Reasons Why Kids Should Ride Horses: Or at least be around them
It could be for various reasons that both children and adults like to ride horses. And no two people would have the same. Many of us just like to be active and stay away from the four walls of our home, while others may have a real passion for the competitive side of things and hope that one day they can be raised to a professional level. Although it seems simple, it takes a lot of dedication to truly professionally engage in this sport.
While the photos here show only those times we spontaneously tried riding a horse, we still would want that kids be safe, properly geared and secured when horseback-riding. Anyway, here are some reasons why kids should ride horses or at least get to know them.
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Great Workout
Competition not considered, we must not forget the physical benefits of climbing on the back of such a beautiful and calm animal.
Riding a horse helps develop your core muscles and stability, thereby providing you with a better posture. Horse riding is usually classified as cardiovascular or aerobic exercise, so you end up working out larger muscles over a longer period of time, eventually increasing your endurance as you progress. Believe me, it seems that those riders don’t do much while on a horse, but it also requires them to be very tough.
Horse riding is a better or much complicated sport, so getting started will never be as easy as simply buying a football and some football shoes. Riders need durable leather boots, a stable pair, where they can rent or keep their horses and other necessities, such as those worn by gatehouse riders in equestrian gaps, to name a few.
While it is very different from rafting, tennis, bike-riding, or basketball, it works out the body overall.
Reasons Why Kids Should Ride Horses: Gentle Giants
Learning Empathy and Kindness to Animals
If you can afford having a horse and caring for it, your kids will benefit too in the long run.
Your kid’s dream of becoming a horse whisperer may also come true, as they improve how they communicate with the horse through body language, and interactions, the same way the horse communicates with the owner or rider. This is a great way to increase their awareness of everything around them, and it is also a great way to teach them how to take care of other creatures or pets.
Not only does riding a horse gives kids a sense of responsibility, caring for horses gives them a feeling of capability. When they feed, bathe, and care for horses, they develop compassion to animals and learn that they too can be capable to nurture God’s wonderful creations.
Reasons Why Kids Should Ride Horses: Hello Pony!
Life Lessons
Equestrian sports will also teach your child all the important lessons about patience and persistence. By riding horses, kids will learn techniques on riding, get to know the horse, and also in some ways help remove some types of fears.
And in cases where they fall, they would learn how pain is part of the experience and that they can always go back up. (Just make sure that they have their helmet on, and that no bones are broken.)
Boosts Self-esteem
Being able to ride a big and mighty horse can give children a boost in their confidence. The little jumps while riding, the praise they get for gracefully riding on a galloping horse could mean a lot to them. Also, having to know how to stop a horse or make it go is in itself rewarding.
When kids bond with their pets, they have a sense of belonging, and this increases their self-esteem. Knowing that there is something that depends on them, and they can count for comfort from them in return.
Reasons Why Kids Should Ride Horses: Mood boosters
Mood-boosting
Having a pet, no matter if it’s a dog, cat, rabbit, fish, hamster, or horse is generally a good thing for kids. It’s a known fact that pets help relieve anxiety, also lowers stress, and improve overall heart health. Allergies aside, playing with pets boosts release of serotonin and dopamine, which calms and relaxes a person.
There could be something in pets that they sense our feelings, and know when to cheer us up.
Reasons Why Kids Should Ride Horses
Fun
Riding a horse on your own, is not really being alone. You have your horse and riding it means you have a better perspective of the things you see around/nature.
Once your beloved horse gallops, it gives you that fun feeling of being kissed by the breeze, going to places and seeing pretty spots, jumping to what seems to be obstacles, the sense of freedom.
