I have, from time to time, discussions with parents about how expensive riding is, and I try to explain what it is about riding that is priceless. I have a student with selective mutism, and anxiety disorder, who now chatters away about her riding with her friends. My son has disorders in the autism spectrum range, and riding had helped him in so many ways. However most of all riding has been a genuine benefit to me.
While riding on a horse, for me, is unique in its ability to help me concentrate on the present, and exclude all stress and outside concerns. Your horse brings you to the present. accomplishing something together takes focus and is immediate, if you make a mistake it shows and you fix it immediately, if you get it right it is immediately rewarding. There is the limitless opportunity to practice small successes, and overcome small failures. You begin to understand that learning is not about never making a mistake, it is about making that mistake and finding that solution.
People talk about emotion having no place in riding. I strongly disagree, riding increases positive emotions, and yes teaches self control. frustration, irritation, anger, these are very unsuccessful emotions to have when riding and if you give in to them you will discover that you have sabotaged yourself and your progress, so riding with control is important, but appreciating and loving the successes, that is the highlight of training.
When you have accomplished something in riding, there is always more to accomplish, but there is always successes you can appreciate. simple successes, learning to post. Learning to control a quiet mount. Learning to sit the canter, overcoming the fear of falling. You can look forward and see things to improve, you can look back and see things you have achieved.
I try to explain to parents why riding is so good for their children. I am not very good at putting it into words, so this is my attempt to explain. I suppose here, i am preaching to the choir.
