Hate Gyms? Try Horseback Riding!

Welcome To Horseback Riding For Fun & Fitness!

*Note: This photo was taken in Texas where there is no law regarding
riding helmets.  We firmly believe in the use of helmets for your safety
and will provide one for you to use. This picture is a demonstration of
some of the muscles being worked. Note my thigh and calf muscles
flexed and toned! You can also see definition in my arm muscles that
comes from working with and riding horses. No gym!

Many people enjoy horseback riding and have a lot of fun doing it.  Few, however, realize the physical and mental benefits of being around and riding horses.  My goal is to share with you the many benefits of horseback riding especially how horseback riding can get you into great shape both physically and mentally.

Let's start with the physical benefits.  Anyone who rides a horse (I mean seriously rides and doesn't just sit as a passenger) will tell you they work muscles they never knew they had!  When done properly, you WILL be sore after a good ride.  When we go one step further and design a riding program specifically targeted as a fitness workout, the results are amazing!

Our horseback fitness class has been designed as an exercise program and is designed to work on:

• Cardiovascular
• Burning Calories
• Muscle Tone
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Toning your thigh, abdominal, buttocks, calves, back and arm muscles
• Increased upper body strength
• Overall improved body muscle tone and strength

This is just a sample of the benefits!  As your riding progresses, your fitness program becomes more intense. Try riding a posting trot with no stirrups and you'll feel the burn!

Ready to give it a try?  I'm offering an introductory 30 minute workout class for just $20.00!  This is for a private session and you and I will be working one on one with my horse.  Once you try it and feel the benefits, we will custom design a workout program specifically for your to work on your target areas! Contact me today to get started!  Thanks ~ Julie 

Why Horseback Riding For Fitness?

The benefits of horseback riding are many, but few people realize that riding a horse can actually help you get and stay fit.  Riding a horse, when done properly, is a great form of exercise and will help you burn calories, build and tone muscles, improve your balance and coordination and relieve stress.  It's also less stressful on your joints than other activities such as jogging.  As an added bonus, you can achieve your desired results while enjoying yourself outdoors in the fresh air as opposed to a stuffy gym environment.

Check out this chart of horse related activities and approximate calories burned:

In my fitness classes, I focus primarily on riding the horse at a trot.  We perform these exercises in a 50' diameter round pen where you are able to focus on your workout and not have to worry much about directing the horse.  I can do that part from the ground.  Why ride at a trot?  Here are some of the key benefits:

1. For beginners, trotting a horse is less intimidating than cantering or galloping.  It takes time to learn to ride and trotting offers us a safe speed and allows us to focus on developing the basic skills you need to know in order to ride a horse.
2. Posting trot is an aerobic workout.  It also is a skill that needs to be learned.  Most people are not born with the knowledge of how to properly ride a horse at a posting trot.  While you're learning, you are also experiencing the benefits of burning calories, toning muscles and improving your balance.
3. In order to ride a horse at a posting trot, you're going to be using muscles that you haven't used in a while.  You will be using your abdominal muscles, inner thighs, calves and dorsal region to name a few.
4. Horseback riding WILL improve your flexibility.  You'll feel the effects after your first ride in your hamstrings, calves, glutes and hips.  Improved flexibility means better range of motion which will help you when you participate in other sporting activities.
5. Want "Thighs of Steel"?  When you're riding a horse, you'll be keeping almost constant tension on your thighs which will result in stronger, toned thighs.
6. Riding a horse will increase your back strength.  In order to move your horse forward and to ride properly, you will use your back muscles which will increase strength and tone those muscles.
7. Horseback riding will provide you with an overall fitness routine.  You'll burn calories, strengthen muscles, tone muscles, improve flexibility and have fun while doing it!

Ready to get started to get in shape and become a healthier you?  Fill out the "Contact" form or give me a call at 845-637-5637 and lets get started!