Horseback riding is a wonderful hobby that can enrich your life in many ways. It can improve your physical and mental health, enhance your cognitive and social skills, and teach you valuable life lessons. It can also provide you with fun, adventure, challenge, and friendship. To get started, you need to find a good riding school or instructor, choose a suitable horse and equipment, and learn the basics of riding and horse care.
Horseback Riding
as a hobby
AKA: Equestrianism
Reviewed by:
Horses lend us the wings we lack.
Pam Brown
Helpful content to get started
The page is curated to inspire and help you get started with horseback riding as a hobby.
Overwhelmed? Play a random video or podcast to start getting familiar with horseback riding.
We strive for accuracy, but errors may occur. Always use your judgment. Refer to the provided resources for further research.
Videos
Short visual inspiration.
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Podcasts
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Horseback riding can burn up to 200 calories per hour, depending on the intensity and speed of the ride. It can also improve your posture, balance, coordination, flexibility, and muscle strength.
Terms
Basic lingo for orientation.
- Aids: The signals and cues that a rider uses to communicate with their horse and direct their movement. They include the voice, hands, legs, seat, and weight.
- Gait: The speed and rhythm of a horse’s movement. There are four natural gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. There are also some artificial gaits, such as the pace, rack, and amble, that are taught to some breeds of horses.
- Lead: The leg that a horse uses to start a canter or a gallop. It can be either the right or the left leg. Switching the leading leg, A horse can change leads during a canter or a gallop.
- Rein: The strap or rope that connects the bit in a horse’s mouth to the rider’s hand. It is used to control the direction and speed of a horse. There are different types of reins, such as split reins, loop reins, and draw reins.
- Tack: The equipment and accessories that are used for riding and handling a horse. It includes the saddle, bridle, reins, stirrups, girth, bit, martingale, breastplate, and more.
Term Videos
First Steps
How to break the ice and make a start. One Aha! moment is all you need.
To start horseback riding as a hobby, you can do three things: visit a stable, watch some videos or podcasts, and take an online course. Visiting a stable will let you see the horses and riders in action and ask questions. Watching videos or podcasts will inspire you and teach you about riding. Taking an online course will give you a good mental picture of what to expect from your first horse encounter at the barn and boost your confidence. These steps will help you enter the world of horses.
First Steps Videos
Products
Essentials to have.
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How-Tos
Step-by-step tutorials.
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Books
Get read-y.
Articles
Further reading.
audio and Video Articles
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Websites
Go-tos for information.
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Movies & TV
Nothing like a good film or a show for inspiration.
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Horseback riding can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing endorphins, the feel-good hormones. It can also boost your mood, confidence, and self-esteem by providing you with a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
FAQS
Get a clue.
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Apps
Smart start.
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Courses
Get smart.
Video courses and trailers
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Community & Near You
Get together.
Related Videos
Tips
Additional advice for beginners.
Video Tips
Horseback riding can teach you valuable life lessons, such as responsibility, patience, discipline, respect, and compassion. It can also help you develop a strong bond and trust with your horse and other animals.
Additional Information
Hobby attributes.
| Attributes | Value |
|---|---|
| Activities | |
| Fields | |
| Locations | |
| Participants | |
| Skills | Agility, Balance, Communication, Concentration, Core Stability, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Hand-eye Coordination, Mindfulness, Motor Coordination, Patience, Perseverance, Physical Fitness, Self-esteem, Spatial Ability |
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