the intensity level of exercise recommended by government guidelines. “The report found that just half an hour of horse related activity, such as mucking out, is classed as moderate exercise, while trotting exerts more energy than playing badminton,” says Megan.
Horse riding is a fabulous way to improve your core strength and stamina, however in order to be great at it, you also need to dedicate time off the horse to help you with this also and not solely rely on the horse riding as your only source of movement/exercise, more on how to do this soon.
It can be tiring
A lot of physical and emotional strength is required to ride a horse and it will wear you out, especially if you are dedicating a lot of your time to the sport. If you lead a busy lifestyle, then you will need to take this into consideration before taking up horse riding properly.
Even at walking speed, you can burn over 200 calories per hour on a horse, while if you get up to galloping you can burn up to 650 per hour. Plus, exercise won't just be restricted to the one activity of physically riding your horse – you'll also have to muck in (or is it muck out?)
No. There is no exercise that will tone fatty thighs to the point that they won't rub. Riding will certainly tone *flabby*, out of shape thighs, but if they're fat, the only remedy is to lose the fat. Riding will burn more calories that more sedentary hobbies, but it's not like working out in a gym for hours.
If you want to ride in upper-level competitions, it's not uncommon for horses to get an intense training session 6 days a week. However, if you just want to keep your horse in a healthy physical condition, riding your horse three times a week for at least 20 minutes at a time can help maintain a good level of health.
Plenty of horses seem to enjoy being ridden and are fond of the attention they get from their riders. However, there are definitely horses out there who do not like it. They'll be more stubborn while you're on and maybe agitated while being tacked up. Though, riding does benefit the horse.
Actually, horseback riding, an exercise of moderate intensity, has a positive physical and emotional impact. Horseback riding works important core muscles: abs, back, pelvis, and thighs. These stabilize the torso while fortifying coordination, stability, balance, and flexibility.
A study commissioned on behalf of the British Horse Society found that horseback riding is indeed a good cardiovascular workout. Even just a half hour of riding is considered “moderate exercise,” said BHS PR executive Megan Hawkins, “while trotting exerts more energy than playing badminton.” Core strength.
The 'ideal' shape is relatively very long in the leg and very short in the body (to keep the centre of gravity (CoG) low), broad in the hips (for a wide base of support on the horse's back), flat chested (because the excess weight in the chest is superfluous to a rider and raises their CoG).
As a general guideline in the UK, a rider should weigh no more than 10% of the horse's bodyweight, but in the US, this limit is doubled to 20% of the horse's weight.
You could be medically overweight, or even obese, by your BMI, but if your horse is big, strong and fit enough, with a saddle fitted well to you and him, and you're fit and balanced, it's possible you could ride him without an issue.
The standard-sized quarter-horse, is ideally suited for riders weighing anywhere from 100 to 180 pounds. A draft horse, obviously has the ability to carry our heavier riders.
It's OK to ride your horse every day, but not advisable to work your animal strenuously during each outing. Horses need recovery time after vigorous exercise, just like human athletes. Many people think the more you ride, the better, but often the opposite is true.
A basic warm-up should begin with 10 minutes of active walk on a long rein. Encourage your horse to stretch their topline 'long and low', which helps them relax, engages their core and warms up their back muscles. Horses working with a raised head are more likely to be tense through their back.
Usually, 20 minutes is plenty long enough for a youngster. If you have a horse that is very “hot,” you might need to work him for a longer period before he settles and you can get some useful work done.
Horseback Riding Improves Muscle Tone
Horseback riding is the way to go if you're looking for a fun way to get in shape. It's a low-impact exercise that can improve your muscle tone and posture. If you want to take up horseback riding as a hobby, it might be best not to start by going too fast or too far.
No, horse riding does not specifically target your belly fat and help you reduce it. However, riding a horse is a form of cardiovascular exercise, which means it can help you increase your heart rate and burn fat from all over your body.
Horse riding affects static and dynamic mechanical contractions on the thighs and trunk muscles of inactive women. In a recent study in which 30 women participated, after only eight weeks of riding lessons the participants gained considerable dynamic muscle tone in thighs, hips and torsos.
Horse riding can have an antidepressant effect causing a drop in the levels of stress hormone. It is a natural stimulant for the hormone Serotonin, otherwise known as a mood enhancer. When this is released, we feel a sense of happiness and well-being. These endorphins also relive tension and stress.
“We all know riding horses is good exercise,” Sigler said. “Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories. It you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period.”
Most people run or work out in a gym to get exercise. But horseback riding is a great alternative to normal exercise routines. It provides a physical workout, lets you spend quality time with your animal, and reduces stress.