Page 42 - Waterfall Issue 9_2022

Waterfall Health & Wellness

Once confident and capa ble, more advanced riders will canter, jump, and even train for shows with their horses. Teamwork makes the dream work!

your hair, hear the sounds of nature
and see the open fields and blue
sky all around you. As a result, horse
riding reduces stress and helps you
relax by providing a break from the
chaos that life sometimes brings.

When riding, you have the
opportunity to develop
communication and problem-solving
skills as you work together with the
horse to overcome challenges and
obstacles. No matter whether you’re
grooming, tacking up, leading, feeding
or riding, there are many mental
and emotional benefits in store Young children and beginner riders first learn the basics while on a lead rope with close and careful
for you and your horse. Aside from supervision from a trained instructor.
bonding and the physical exercise
provided by these activities, you also Many stables provide a wide range
improve your memory, speech and of options and activities for the little Lessons available close by:
assertiveness. It doesn’t end there, as ones, from one-on-one lessons to • Entwood Stables, Beaulieu
studies have shown that the vibrations group lessons, once-off to multiple – 072 274 6202
produced by a horse can activate times a week. Pony camps provide • Equidome Equestrian Centre
the sympathetic nervous system an opportunity for children to learn Beaulieu Country Estate
(responsible for the body’s involuntary about what it takes to care for a horse. – 083 457 7291
response to stress and danger), This can include grooming, and doing • Rivonia Riding Club, Paulshof
improving the cognitive ability of the different activities while leading or – 076 538 2693
rider. Through improved memory, riding. These pony camps give them • Sun Valley Livery, Kyalami
communication and speech, problem- the chance to do things that they might – 082 571 0309
solving and attentiveness, horse riding not have been able to do in a normal Trail rides for groups and
enhances learning and can help your lesson, and they’re so much fun. couples:
academic or work performance. • Harties Horse Trail Safaris
Some stables also offer packages (Hartbeespoort) – 064 907 4827
With so much to gain from horse riding, to couples, families and groups of • Horse Riding Adventure Pretoria
it’s easy to see why there are so many friends, which may include a lesson (Cullinan) – 082 302 6564
beautiful stables in the area where you together in an arena or a scenic • SA Trails (Lanseria) – 082 533 4545
can learn to ride and reap the rewards. ride through some quiet fields.

40 Waterfall Issue 9 2022