It’s too expensive. It’s too far to drive. It takes up too much time. It’s too dangerous. Yes, those are pretty compelling arguments against getting your son or daughter involved in horseback riding – until you dig a little beneath the surface and discover the enormous and unique benefits an involvement with horses can bring to your child’s life - and not just for now...forever. Most kids who take up riding do so because they love horses (or think they do). This seemingly irrational passion that many of us share for these animals is a subject for at least another article (perhaps even a PhD thesis!), and while it can be difficult for a ‘non-horsey’ parent to fathom, it can be strong enough to outweigh the initial concerns regarding the expense, time required and perceived dangers. One of two things generally happen after a ‘horse-crazy’ kid starts riding – they quickly find out that horses are considerably more complex to operate than it appears on t.v.; they are dirties, bigger, and require a level of commitment that is beyond the rider’s interest level, OR (brace yourself) they discover they love the challenge and rewards offered by the human-equine relationship and you are destined for a life of standing around dusty riding rings and marveling at the absolute joy and enthusiasm that is generated by these creatures. If this is the case, don’t despair. Your child has now embarked on a possibly life-long journey that can reap tremendous rewards in physical, intellectual, and emotional growth. Almost any sport requires a level of cardiovascular and muscular fitness, along with some degree of balance, coordination, strength, speed and flexibility. While someone who rides well makes it look effortless – it’s not! An hour-long ride can burn similar calories to a 30 min jog or a 60-minute bike ride. Riding is very helpful in stretching tight or spastic muscles, it requires good balance, strength of core muscles and the coordination of eyes, seat, hand and leg aids.Visual and spatial perception is also required to ride effectively. Many of the psychological benefits of riding can also be achieved participating in other sports or activities. The value of teamwork; the self-discipline to do the training outside of formal practices or games; an increase in self-confidence as skills grow; the personal organization required to fit training, practices and competitions into the rest of a busy schedule, and the perseverance needed to keep trying when one is not successful in their efforts are all valuable skills kids can learn and strengthen through any number of team and individual sports as well as through horseback riding. It is from the psychological and mental perspective where interaction with horses and riding can produce growth in less common ways which can contribute toward the development of character traits I believe our society could use more of. In general, riding a horse is an individual, rather than a team sport – yet the horse and rider must work together as one. Communication is a fundamental requirement of any team sport, and this is absolutely the case in riding. The challenge here is the horse and rider are from different cultures and speak different languages! The rider has to learn to give the horse an instruction, analyse the response, and either reinforce the right reaction or figure out a different way to ask for the correct response. This requires very quick evaluations and corrections at times, and considerable self-discipline and emotional control, as the horse doesn’t know that it’s really, REALLY important that he trot this circle in exactly this spot at exactly this speed – he must be given directions (aids) that make sense for him to do what is required, and time to comply. Momentarily losing one’s temper during a soccer game rarely affects the outcome of the game; losing one’s temper or patience does not make things clearer to the horse and inevitably things go from bad to worse quite rapidly – and often for a considerable period of time. The good rider must respect the horse’s different point of view, and will appreciate that patient, methodical training normally pays off. They will also learn that, despite doing everything ‘right’, the horse is a separate, thinking, feeling creature who may be distracted, tired, or simply not cooperating, and things may not go as well as anticipated. A rider needs to understand that fundamentals are hugely important to long-term success, and while small improvements should be happening frequently and are very rewarding, the ‘instant gratification’ that too many people expect is not one you should anticipate when learning to ride; patience, emotional control, and perseverance will be key – and helpful attributes for success in school and later in life. Riding, training and competing also teaches children about responsibility. When first starting to ride, the coach or instructor will be making virtually all the decisions for the horse and rider, but as the rider progresses, they will begin to take responsibility for the horse`s performance, and ultimately his welfare. Teenagers and young adults who become horse owners will understand about putting something else`s needs ahead of their own, and how their horse`s well-being is dependent on their commitment and the choices they make. Finally, riding can be a life-long adventure. Most children can begin lessons around the age of eight, and as long as you can still get on and off the horse, there is no limit to how long you can enjoy the sport. The learning continues as well – every horse is different and every ride offers a new puzzle to solve. Every sport requires an input of time and money, and most contain an element of risk. But I can think of no other sport that combines the mix of physical and mental challenges that riding poses, along with the incredibly rewarding relationship that develops between horse and rider. (by Tracey Dickson)

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