What are the reasons you ride horses? There must be as many reasons to ride horses are there are people who ride. For those of us that are bitten with "the bug" that is horses, there are few reasons not to get on a horse's back!
10. The chance to be in the great outdoors.
Spring, summer, winter or fall - you can find things to do with horses. As you participate in your various activities, you become so much more a part of the outdoor environment. Although conditions might not always be the best, you learn to work with the weather and appreciate the art work of mother nature. You also learn to take better care of yourself as well as your horses in response to the weather conditions of the season.
9. The joy of being in the world of horses.
You learn new communication skills when you interact with horses. By their very nature, horses are not the same as the pets we are familiar with. They are large, they are prey animals and they allow us to ride them!
8. The privilege of being allowed to sit on the back of such a magnificent animal and seeing the world from his perspective.
Life on four legs, several hands high is certainly different than what we are used to! Not only does the act of riding bring us new and (at first) unfamiliar experiences, but the places you can literally go is good enough reason to ride. Thanks to horses and riding, I have traveled all over my own province, in other provinces, and in other countries. Certainly without horses as a reason to pursue these activities, our lives would be lacking.
7. Exercise that is so similar to our own movement that it is healing for ourselves.
Riding horses gives our body the movement it relishes and needs. In the case of hippotherapy, riding can literally be therapeutic. Also, riding as a sport benefits the body and mind in many ways.
6. The variety of activities and events you can participate in if you ride a horse.
Once you get involved in the horse world, you will be amazed at all the activities and events that you might participate in! From weekly riding lessons to trail riding to vaulting to fundraising rides - the sky is the limit! There are simply too many events to list here. The clincher is that those who don't participate in riding do not have the opportunity to even begin to understand such vibrant experiences.
5. Learning skills that promote coordination, timing, rhythm, balance, core strength and much more.
Skills, skills and skills!
Skill development is one large component of what horseback riding is all about. As you grow as a rider, you'll be amazed at how your physical abilities progress. You will be sure to improve in all the above areas as well as in your mental skills such as problem-solving and determination.
4. The self-development process that goes hand-in-hand with skill development.
Self-confidence, self-control, patience, empathy - all these and more traits will be developed as you progress through your riding experiences. There is no way around it. If you ride, you will grow as a human being.
3. The life-long, ever-changing learning process that is horses and riding.
If you like learning, and feel a pang of excitement when you discover something new, horse riding is for you! The catch is that you would do well to enjoy this feeling of discomfort-before-learning-something-new because it will happen again and again - even years into your riding career!
2. Learning to problem solve effectively and ride with enough tact to improve the health and well-being of the horse.
There is nothing more motivating to realize that one day, you will ride well enough to be able to give back to the horses you ride. As your skills develop, your aids will support, redirect, enhance and even improve the horse's natural tendencies. One day, you might notice that your horse is physically healthier and mentally happier because of the riding experiences he receives - from little ol' you!
1. The ultimate release, and the feeling of oneness when everything is going right.
Well, though rarely realized, this togetherness is what will keep you coming back for more. Once you feel the connection, you will be able to persevere through every negative experience, setback and obstacle. Because once you have achieved harmony, you will know why you ride.
Why do you ride? Please add to the list in the comments below!
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!
design your overarching goalslong- and short-term planning,debrief your special events such as clinics or showsreflect on, plan and evaluate your goalssample goals and pagesAvailable as an eBook or paperback.