Horses are magnificent creatures. Ever since I was a young child, I have been mildly obsessed with them. At overnight camp, I was privileged enough to get to learn to ride. But, as a city kid growing up in Chicago, it was a short-lived fantasy. My parents were NEVER going to buy me a horse and, while we loved animals - even had a few dogs, we didn’t know enough about the benefits of riding for children.
I’m not saying that had they known how amazing horseback riding can be for children they’d have gotten me my own horse. They might have signed me up for lessons outside of overnight camp summers, though.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Honeysuckle Farms and Riding Academy in Monroe for the first time. In speaking with its owner, Dominique Morrison, I learned so much about how beneficial riding can be for kids. Here’s some of what she shared with me:
It is highly physical: Riding horses may not seem like a physically taxing activity - most people think you just sit atop the horse and it does the work. Nothing could be further from the truth. Grooming horses, lifting tack, and staying balanced in the saddle improves muscle tone, burns calories, and improves coordination. As a rider, you are also charged with not only the riding portion but also grooming, caring for the horses and feeding them (hey is heavy!)
It teaches responsibility: The well-being of the horse comes first, no matter what else is going on. When you take up riding, you will spend hours just caring for the horse. You can’t just saddle up and ride off; horses require regular exercising - even when the weather is bad - and care. They need to have their stalls cleaned and bedding changed, even if you aren’t in the mood.
It is a great motivator: Many people struggle with setting goals - as kids sometimes we have goals of finishing a certain number of books before the end of summer vacation, etc, With horseback riding, there are some very tangible and built-in goals to help your child along the way. Have you ever heard, you have to walk before you trot? Well, it’s true. Each stage of riding cannot occur before a mastery of the preceding one.
It improves mental health: Even the shyest kids tend to find their place around a horse. Perhaps it's because the horse isn’t judging them or maybe it's just the calming nature of such wondrous creatures, but horses have an incredible impact on all sorts of mental health challenges. The fresh(ish) air is mood-booster, horses force us to stay present, and riding is a great way to relieve stress.
Teamwork is a must: How can riding create a sense of teamwork, you ask? No, riding is not a traditional team sport, but it does foster a sense of teamwork and comradery that you’d see in any traditional sporting activity - maybe even more. Each barn has its own team of riders and those riders typically cheer each other on and both challenge and encourage each other when needed. They celebrate each other’s successes, even if they are competing with one another. Plus, you need to be a team with your horse. Horses cannot be manipulated or forced like a ball or a bat. You need to work as a team to get them to do what you want!
So now that you can also see the benefit of riding, you want to get your kids started. How, though? Will it cost a fortune? What options do you have?
Riding is surprisingly less expensive than you might think. The key is to pick the right barn with the right instructors. One of the benefits of Honeysuckle Farm’s Riding Academy is that Dominique teaches all of the lessons. Yes, it’s exhausting, but she is so invested in her students - and because it's just her, the lessons are more affordable. You have options, too. For the beginner riders, there are group lessons and camp experiences. For the more experienced riders she has an entirely different set of instructional groups. You can stable your horse there, too. She also offers birthday parties and playdates for small groups!
Want to give it a try? Honeysuckle Farm's will be open Tuesday - Friday while school is on hiatus, should parents want to try it out and get their kids into the fresh air! Just call to schedule.
Honeysuckle Farm’s Riding Academy is located at 6812 S Rocky River Rd in Monroe, North Carolina / Phone: 704.200.8404
