Recently the British Horse Society conducted a study into the psychological and physical health benefits of horse-back riding, and it’s fair to say that there are many! So what better way to explore a new country than by horse-back? We take a quick look at what those health benefits are exactly…
Horse-riding is a physical sport that really works all of your body. It develops your balance and stability, while also improving your ability to co-ordination. A lot needs to happen simultaneously to get a horse to pick up speed or even walk without wandering off. This requires you to coordinate leg pressure, rein pressure, and body position all at the same time. It goes without saying that that your core and leg muscles really get a work-out when your horse-riding.
Trust us, your arms, core and legs will all ache after a day of riding. We mean your whole leg. Almost every leg muscle plays a part. From holding you on the horse, directing the horse and when rocking with the horse during cantering. You’ll find your glutes will also hurt. So when you’re hobbling around the next day, just think of the good it’s doing your body!
There are also major psychological and social benefits of horse riding. It’s found that interaction with the animals stimulates positive psychological feelings; something that is not found with many sports or activities. Similarly, being outdoors and in contact with nature has been found to have a positive impact on mental well-being. Our horse-riding breaks ensure you have lots of contact with the horses and get to explore the surrounding area on horse-back.
We have riding holidays that are great for horse enthusiasts, where the focus is on riding and technique, but we also have packages that start with the basics and offer lessons to beginners while also providing an introduction into basic horse management. We cater for all ages and abilities, so if you cannot find your perfect holiday we will tailor one of our packages specifically for you.
Our horse-riding package in Northern Croatia is perfect for beginners as the guides tailor the package to your capabilities and newbies can opt into a mini-riding school with the opportunity to feed the horses, clean the hooves and familiarise yourself with the riding equipment. If you prefer to dabble in horse-riding but wouldn’t want to embark on a holiday dedicated to it the why not have a look at our multi-activity package in Slovenia? It includes horse riding, alongside white water rafting, hiking and cycling! Whatever your level or interests, there’s no denying that horse riding is a great way to keep fit and stay active.
We know that horse riders are passionate about their interest, we have a few horse enthusiasts in the office! So we know what’s important when planning a horse riding holiday, so be sure to consider for your next go-active break.