Written by Nicola van Ass – Qualified Dog Trainer, Groomer and Feline Behaviourist
Are there more benefits to saddling up than just having fun and increasing your fitness?
The short answer is yes. In fact, there are so many more reasons why horse riding is beneficial to both adults and children.
Having entered into the world of horse riding as an instructor, my focus remains on teaching children from the age of two and upwards. I’ve always known that there are many great things about riding a horse or pony, but it wasn’t until I started teaching that I realised how dramatically it can help people of all ages in various aspects of their lives.
Feel fit as a fiddle
Let’s first talk about physical health. Horse riding is what we call a “full-body workout”. You’ll hear the phrase, “but it’s the horse that does all the work!”, and it’s usually said by someone who’s never sat on an 800kg animal that has a mind of its own. When you’re on a horse, every muscle is working:
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Your leg muscles are helping you to stay balanced and are used to help you rise up and sit down.
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Your core muscles are used continuously as you need to keep your back straight, holding your hands above the saddle and your shoulders back.
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Your balance is also kept as even as possible using your core muscles.
In short, horse riding is an amazing way to build muscle and tone. It’s also a cardio-intensive sport, which, in turn, helps you lose weight.
Mindful movement
Putting the physical benefits aside, what I’ve found when dealing with children specifically is the improvement in mind and spirit. We live in an age in which we’re far more conscious about mental health and the issues that children from as young as six or seven can develop. As an example, a number of children come to the stable yard because they’re introverted, shy or anxious. Not having to deal with people as you would in a team sport can seem quite appealing.
Adding to the appeal is that most youngsters love animals, so they get to spend time with animals too. It’s also outdoors, which helps take away some of the time in front of a screen, allowing them to be outside and to feel free.
What I have noticed is that the more time that these children spend riding, grooming and loving the animals, the more confident and relaxed they become overall, and so start to discover themselves without the fear of being judged by a critical world.
They start to make friends with other children and begin to build relationships with both people and horses. Anxiety is a very common problem that I’m noticing when the children come to ride – something I hadn’t observed until I started interacting with each child. The praise and learning that each child receives helps build a repertoire of positive experiences that help them build stronger foundations.
Horse riding is complex. It requires concentration and focus, determination and a conquering of fear. Each time someone gets onto a horse, they feel that they can conquer their fear and have a great time in the process.
It also teaches frustration tolerance (you cannot tantrum on a pony!). They start to learn respect as well as how to problem-solve when riding a stubborn pony that wants to eat instead of walk! Respect for their horse, their instructors, their friends and themselves grows each and every day.
We’re finding that more occupational therapists are starting to suggest riding as a way to help children and adults deal with the various issues they’re experiencing – and with good reason. Each time someone accomplishes a lesson topic, or a jump, or just getting on, makes it easier the next time round. It helps build physically stronger, mentally more balanced and confident humans, both young and old.
A horse in need is a horse indeed
Across South Africa, horses and people are working together for the benefit of both. Take the Tom-Ro Haven for Equines and Children in Noordhoek, Cape Town, as a shining example: this incredible organisation rescues abused and neglected horses and ponies and rehabilitates them, after which they’re involved in equine-assisted healing programmes, focusing on children and young adults deemed to be at risk or who’ve suffered from physical or emotional trauma. We’ve featured them twice on our website in an article about their great work https://www.happytailsmagazine.co.za/news-articles/the-tom-ro-haven-for-equines-and-children/ as well as the miraculous tale of Bonny https://www.happytailsmagazine.co.za/happy-tales/bonny-the-miracle-pony/, the rescued cart horse that went on to change many lives.
To find out more about Tom-Ro Haven for Equines and Children, visit www.tomrohaven.co.za and follow them on Facebook @TomRoHaven https://www.facebook.com/TomRoHaven and on Twitter @TomRoHaven.
https://www.happytailsmagazine.co.za/news-articles/the-tom-ro-haven-for-equines-and-children/
