My horses have been some of my greatest teachers and have enriched my life forever. They bring out my best by illustrating patience, forgiveness, and love. Their wise communication is unmistakable and teaches one to listen with our eyes and ears.
I’m not the only one who feels this way, either. Science has proved that having a relationship with a horse benefits humans, and that owning and interacting with them (and other pets) has multiple advantages for our health.
Horse Owner Statistics
It’s no secret that horse riding is exceptionally popular among Americans. According to the American Horse Council, 1.6 million U.S. households own 7.25 million horses nationwide. In addition to the pleasure we get from riding, the equine industry contributes $122 billion yearly to the U.S. economy.
Texas has the highest number of these horses, and while 1.74 million people work in the industry, 60% are in managerial positions. Half of the country’s horse owners have annual incomes over $100,000. Since the average price of a riding horse is $3,444, and annual ownership costs $7,896, it’s not a low-income hobby.
Reasons to Own a Horse
I can give you a bunch of my personal reasons for owning horses all my life, but those would be subjective. However, research shows common reasons people become horse owners include:
1. Physical Fitness
Whether you ride a horse for leisure or competition purposes, the activity improves your balance, coordination, flexibility, muscle tone, and overall core strength. It is also an excellent cardiovascular exercise. Riding is not only a physical activity but a mental one too, and it takes a great deal of focus and awareness to take part in it.
2. Relaxation
Horseback riding provides you with a break from your usual stressors and worries. While riding, you focus instead on the task at hand. Riding is known to lower stress levels and foster a sense of wellbeing. Spending time with animals also causes your body to release serotonin, which is a mood-enhancing hormone.
3. Companionship
Many people consider dogs to be “man’s best friend” but horses are also very loyal companions. This is partly because they are highly intelligent creatures with excellent memories. A horse will remember you after just one or two meetings and form a close attachment to humans who treat it well. When you ride a horse regularly and provide it with positive reinforcements when they follow commands, it’s possible to form a lifelong bond.
4. Love of Nature
Horse riding and dog ownership are both associated with nature-relatedness and physical activity and have the potential to enhance physical and psychological health. A study of 178 recreational horseback riders examined the influence of connectedness to nature on the riders’ wellbeing. Researchers found significantly higher nature-relatedness, noticeably higher overall wellbeing, and a more positive mood rating in recreational horseback riders compared to people without pets. Similar scores applied to dog owners.
Physical wellbeing correlates, therefore, with overall nature-relatedness in horseback riders and dog owners, but no correlation was found in people without pets. These results suggest that activity with horses and dogs in natural environments is a source of wellbeing, enjoyment, self-confidence, and social contact.
Horses’ Power to Heal
Horses also have incredible healing powers, and they help countless people every day through equine-assisted therapy. This therapy is emotional healing encouraged by interaction with horses. It helps people with needs ranging from anxiety and depression therapy to treatment for people on the autistic spectrum.
Equine therapy is particularly effective with children and teens and has shown excellent results in reducing irritability, agitation, and impulsivity. It improves cooperation and emotional regulation, increases children’s capacity for delay, and benefits behavioral control.
Using Animal-Assisted Therapy
It has long been proven that interaction with dogs and other animals has healing benefits for the sick. Animal-assisted therapy includes pets visiting long-term care homes to provide enjoyment for patients and residents. It also encompasses the use of animal interactions to help people recover from (or cope better with) health problems such as heart disease, cancer, and mental health disorders.
Powerful Health Benefits
Pets come with powerful health benefits. Caring for a horse, dog, cat, or any similar animal can help relieve depression and anxiety, lower stress, and improve your heart health. They are acutely attuned to humans, our behavior, and our emotions. They understand many of the words we use and are even better at interpreting our tone of voice, body language, and gestures.
Owning a pet can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults. Most importantly, though, a pet can add real joy and unconditional love to your life.
For more information on ways to benefit your mental and physical health and wellbeing, please click here or schedule a time to chat with me.