Is Horseback Riding an Exercise? Here’s Everything You Should Know

Many people wonder, “Is horseback riding an exercise?” The answer is a resounding yes. While it may appear that the horse is doing all the work, riders engage multiple muscle groups and burn calories with each ride. Experienced equestrians can confirm that maintaining balance and control on a moving horse requires strength, endurance, and coordination. Horseback riding is often regarded as a full-body strength workout that challenges your physical fitness and enhances your mental well-being.

In this blog post, the team at Touch of Chrome Trail Rides will explore why horse riding is good for you, the type of exercise it provides, the muscles it targets, and whether it can serve as your primary workout routine. So, if you’re interested in fitness or looking for a new healthy hobby or weekend activity, keep reading—you might find exactly what you need.

What Kind of Exercise is Horseback Riding?

Horseback riding is a unique form of exercise that incorporates cardio, strength training, and balance. Generally, it is a low- to moderate-intensity physical activity compared to running or cycling, but it can become vigorous at faster paces. Here’s an explanation of the different exercise disciplines involved in horseback riding:

Aerobic/Cardio:

Riding at faster paces, such as trotting or cantering, elevates the heart rate, which is why it is considered a cardio workout. If you’ve ever wondered how many calories horseback riding burns, here’s an example: a 45-minute ride that includes walking, trotting, and cantering can burn around 200 calories, indicating a moderate aerobic workout. More intense rides, like trotting for long distances, can add seven calories burned per minute.

Strength Training:

Regarding muscle strength training, horseback riding is considered a full-body workout because it engages the muscles in the legs, core, and upper body all at once (which we will explain in more detail later in the article). Unlike weightlifting, the strength gained from riding focuses more on muscular endurance and toning, as it utilizes your body weight and the horse’s movement as resistance. Horseback riding is not meant to build muscle, but it can help you get stronger and more toned over time.

Flexibility and Posture:

Riding a horse includes getting on, moving with its movements, and keeping a good riding position. This can help improve your flexibility, especially in your hips and pelvis. Regular horseback riding also encourages you to sit up straight, strengthening your abdomen and back muscles. This proper posture helps you ride taller and improves your overall posture over time.

Muscles Worked While Riding a Horse

As mentioned before, horseback riding is so effective because it engages muscles from head to toe. From your legs gripping the saddle to your core stabilizing your torso, nearly every major muscle group plays a role. Let’s break down the key muscles worked while riding:

Core Strength and Stability

One of the biggest fitness benefits of riding is the core strength you develop. To maintain balance on a moving horse, you must constantly engage your core muscles, including your abdominal and lower abs. Each stride the horse takes requires your core to adjust and stabilize your body.

Legs and Glutes Engagement

If you’ve ever gotten off a horse after a long ride and felt your legs shaking, you know that riding is a serious workout for your legs. While riding a horse, your thighs, hips, and glutes are significantly engaged. The main muscles involved are the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and the inner thigh adductors.

Upper Body and Back Muscles

Lastly, riding a horse might not seem upper-body intensive at first, but your arms, shoulders, and back are definitely involved. Holding the rains, directing the horse, and maintaining an upright posture help activate and work this muscle group.

Horse Riding for Fitness: Key Health Benefits

By now, you’re probably inferring the health benefits of horseback riding. At the end, it’s clear that it is a form of exercise, and the benefits of exercise are well known. Below, we will shortly explain each:

Cardiovascular Health and Endurance

Horseback riding is a form of cardio exercise that improves cardiorespiratory fitness, strengthens the heart muscle, increases cardiovascular endurance, and helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. It’s a great activity for those who don’t enjoy traditional cardio exercises or want a lower-impact activity while enjoying the outdoors and the thrill of the ride.

Mental Health & Relaxation

Horseback riding provides physical benefits, as well as a powerful mental lift. Many riders say being around horses feels therapeutic because of the steady rhythm of the horse’s stride, the focused attention it requires, and the bond you form with the animal. Riding helps build strength and stamina, reduces stress, and promotes mindfulness. It’s no surprise, then, that horses are often used in therapy programs for people dealing with mental health conditions like PTSD and anxiety.

Balance and Coordination

Horseback riding enhances balance, coordination, and posture. As riders make subtle adjustments to stay centered on the moving horse, they improve their sense of balance and body awareness. Studies have shown that even beginners can greatly benefit from developing their balance, which is valuable for riding and helpful in everyday life. Additionally, riding improves coordination by requiring riders to synchronize their movements, boosting their agility.

Can Horseback Riding be Your Main Workout?

If you love horses, you may find it appealing to quit the gym and do most of your exercise at the barn. The good news is that horseback riding can be a good exercise. It offers a mix of cardio, strength, and flexibility. So, riding 4–5 times a week can help keep you fit and may replace your gym workouts.

Whether riding can be your only exercise it depends on your goals. If you want general fitness, muscle tone, and to burn calories, regular riding will help. Plus, it’s fun, making it easier to stick with it.

However, consider your access to horses and riding spaces. You need a horse or a nearby riding center to ride often. If you can only ride once a week, you may need to do other activities on non-riding days to stay fit. But even riding weekly, paired with some light cross-training, can help you remain in good shape.