07 May Health Benefits Of Horse Riding in Mesa, AZ
When it comes to preparing for the future, Phelps LaClair, located in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Phoenix, AZ, is ready to come to your aid in every aspect of planning your estate or establishing your LLC. But when it comes to keeping your body and soul healthy through physical exercise, we’ll gladly make suggestions; the rest is up to you! We’re convinced regular physical activity contributes to a more enjoyable, more rewarding life overall. That’s one reason we occasionally feature the benefits of various sports and activities. Today’s pick in the world of exercise: horse riding.
Horse Riding as Exercise
If you’ve ever ridden a horse, you may remember the feeling in your muscles upon dismounting. There’s a quivering soreness in your back, thigh, and pelvic muscles that makes you want to walk bowlegged, like a salty cowboy in an old Western movie. That’s just one evidence that horse riding is a legitimate form of exercise.
In fact, studies have been done that prove horse riding is a good form of exercise. Dr. Dennis Sigler and other faculty members of Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension Service researched the amount of energy expended during high-intensity horse riding activities. Their study revealed that 45 minutes on a horse while walking, trotting, and cantering, can use up to 200 calories. And cutting or reining will increase that caloric expenditure, as will longer trots or canters. One hour of horse riding and related activities (like mucking out a stable) is considered as a moderate intensity exercise.
In addition, jumping in the saddle and heading for the horizon contributes to your core strength. That balance required to stay in the saddle serves as a form of isometric exercise to build your body’s core stabilizing muscles. And if you ride regularly, your posture and coordination (on and off the horse) may improve as a result of your efforts to stay erect and well-positioned in the saddle while navigating your horse’s movements.
Good for mental acuity and alertness, riding can also provide the positive psychological benefits of interacting with an animal. So, the next time you’re looking for a form of exercise that isn’t hard on your joints, gets you out in nature and around animals, and tones muscles while also burning calories—you might consider horse riding!
Exercise and Planning Your Estate
In one sense, exercise is a little bit like planning for the future. Aerobic activity and maintaining muscle tone contribute to overall well-being and longevity. It’s the same with financial planning. Preparing now for your future and the future of your family enables you to breathe easy and feel secure. And in tandem with a healthy lifestyle, your foresight will go a long way in giving you peace of mind.
If you have questions about planning your estate, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll sit down with you at a free consultation, discuss the needs of your family, and help you design the best strategy for your future.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/3/2018) Pharaoh Stables (Flickr)