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Physical Benefits

Remember that person who told you ‘Horseback riding is not a sport. You are
just sitting there while the horse is doing all the work’? If you’re an equestrian
you know how immensely wrong that is. We are not just sitting there. A lot of
work goes into looking like we are doing nothing. We are actually doing a lot.
That’s the magic of our sport, it’s all about creating a close partnership with
your horse. You know your horse so well that you know exactly what he is
going to do even before he does it. There is a big difference between going on a
joy ride and actually riding as a sport. Usually, people who say that horseback
riding is not a sport have only gone on joy rides. Trail riding in sneakers is not
the same as a competitive equestrian sport. Horseback riding is a physically de-
manding sport. There are many muscles in your arms, legs, abdomen and back
that you work while riding. Sometimes you get off your horse and everything
hurts. The rider does more work than most spectators even realize. You can be
dead tired after a lesson, but your horse will still have energy to bother you.