Physical Conditioning

Core Strength, Motor Skills, Balance

Many of us don't give a second thought to how we walk, or run, or otherwise move about.  But what if your body wasn't always up to the task?  Or what if it needed to be trained/re-trained to perform certain tasks? 

Pause for a moment and imagine what that would be like.  Better yet, visit our center and see how riders of all sizes, shapes, and ages work with their horse partners to improve the physical abilities that many of us take for granted.

How Equine-assisted Therapy Programs Can Help

Structured riding programs have been shown to foster the following in riders of all skill levels and abilities: 

• Improved posture and flexibility
• Improved circulation
• Strengthening of core muscles
• Increased range of motion
• Improved hand-eye coordination
• Reduced spasticity
• Improved sense of balance
• Faster reflexes

Examples of Riding-generated Stimulus and Response

Just as every human has a unique stride, every horse exhibits a unique gait or "movement" when it walks or trots.  It's the transmission of this movement (or "energy") to a rider that stimulates a whole host of psychomotor responses. 

Smooth and slow gaits provide a stable base (and require "less work") so that a beginning rider (or a rider with a limited range of motion) can concentrate on the basic aspects of riding.  Choppy or fast gaits tend to be more dynamic (and require "more work") such that an intermediate rider (or a rider that is working to develop physically) experiences more of a challenge. 

At Bright Horizons each rider is paired with a specific horse based on a combination of rider needs, horse characteristics and overall development goals and objectives.

To learn more

Please contact us at contact@brighthorizonsriding.org