Stress relief: Riding offers excellent therapeutic qualities. Simply being out and about and enjoying the great outdoors will boost your general well being and act as a great stress buster. Also, being outdoors is healthy on its own; fresh air, sunlight and exposure to nature all contribute to a boost in the immune system. The vitamin D from the sun contributes to strong bones and teeth and a healthy immune system.
Emotional bonding:
Developing a relationship and sense of trust between yourself and your horse is highly rewarding. Many horse owners feel their horse is somehow in tune with their own feelings and emotions. Likewise, learning to control and care for an animal much larger than yourself is a great feeling and can make you feel more confident in yourself.
Physical benefits:
Playing polo develops balance and improves coordination and motor function. Hand-eye coordination involved in hitting a ball with a mallet while on a moving horse is greatly improved. Additionally, although it may seem as though the rider is not engaging in any physical exercise, an hour of activity can burn similar calories to that of a 30-minute jog or cycle ride.
