Horse riding is a very complete sport that has many benefits for the body and mind. So much so that there are numerous therapists and some non-profit associations dedicated to working with people with disabilities, who use horse riding as an effective method of rehabilitation.
Interaction with animals has always been beneficial in treating certain psychological problems such as depression. They are also used as therapy to treat autistic children. In addition to this, the horse allows the patient to reduce his or her limitations when practicing this sport, allowing him or her to enjoy this sport on equal terms with other people without disabilities, which in itself offers therapeutic advantages in terms of the psychological dimension.
But horse riding is not only beneficial for people with disabilities. Horse riding is beneficial for anyone who wants to and can practice it.
Below we describe the benefits it presents both physically and psychologically.
Physical benefits:
1. Helps improve body balance.
2. It helps correct bad posture by encouraging the trunk to remain upright.
3. It helps you stay fit, tones muscles, reduces spasticity and helps you stay in shape.
4. It promotes blood flow as the horse is at a higher temperature than the human body.
5. Improves motor coordination and increases reflexes.
6. It helps in the acquisition of laterality and facilitates the perception of our own body scheme.
Psychological benefits:
In addition to the physical benefits, we also have psychological benefits:
1. As we have mentioned before, being in contact with any animal and with the horse in particular, helps to achieve a greater degree of confidence, improves emotional control and also self-esteem.
2. It helps improve attention and concentration, making it an especially suitable activity for children with hyperactivity and/or attention deficit. It also has a positive effect on memory.
3. Having to deal with the animal helps to violate values such as respect and responsibility, and also helps to awaken love for animals.
4. In general terms, we will acquire new knowledge about the world.
