SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Sunday, January 15 2023 / Published in Weekly Feature

The Physical and Emotional Benefits of Riding

By Margie Sugarman

My daughter has decided that she wants to ride horses. She is 11 years old and deals with some emotional as well as physical challenges. We aren’t a wealthy family. However, I’m willing to do for my daughter what needs to be done to afford her the opportunity to grow, mature and function as normally as possible. Will riding help her develop emotionally and physically?

If you are contemplating venturing into horseback riding, or supporting a child who is interested in riding, it’s sometimes easier to rationalize the expense if you understand all the benefits of the sport.

Coordination/Balance

Balance is essential to keep the rider in the saddle. Each step the horse takes requires the rider to make slight bodily adjustments to remain in the saddle with the proper form. Furthermore, coordinating the use of aids signals the horse as to what he is supposed to do. Aids are more than just kicking, clucking or pulling on the reins. Leg pressure applied, duration of the pressure and mixed use of aids is what is needed to achieve the desired results. This is a learning process and can vary from horse to horse and situation to situation. 

Posture

Sitting upright with the correct posture and neutral spine ensures the correct position in the saddle. Poor posture can impact the horse as well as put strain on the rider’s neck and upper back. Proper posture on a horse positively impacts how one walks and carries their body on the ground.

Cardio

There’s rarely a time when a rider won’t admit that their heart beats faster after an intense riding lesson. Different horses present different challenges when being ridden. The beginner lesson horses are usually more physically challenging to ride than a more advanced horse. Why? These horses are used to teach the beginner riders. Consequently, their responsiveness, or lack thereof, to the rider’s aids impacts the amount of effort and strength needed to get the appropriate response from the horse. Furthermore, the horse’s gaits and stride play an important role in the physical effort needed. A bumpy, short pony trot is a lot tougher to sit to than a horse with a smoother stride.

Reflexes

Like an unpredictable friend, horses can sometimes throw curve balls. When this happens, it’s one’s instincts and reflexes that respond and determine the outcome. With continued riding, those reflexes also continue to develop. Those unpredictable friends better take heed!

Muscle Development/Strength

Riding is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to muscle development and increasing strength.

Think about the care of the horse: brushing, bathing, clipping, total body care. How about the mucking of stalls? How about lifting large pellet bags into storage containers, lifting the saddle onto the horse’s back? Wheeling a wheelbarrow filled with manure? Muscle and body development in a young rider certainly challenges the development of the young person playing games on their phone! Moreover, due to the excitement associated with riding, young people often don’t see it as a chore.

Stress Management and Emotional Balance

Studies indicate that riding increases the mood-enhancing hormone serotonin more than many other types of exercise. What’s interesting is that an amazing side effect of riding is how it helps one to disconnect from worries and stress. The mind engages on the horse, the surroundings, the fresh air. Stress levels are lowered when around horses, allowing many children to focus better and ultimately lead to enhanced confidence and self-esteem.

Cognitive Abilities

Riding has been proven to improve cognitive abilities in children. Additionally, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the brain in ways that enhance learning, memory and problem solving. 

Socialization

The horse community is friendly and compassionate, and enjoys welcoming newcomers. What child wouldn’t want to go to the barn to ride in a lesson with friends or go on a trail ride (and escape from homework)? Building rapport with a horse can improve a child’s skills with human relationships. Children looking to form relationships not only have a common bond but also take what they’ve learned from their relationship with their pony or horse and apply it to their interactions with peers.

This hobby is a journey comprised of constant learning. It can improve a child’s ability to deal with their feelings, build strength from weaknesses and enhance physical and mental fortitude. To answer your question, I believe this endeavor would truly fulfill your child’s needs in a fun, healthy and positive way.

Photo:

Riding fulfills a child’s needs in a fun, healthy and positive way.

