North Shore
Equestrian Culture
Horsing Around Can
Be a Workout!
By Maria Orlando Pietromonaco
So horses look pretty fi t and toned, not an ounce of fat on them. It’s from all muscles that must be used during riding. On the days that I know I’m going to ride,
that riding us around on their backs. But wait – we can get fi t while we’re horseback however, I try not to do too heavy of a workout at the gym; if I do, it feels as though
riding? Even if we’re not the ones doing all the running around? That’s right. Appar- I’ve worked out twice that day!”
ently horseback riding is actually great physical exercise. Other health benefi ts to riding are that it improves posture, circulation, and coor-
Horseback riding can burn up to about 500 calories an hour and more (depend- dination. Spending time with horses can also relieve stress, slow your heart rate, and
ing on the various riding styles), all inclusive of grooming, saddling, and riding. drop your blood pressure. Horses seem to have a calming effect, nurturing the soul
It also works every muscle in your legs, back, arms and torso, which are working and feeding the inner being, which in turn make riding a holistically healthy experi-
together to keep you in position in your saddle. ence.
“Since we use just about every muscle in our bodies when we ride, I think it’s On the opposite end of the spectrum is the rush of endorphins you get from
safe to say that horseback riding targets every core muscle group,” says Shanna riding, a natural release of neurotransmitters that activates during physical exercise.
Franklin, an instructor at the Nassau Equestrian Center. “Just think about equitation This results in a euphoric feeling, which also reduces stress.
for a moment; your entire leg needs to be tight around your horses side with your But it’s not just the riding that will keep you in shape. Taking care of horses
heels down, your arms need to be just in requires physical exertion. From grooming,
front of the saddle, and your hands need to feeding and cleaning stalls, to carrying bags
have a fi rm grip on the reins (but not neces- of shavings and 50-pound bags of grain, to
sarily on the horse’s mouth); your back has lugging large bales of hay and water in 5
to be straight and your shoulders back, and gallon buckets, it is quite a workout to keep
your eyes have to be looking up and ahead your horse fed, happy, and looking sharp.
in the direction that you’re going. If you’re Besides using horseback riding to get
focusing on all of these things at once, then into shape, it is also an excuse to get in
you’re defi nitely working all of your muscle shape to begin with. Horse instructors agree
groups combined.” that in order to ride, you should be in pretty
Riding is a also great for cardio fi tness, physically fi t (you’ll fi nd out how unfi t you
again depending on your level and style of are after a day riding, when every muscle in
riding. If you are simply trail riding, you your body, muscles you didn’t even know
aren’t getting the same workout as jumping you had, are begging for mercy!). That
a cross-country course. means taking up exercises off the horse so
Bill Uhlinger, President Emeritus of you can train and tone the muscles you’ll
the Nassau-Suffolk Horsemen’s Association need for riding. Some recommended work-
comments “As John Ruskin said, sometime outs include walking (jogging is too harsh
during the 19th century, ‘The best thing for on the knees), swimming, and using a row-
the inside of a man is the outside of a horse.’ ing machine. Stretching is also vital to the
That includes women too, of course. Win- health of your muscles to keep them limber
ston Churchill used the quote so much it is and supple, especially just before you go for
often attributed to him. Riding can certainly a ride.
keep you fi t, particularly when it is aerobic. Equine therapy is also gaining in
I guess a strenuous half hour lesson canter- popularity. These horse-related therapeutic
ing over fences might equal a 2-3 hour trail programs offer children and adults with
ride, unless you gallop the whole way. Fox- special needs the physical, psychological,
hunting is the best; galloping cross country emotional, social, and spiritual connection
through all types of terrain, but even just a to horses. Created for individuals who are
walk in the woods gets you moving. They physically challenged (those who have mus-
say the most totally fi t professional athlete is cular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, etc.) and/or
the jockey.” developmentally and cognitively disabled,
Shanna Franklin adds: ”Depending on as in people with down syndrome, autism,
the level of riding you’re doing, it can be and learning disabilities, and emotionally
very aerobic. For instance, if you take a disabled, this type of therapy seems to
riding lesson where you walk, trot, canter, help build confi dence and self-esteem, in
and jump, you’re getting just as good of a addition to improving muscle control and
workout as you would at the gym. Although, balance.
many equestrians (myself included) also So if being trapped between the four
supplement their riding with other forms of walls of a gym is not beckoning you, then
exercise-- such as working out at the gym, consider taking up horseback riding. It’s a
etc-- in order to bring more strength to the treat for the mind, soul and body all at once.

Northshoerian JuneJuly 2009.indd35 35 6/16/2009 1:21:05 PM
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