Are you looking for an activity during your next family vacation? Something to do next weekend? A hobby that can last you your lifetime?
Look no further than trail riding!
Trail riding is an activity that combines some of the best experiences you can have in life. It comes with the opportunity to see amazing places, create a bond like no other, and exercise important muscles. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why trail riding is the best!
1. See Amazing Views Without the Hike
Everyone wants to see the sights that nature has to offer. But not everyone likes hiking. And that’s okay!
No matter what your dislike of a hike may be tied to, horse riding can be the solution. Don’t like walking? No need to! Don’t like the feeling of being alone? You’re never alone if a horse is with you. Don’t like carrying your lunch and water in a backpack? That’s what saddlebags are for.
Horses can get you up steep hills with more ease (more on that later) so that you can see your location with more ease than a hike. Try a trail ride to an overlook or a serene lake or waterfall.
If you want to see more of the natural beauty of your area, you should look into horse trail rides near me.
2. A Safe Way Out of Your Comfort Zone
Let’s face it. If you haven’t ever been on a trail ride before, it can be scary. We’ve all seen videos of people being thrown from horses, and it can be daunting to try to control that large of an animal without previous experience.
For that reason, going horseback riding for the first time can be a rush of adrenaline, but you don’t actually have to worry about safety. Accidents on trail rides with professional companies are extremely rare. Before you begin riding, you’ll get instructions on how to lead your horse and be provided with the protective gear you need.
Most trail riding horses also know how to follow each other. You’ll have a guide and the horses’ hierarchy will inspire them to follow in a line. So you’ll have to do very little leading yourself.
3. Make a Temporary Bond With an Animal
Horses have been domesticated for over 5,000 years. In all that time there have been countless beautiful connections between man and beast. Even in the temporary relationship of horseback trail riding, you can create a bond with a horse.
Horses are sensitive animals who quickly learn their rider’s personality. They also have their own unique personalities for you to learn over the course of the ride. With patience, kindness, trust, and love you and the horse will have a deep understanding of each other and create a bond for your adventure.
Plus, you get to take what you learned about relating to animals home with you. You just might find yourself to be a more sensitive and patient person after horseback riding.
4. Exercise Parts of Your Body That Go Unnoticed
Horseback riding is a workout! It’s such a good workout for your core, glutes, and back that many people use horseriding as a part of their physical therapy routine.
You can get an even better core workout, by helping your horse out a bit on hills. When going uphill, lean forward a little. When going downhill, lean back. Both will relieve some of the weight on the horse’s back in that difficult moment and help maintain a center of gravity.
It’s also been shown to improve posture even after the riding is done.
5. Relieve Stress
When you choose to look for trail riding near me, you’re choosing an activity that can relieve stress. Simply by removing yourself from the bustle of the modern world and taking the time to be in nature, you give yourself a break to relax in.
Plus, by having the task of riding to focus on, you’ll be able to free your mind from some of those everyday stresses. The sound of a horse’s hooves hitting the ground is relaxing and calming.
And you’ll be so tired out after your ride that you’ll have one of your best nights of sleep ever!
6. Take On a New Challenge
As you get better at horseback riding and more comfortable, you’ll get to add more difficulties to your trail riding.
There are longer and more difficult rides for different experience levels. You can strive for better views and better times with a horse by practicing and strengthening your core.
Maybe eventually you’ll even want to take solo rides for a truly magical, serene experience.
7. Get a New Perspective
You probably haven’t seen much from way up high on a horse. It might not seem like it would make much of a difference, but you never know what you’ll discover about the world and yourself when you’re raised just a little off the ground.
Maybe you’ll start to notice tree leaves more. Maybe sounds will become more noticeable to you as you notice your horse’s ears twitch in all directions. Whatever your discovery may be, it will be aided by the presence of a horse.
8. It’s Fun!
What’s the best thing about trail riding? It’s fun of course!
Even inexperienced riders will get a thrill out of a small trot. And as you get better that thrill only increases. It feels amazing to be on top of such a strong, powerful animal. And it’s easy to let your adventurous imagination run wild from atop a horse.
Trail Riding for Fun, Serenity, Exercise, and Adventure
No matter what your goals in trail riding are, it’s a great hobby for anyone interested. Take advantage of nature’s beauty, the incredible bond between man and animal, the exercise, and all the fun that can be had.
Interested in more lifestyle ideas? Check out some of our other articles such as Travel.