Fun fact: you can lose weight just by riding around on a horse.

April 14, 2017 Ashley 0 Comments

“Wanna ride?” asked the man on the horse.

(Yes. It was just like this – except the complete opposite. Dude was 70 at least.)

I vacillated for a moment.

Now, don’t get me wrong. My hesitation wasn’t because I was afraid to hop on some stranger’s steed. I’m 32 and I’d still vote myself most likely to get kidnapped for accepting an invitation to come see puppies in the back of a white panel van. So, no. It wasn’t that. Rather, I’d just set out on what was gonna be a good half hour run. And, since I’d made lunch plans out of town, I deduced that I hadn’t allotted enough time for spontaneity today. Sure, I could cut my workout short. But the short soy triple matcha latte’s calories from Starbucks I’d be ordering later needed to be paid off in advance. So, that had to happen stat. In retrospect, though, I totes regret it. For one, I’m never one to turn down something fun and spontaneous I’ve never done before. (Especially since my lunch mate would’ve totally understood; I only fraternize with folk who do.) But, also, I regret it because, when I went home and inevitably Googled what sort’ve workout equestrian exercise can impart, I was kinda surprised.

Because, apparently, bobbing around on Black Beauty can do wonders for your weight loss efforts.

First of all, you get epic flexibility out’ve it.

(Not sure if awesome… or a mild violation of horse rights..)

Because of the position you have to sit in, you’re forced to go into Gumby mode. This is great because it means more mobility in the other workouts you do – which means more bang for your metabolic buck – and less chance of injury. (It also means lower squats – which mean a higher booty.) And that injury prevention’s further reinforced inasmuch as you’re activating all those isometric balance and coordination muscles too. Ever out on a run and nearly stumble over something dumb? (Like a rock or root you would’ve seen had you not been all doped up on jogger’s high?) The fact that you don’t’s most likely thanks to the hours you’ve logged strengthening your isometric muscles. (Whether it’s from doing yoga, barre, or blasting the padding out’ve the bag at the dojo with one gam as you balance gracefully into a pivot with the other.) Likewise, horseback riding can hone those same muscles in a way that not only avoids you aches and pains later, but makes for a great workout that keeps you coming back for more.

Yet, while that’s all well and good, we need numbers, am I right?

How many burnt calories can my cantering tally up to? That answer was the lice level head scratcher for me.

Because, according to the pros:

“We all know riding horses is good exercise,” Sigler said. “Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories. It you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period.”

So, lemme get this straight: I get to enjoy being out in nature (like I do on my run), I get to ride on a wingless unicorn through a flower field, the creature beneath me basically does all the work, and I still burn over 200 calories? Psshhh…. Next time a rando guy perched on the spine of Mr. Ed invites me up, I’mma totes take him up on that.

With those caloric stats, I’d be a foal not to.

#terriblepuns