There are so many benefits to horseback riding for kids. You may be wondering if it is worth the time and money? is it dangerous?
Horse riding can be dangerous. So is playing football, baseball, and even running track. All sports and exercise have a certain amount of potential for injury. And the time and money you spend will be worth it if your child loves a new sport that helps them thrive.
To understand the benefits of horseback riding for kids, we’ve listed some of the most important ones below.
Horseback Riding Improves their Life Skills
Listening Skills
Kids have to pay attention and listen to be able to understand the directions of their instruction and to carry out those directions.
Self-Management
Horseback riding for kids gives children the opportunity to manage things by themselves. Their instructor will be there if they need help but otherwise, they are left to figure out problems on their own.
Focus
Since children have to pay attention, this makes them have to focus.. Thankfully, on something other than video games and their phones!
Challenges
Most kids start this endeavor with the idea that they will never learn to ride. But once they start learning, they get over this challenge and realize that they can indeed do this.
Horseback Riding Improves their Character
Teaches Leadership
Some children find being in control of a horse to be their first opportunity to be the leader. They have to lead the horse and make the decision of where they want the horse to go. This will help to create leadership within them.
Teaches Good Work Ethics
It’s good for children to learn how to take care of the horse before themselves. Ensuring the horse is comfortable before and after the ride, making sure they have water and have been brushed down teaches them great work ethics.
Teaches Them Not To Give Up
Horses do not always follow their rider’s direction; they like to do as they want to. A child will have to learn not to give up if they want to learn to ride. Eventually, the horse will do as commanded.
Teaches Patience
Patience is extremely important when it comes to learning to ride. Kids have to learn that getting upset with the horse or with themselves will not accomplish anything.
Teaches Courage
Your child might be a little nervous the first-time they go riding. Once they learn to push through that fear the will learn the courage they have within them.
Teaches Responsibility
Your child will need to learn how to groom a horse, saddle it, and cool it down, all before they look after their own needs. This is all part of the responsibility of riding.
Horseback Riding Improves their Intellect
They Learn Safety
Their instructor will teach them the dangers of horseback riding for kids and along with learning the dangers, they will learn all of the safety precautions to take.
They Learn Problem Solving
There are so many problems that can arise during horse riding. Your child will learn how to cope with these problems and overcome them which will teach them how to go about handling other problems in life.
Horseback Riding Improves their Mental State
Helps With Depression
Horses help a child to build confidence. Kids having confidence in themselves can help with depression. Fresh air is always good for children and exercise will release endorphins. This will also help with a child’s depression.
Helps With Anxiety
Since our minds can focus on only one thing at a time, focusing on horse riding keeps you from focusing on things in life that make you anxious. Working around calm horses is proven to assist many people with anxiety.
Releases Pent-Up Energy
Horseback riding takes quite a bit of energy. So, if your child has pent-up energy, horseback riding is a wonderful outlet for them.
Stress Reliever
All forms of exercise relieve stress Riding horses is no exception to that.
Builds Confidence
Learning how to do something always helps to build confidence. The more your child learns to ride and the better they learn to ride, the more their confidence will build.
Horseback Riding Improves their Physical Health
Gets Them Active
If you can’t seem to get your child off the couch or outside to play, horse riding is an amazing way to get them out in the clean, fresh air and exercise while having fun.
Improves Their Balance
One of the main things that horseback riding for kids teaches is balance and core strength. Building those deep muscles will help in many areas of life and different sports also.
Better Coordination
The better you learn to ride the better coordination you will have. You have to have fast reflexes to be a great rider. You have to have the coordination to have faster reflexes. It all goes hand in hand.
Improves Their Leg Strength
If you have never ridden a horse before, you will feel leg muscles that you didn’t know you had after the very first ride. Once you get into a routine of riding, your leg muscles will get stronger and stronger.
They Get Fresh Air & Vitamin D
Being outside gives a child fresh air and the sunshine gives them Vitamin D, both of which are helpful to a child’s health.
Gets Them Away From Screens
Last but certainly not least, it will get your child away from the video games, away from the television and phone screen, off of social media, and out of the digital world for a while.
Horseback riding for kids teaches children so many wonderful benefits. One of the problems with children today is they do not get enough fresh air. too many would rather stay inside on their game systems or their phones. I have not met even one child who doesn’t love horses and is fascinated by them. Giving children the opportunity to learn to ride helps to develop lots of great life skills and may become a favourite activity for their entire lifetime.