Photo by Ali Kelman

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

What you can read next

Dressage: Getting to Know George Williams
Sharn Wordley: Talent, Determination & Dedication
Dr. Anne Moretta: Finding Synergy in Life & Veterinary Practice

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Don't miss your chance to own this private lush 5 Don't miss your chance to own this private lush 5 acres in the heart of Palm Beach County. Property boasts a beautiful 5 bedroom 4 bathroom two-story Victorian with a wrap around porch. Over 1,000 sq ft of finished garage space, with workshop that could be converted to a separate apartment or stalls. Two gated entrances give you the perfect open space to build the barn of your dreams. Plenty of space for paddocks and arena. Home is equipped with a whole home generator.

$1,700,000 -- Contact Scott Fitton, Engel & Volkers: 561-791-2220

#realestate #realtor #realestateagent #home #property #investment #forsale #realtorlife #househunting #dreamhome #luxury #interiordesign #luxuryrealestate #newhome #architecture #house #homesweethome #realestateinvesting #luxuryhomes #realestatelife #business #design #realestateinvestor #realty #sold #entrepreneur #mortgage #broker #homesforsale #sidelinesmagazine
Who jumped it best? 🤩 Laura Kraut, Mimi Gochma Who jumped it best? 🤩

Laura Kraut, Mimi Gochman, and McLain Ward each put in stellar rounds in yesterday's CSI4* 216,000 @marsequestrian Grand Prix at @wellingtoninternational_wef 🌴

📸 Isabel Kurek #showjumping #equestrian #horse #dressage #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrianlife #horseriding #equine #eventing #pony #showjumper #horselove #jumping #equestrianstyle #instahorse #pferd #horselife #horselover #riding #cheval #horsebackriding #wellington #dressagehorse #equestriansofinstagram #horserider #horseofinstagram #showjumpinghorse #equestrianlifestyle #sidelinesmagazine
Another year is here and 2023 is looking to be an Another year is here and 2023 is looking to be an exciting year for dressage. Because the Paris Olympics are in 2024, we will have the Pan American Games and the European Championships in early September in Riesenbeck, Germany. These two important competitions will determine what other nations will qualify to send a dressage team to the Palace of Versailles.

Read George Williams's take on the exciting year of dressage shows ahead at the link in our bio!

📸 Ruby Tevis #dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
"One day at a driving show, a young man yelled to "One day at a driving show, a young man yelled to me, 'Hey lady, I really like your pony!' The young man was John, and we became a couple and got married," said Margaret Almond of Loafers Lodge.

"In 1985, we registered the Loafers Lodge prefix with the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America. We hope to continue to breed quality Welsh ponies for all disciplines," Margaret said.

Get to know Margaret and John and their achievements which include being USEF Pony Hunter breeders for many years and breeding multiple winners at Pony Finals, and producing multiple Lifetime Achievement Award winners with the Welsh Pony Cob Society of America. 

Link in bio!

📸 Janice Thompson, Kathryn Southard #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #sidelinesmagazine
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • LAINIE WIMBERLY - BRIGADOON SHOW STABLES,INC
    Hunters, Jumpers, Equitation National Championships from Ponies to Grand Prix Training, development of horse and rider Ridgefield, Connecticut 203-470-1258 www.brigadoonstables.com Brigadoon Lainie

    [Read more]

  • Hand Paint your Favorite Horse or pet !
    Click ad title for more images

    So here, for Mom or you....a forever gift of her Favorite Horse. Let me Paint Your Favorite Horse.

    Please visit our entire stable of Carousel, Rocking Horse, & Vintage Coin Operated Horses, Carousel & Equine Decor,

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island
  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Vanessa Whitell: Finding the Feeling Through Equine Art

    By Shya Beth What sets dressage rider and artis...
  • A Tale of Two Kiwis: The Wordley Martin Story

    By Amanda Picciotto Feitosa Getting to the top ...
  • Unbridled With Mary Choate

    By Ruby Tevis Mary Choate’s impact within the h...
  • Making Mistakes Is Part of Riding

    By Rob Jacobs I remind my students that human e...
  • The Challenges of Dressage Judging in Eventing 

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp The dressage phase in eve...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!