Stay Happy and Healthy - Spend Time With Your Horse!

If we didn't already have plenty of good reasons to ride more in 2012, a recent study has confirmed what those involved with horses have always known - riding and caring for horses is good for your health!

The British Horse Society commissioned the University of Brighton, in partnership with Plumpton College, to research the physical health, psychological and well-being benefits of recreational horse riding in the United Kingdom. 

The research assessed whether horse riding can be classified as a moderate intensity exercise when undertaken for at least 30 minutes or more, three times a week, and examined the frequency with which individuals take part. It also examined the psychological and social benefits of horse riding. Reliable existing evidence indicates that physical exercise produces well-being benefits linked to social interactions and changes in mood, anxiety, self-esteem and other personal emotions.

The following results from the study confirm the physical health benefits of horse riding and associated activities:

• Horse riding and activities associated with horse riding, such as mucking out, expend sufficient energy to be classed as moderate intensity exercise.
• Regular periods of trotting in a riding session may enhance the energy expended and associated health benefits.
• A range of evidence indicates the vast majority (90 percent plus) of horse riders are female and more than a third (37 percent) of the female riders who took part in the survey were above 45 years of age. Horse riding is especially well placed to play a valuable role in initiatives to encourage increased physical activity amongst women of all ages.
• Amongst the horse riders who took part in the survey, 39 percent had taken no other form of physical activity in the last four weeks. This highlights the importance of riding to these people, who might otherwise be sedentary.
• Horse riders with a long-standing illness or disability who took part in the survey are able to undertake horse riding and associated activities at the same self-reported level of frequency and physical intensity as those without such an illness or disability.

The study also found that there are significant psychological and social benefits from horse riding including, stimulating mainly positive psychological feelings; riding gives a sense of well-being from interacting with horses (this important positive psychological interaction with an animal occurs in a very few sports); and being outdoors and in contact with nature is an important motivation for the vast majority of horse riders.

Quick Link

• Visit the British Horse Society website and read the full report.