While many consider horseback riding as a leisure activity, it’s also a form of moderate-intensity exercise. According to the British Equestrian Federation, you can burn up to 360 calories just trotting gently with a horse for 30 minutes.
Did you know that horses can also sleep while standing up? They have a unique ability to lock their leg muscles so they won’t fall over, a trick that they have developed when they used to live in the wild.
Horses have one less bone than humans, having only 205. Interestingly, Arabian horses have even one less neck vertebrae, one less back vertebrae, and one less rib, making them shorter than any other horse in the world.
Did you know that the height of a horse is measured in hands? With each hand being about 4 inches, the animal should measure at least 14 hands and 2 inches to be called a horse. Any shorter makes it a pony.
One of the best parts of riding a horse is suiting up for it! In fact, in show jumping competitions, dressing makes up part of how the rider is scored.
A horse must be fully healthy and is thoroughly inspected before it can race. Interestingly, during an event in Britain in 1921, it was found out that the winning horse was suffering from tuberculosis and racing with just one healthy lung!
If you’d like to try your hand at equestrian sports, but do not have too much horseback experience, you’re going to first need to learn the basics. As such, it would be a good idea to get in touch with an established riding school to ensure that the foundational skills you learn are correct.
Natalia Martin is with Lisa Hall and 22 others.
October 20 at 6:56 PM ·
I’m so excited to announce ,Zidane, as my dance partner in this amazing journey for the 2020(1) Olympics. He is a very spicy KWPN gelding with a competitive drive like mine. He is sweet, quirky, and has a great sense of humor. I’m so excited to go on this adventure with him!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen and for all of your support. Can’t wait to share this journey with all of you! 🥰
#ZForce #TeamBlessed
P.S- Ebony is prepping for the next Olympic cycle, so don’t worry, the Unicorn is going better then ever. 🦄❤️
While a horse can get you places, it’s important to keep in mind that it isn’t a machine. As such, you will want to learn not just the proper riding techniques, but also how to bond with the animal you’re riding and foster trust with it.
Natalia Martin is with Olivia Gildea.
October 19 at 10:39 AM ·
ISO Working Student
Working student position open with International Grand Prix Dressage rider, Natalia Martin, in South Florida.
Duties: feeding, turnout, grooming, etc.
Opportunity to join a really fun and positive barn family.
The average horse stands around 15.2 hands (around 5) feet tall at the withers so they’re definitely large. Some specimens, however, grow far beyond this and are quite enormous. The Belgian draft horse Zeus, in particular, stands at 21 hands (seven feet) tall at the shoulders and is the tallest in the world.
Aside from teaching you how to properly ride a horse, a riding school will also teach you how to prepare the animal. Saddling, in particular, will be something that you have to master as an incorrectly placed saddle can cause problem for the horse and the rider.
One of the benefits of horseback riding is improved posture. As long as you ride regularly and correctly, you should be able to straighten out your spine as your core and your back muscles will be strengthened by this activity.
If you’re seriously interested in riding horses, it will not be enough to just get on one and learn as you go. Instead, you’re going to want to get the proper training to ensure that you pick up the correct skills and, therefore, the most enjoyment.
Having a blast playing with my boy, Zidane, King of the barn. 🥰 #questfortokyo #puertorico #zforce #jackjack #teamblessed
Natalia Martin is with Olivia Gildea.
November 5 at 3:30 PM ·
🌟🇵🇷 Paid working student position 🇵🇷🌟
The Art of Riding is looking for a motivated working student to add to our team for the busy show season in South Florida🌴☀️. Great opportunity to escape the cold ❄️☃️ and be apart of the quest for the Tokyo Olympics with International Grand Prix Dressage rider, Natalia Martin 🇵🇷. We have multiple FEI horses actively competing and a full show schedule.
Duties will include (but are not limited to):
🔹Feeding
🔹Turnout
🔹Grooming
🔹Assiting at CDIs and other shows
🔹 etc.
Come join our energetic and fun barn family!
While there’s a wealth of horse riding tutorials available on the internet, they shouldn’t replace actual training. After all, learning the activity with an instructor present is a far cry from sitting in front of a computer, so you should consider anything you pick up online as supplemental.
If you want to get into something new, one thing you can try would be horseback riding. This is particularly true if you also love animals because you will get to spend a lot of time with a majestic and affectionate creature.
A horse is most commonly trained to be mounted from the left. So, try to stay to the left as much as possible. While it is fine to mount your horse from the right, it may probably startle the animal.
Knowing how to ride a horse is one thing, while knowing how to handle it from the ground is another. Always be gentle with your horse, and this goes for when you are leading them around as well.
Vero Beach Equestrian Club
January 30 at 11:44 AM ·
Thank you Orchid Island Beach and Golf Club for an A++++ event
Natalia Martin is with Gabriel Armando and 12 others.
January 31 at 8:18 AM ·
Here’s a couple more clips from Zidane and I’d demo yesterday at Vero Beach Equestrian Club. We had so much fun performing for the Orchid Island Beach and Golf Club. I’m so proud of Zidane (Jack Jack). Love this fiery and special boy! 💃🇵🇷🦄
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Even for horseback riding, especially competitively, proper physical training is important. In addition to a general fitness regimen, you should also include exercises that target those muscle groups used most in riding.
