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.
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Horseback Riding
as a hobby
AKA: Equestrianism
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Horses lend us the wings we lack.
Pam Brown
Helpful content to get started
We curated content to familiarize you with horseback riding as a hobby and to inspire and help you get started.
We strive for accuracy, but errors may occur. Always use your judgment.
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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.
Basic lingo for orientation.
- Gait. This is the term for 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.
- Tack. This is the term for 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.
- Aids. These are the term for 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.
- Lead. This is the term for the leg that a horse uses to start a canter or a gallop. It can be either the right or the left leg. A horse can also change leads during a canter or a gallop by switching the leading leg.
- Rein. This is the term for 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.
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How to break the ice and make a start.
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.
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Essentials to have.
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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.
Get a clue.
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Additional advice for beginners.
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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.
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| Skills | Agility, Balance, Communication, Concentration, Core Stability, Emotional Intelligence, Empathy, Hand-eye Coordination, Mindfulness, Motor Coordination, Patience, Perseverance, Physical Fitness, Self-esteem, Spatial Ability |