Involve Your Child In Horse Riding. Here are 9 Reasons Why

The benefits of getting your child involved in horse riding are immense. While some parents might hesitate when their child begs them to take a horse riding lesson, this activity is more than just exercise.

Horse riding allows children to explore their development in a fun way and develop many skills they can use over their lifetime.

So let’s delve in and look at 9 benefits of horse riding and understand their value to your child’s development.

#1 Horse Riding Is Great For Your Child’s Physical Fitness

Physical fitness is the most apparent benefit of horse riding that any parent can recognize. Even though some people mistakenly believe the horse does all the work, this can’t be further from the truth.

Horse riding assists in developing many of the body’s muscles, some of which you don’t even realize you have until you try it out!

It also requires excellent balance and coordination, which riders can learn to master over time.

#2 Riding a Horse Will Increase Your Childs Confidence and Mental Health

Shy children can struggle to fit in with their peers. Horses don’t care. They don’t judge you because you’re the kid that has glasses, wears braces, or is awkward in social situations.

In fact, horses prefer a quiet, mindful person to someone loud and boisterous. Spending time with horses can help children cope with their confidence or shyness struggles. The horse will not reject them or prefer them over a child that does not have these challenges.

Taking part in riding will also boost confidence when your child masters a skill, such as learning to trot or gallop. The sheer experience of controlling and directing creatures bigger than them will give them a great sense of achievement.

#3 Horses Will Assist Your Child In Learning Patience

Patience is one of life’s most essential skills to master. Working with horses requires patience. Some horses are nervous, and some take longer to learn new things. Coinciding with this, the rider themself must learn patience to work together in harmony with the horse to achieve the desired outcome. A rider who learns to stay calm and control their own emotions will achieve better results from the horse.

With that in mind. It is the horse that is essentially teaching the child, along with the guidance of the instructor.

The child will go on their own learning path without forced pressure. As they progress, a child will learn to recognize when the horse is happy or upset when they carry out specific actions.

#4 Teaching Your Child Discipline & Responsibility Through Positive Learning

Learning to ride and work with horses takes discipline. Children will understand that the horse has its own mind and must compromise to achieve what they want. It will also help the child learn that horses are living, breathing creatures that need daily care, regardless of how you feel.

If you’re tired or not in the mood, the horse still needs someone to feed it and give it water, which must be done consistently at similar times of the day. Learning to take care of another living creature will teach the importance of discipline and accountability. Developing this skill slowly over time through active participation at the riding school is an excellent way for a child to prove to a parent that they are responsible. This will also give you, the parent, the confidence that you won’t be left carrying all these tasks out if you choose to buy a horse for your child.

#5 Horse Clubs Can Aid With Your Childs Socialization Skills

Many children’s riding lessons occur with a group of children at the same level. They will often meet kids that they would not normally interact with, such as those that go to different schools or come from different social backgrounds.

It provides children the opportunity to learn how to forge friendships with the mutual love of horses as a starting point. The horse riding environment is also different than the one children encounter in school.

#6 Kindness Is A Key Skill Your Child Can Learn From Their Interaction With Horses

One of the most important lessons a child can learn from spending time with horses is kindness, and with that comes empathy. The horse itself helps children understand that it is more willing to do what the child wants if it is treated nicely. Also, the horse will be more receptive to the child, allowing them to create a bond.

Children will learn to recognize when a horse isn’t happy or not feeling well. With the process of bond formation, children will start to understand what empathy for others means and how to handle those types of situations.

Looking after a horse will help a child see outside of themselves and what they want. They will learn that others also have needs that must not be ignored.

Your Child Will Learn Respect & Compromise By Dealing With Horses

Horses are large, powerful animals. Working with them helps you realize that you must sometimes meet halfway in the middle and respect the horse’s nature and personality.

#7 Fresh Air – Riding Will Naturally Allow Your Child The Opportunity To Replace Activities On TVs, Tablet & Computer Screens

In today’s society, it is easy for kids to spend too much time inside on various devices, such as their phones, tablets, or games console. Spending plenty of time outside is very important for a child’s health.

Children who spend a lot of time outside have a lower risk of health issues in later life, such as heart disease and high cholesterol. It also helps protect their eyesight, which is known to suffer damage from artificial lights.

Horse riding requires spending lots of time outside. It also toughens kids up, as they will have to work with horses in all kinds of weather, cold, hot, rain, or snow. Those skills will better equip your child to handle less-than-ideal situations in the future. I’m sure as a parent you can think of many :).

#8 Horse Riding Can Be An Outlet For Stress Relief

With the stresses of adult life, it is sometimes easy to forget that children also suffer anxiety and stress. Horses provide a safe outlet for kids where they can forget about their everyday worries. They can even tell their horse everything on their mind, without the fear of receiving an answer or explaining themselves. Like adults, kids have plenty of things to say, but they are unsure how to say it. The horse will afford them a judgment-free environment.

#9 Children Learn To Over Come Fear Through Horse Riding

Your child will inevitably fall off a horse at some point. Even the world’s best riders can fall off. However, children learn to overcome fear and get back on. They will come to understand that with perseverance and trying again. They will achieve their goal.

Conclusion

The benefits listed above are only part of the story. Your child will naturally learn these essential life skills and many more through a process of learning & self-discovery.

With you as the parent knowing you introduced them to an environment that will provide them with lifelong skills that will set them up for a successful future.