Engaging in physical hobbies like horseback riding improves your physique and mental health. Each activity—from carrying the tack to improving your balance on horseback, interacting with your fellow riders, and developing a connection with the animal—helps improve your well-being. If you're looking to take on a new sport, it's time to slip on your riding boots and saddle up.

Reasons to Learn Horseback Riding

1. Tone Your Muscles

This activity is not just about wearing stylish riding boots and sitting on the back of a horse. In this sport, riders must strengthen their core, back, and chest muscles and maintain proper posture to retain their balance and avoid falling off the horse. Aside from learning how to ride the animals safely, you must also carry your saddle, groom your horse, and clean the stall—all of which will help you tone your muscles and build your strength.

2. Widen Your Social Circle

This sport allows you to interact with other people, such as your instructor, the barn staff, and your fellow students. Take this opportunity to learn more about horses and the sport itself, competitions you can join, and where to buy quality riding boots, hats, and other supplies. Engaging with the horseback riding community can boost your confidence, improve your social skills, and open your life to new friendships and opportunities.

3. Boost Your Mental Health

Horses have a body temperature of 99–101°F, which is slightly higher than that of humans. This added warmth helps relax riders' muscles and relieve stress. Meanwhile, the vibrations produced by the horse's motions may improve a rider's decisiveness, response, and self-control. Moreover, like other physical activities, horseback riding prompts the release of "feel-good" hormones such as serotonin, which helps regulate your mood and appetite.

When you're ready to take up horseback riding lessons, buy high-quality clothing and equipment from Liberty Western in Lebanon, OH. For over two decades, this one-of-a-kind shop has been offering first-rate Western wear products, including riding boots, cowboy hats, Miss Me jeans, and saddles and tack. They also offer horse grooming supplies and hard-to-find, healthy feeds. For inquiries, send a message on their website or call (513) 933-0900.