BB Fact Sheet – Recreation – Horse-Riding

Why go Horse-Riding?

• Ride horses and help to improve your fitness.

• Exercise and explore the outdoors with friends or on your own.

• With a wide range of activities, there’s always a new experience.

• Horse-Riding can provide mental and emotional benefits too.

Baby Boomers and Horse-Riding

• Many people who enjoy horses enjoy them for life – Baby Boomers are a common generation to see out and about in the equestrian and racing worlds.

• There are a wide range of horse-related activities, so there’s something for everyone’s level of fitness. Horse riding can have therapeutic physical benefits, including increasing range of movement, coordination and relaxation, and be part of your Preventative Health strategy.

Getting started

• Don’t put it off, start now! Call a horse-riding centre near you to make a booking. You’ll need some sturdy footwear and long pants. Most places supply safety equipment (e.g. helmet, chaps) to beginners and casual riders. Riding doesn’t need to be expensive to begin with.

• There are different riding activities you can pursue, including eventing (show-jumping, dressage and cross-country riding), trail-riding (casual rides in the countryside), and mustering (‘round-ups’). Horse-riding centres tend to specialise in one of these. There are clubs you can join to ride and/or compete on a regular basis, sometimes known as ‘pony clubs’. You can drive horses as well as ride them. There are competitive driving groups, where horses are shown pulling a cart in a ring or in cross-country races.

• Horse racing is another, entirely different section. There is the well-known Thoroughbred racing, or ‘the gallops’, where horses run around a grassy track in a contest of speed. There is also harness racing, where Standardbred horses pull a sulky on a dirt track.

• There is a big muster held in South Australia once a year that anyone can go on if you are interested in droving, the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive. This is held in winter, so dress warmly.

• If you’re interested in racing, go as a spectator to a meet. You can ask at the site’s racing office about how to get involved. You can do this working with horses (e.g. stablehand, jockey/driver, trainer) or maybe by joining a syndicate (either a betting one, or purchasing a racehorse).

Australia - http://www.horseriding.org.au/

NSW      - http://www.horseriding.org.au/nsw.html

QLD      - http://www.ahrcqld.org.au/riding_centres.html

VIC       - http://www.horseriding.org.au/vic.html

WA       - http://www.horseriding.org.au/wa.html

SA       - http://www.horsesa.asn.au/zeolite/zsection/2

TAS     - http://www.horseridingtasmania.com/site/instruction

NT       - http://www.horsedirectory.com.au/nt/travel_recreation/camps/index.html

ACT     - http://www.actshowjumpclub.com.au/comps.htm

Cattle Drive - SA              - http://www.cattledrive.com.au/

National Events Calendar - http://www.equestrian.org.au/calendar/

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This article was created by Lisa Turley for babyboomers.com.au - Australia's website for Baby Boomers. Babyboomers.com.au is an online resource to help people find information and services on health, money, travel and recreation.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this section should not be used for individual recreation or medical advice. Please see an independent advisor or your doctor if you have concerns or specific questions relating to your health.

Copyright 2009 Babyboomers Pty Ltd. All rights Reserved.