Gym bunnies turning to horse riding for fitness
Their gym is the spectacular countryside of Shropshire and their exercise machine one that can be as good for the soul as for the body.
Women from the Country Treks Equestrian Centre in Stottesdon are backing 'This Girl Can Ride' scheme launched by Hoof – The British Equestrian Federation's participation programme.
This Girl Can is a Sport England campaign involving a wide range of partnership organisations to celebrate active women who are doing their thing no matter how well they do it or how they look doing it.
The women who ride at Stottesdon say they get all the exercise they need from their horse riding and have far more fun than if they were in a gym.
Looking 20 years younger than she is, 71-year-old Gaye Taysum is thrilled to be back on horseback, after a break of a few years and says she is completely hooked.
"It is wonderful to be out in the fresh air and you soon develop a natural, rosy looking complexion," she said.
"The emotional support you get, both from your horse and the other women is as important as the physical wellbeing."
Dee Harding, 51, agreed. "I have made so many friends and I am with people who don't worry about make-up or designer clothes," she said. "It does not matter how old you are, we all get on so well. Even my three-year-old granddaughter, Daisy has started coming here riding."
Vicky Baker, 37, from Plaish near Church Stretton, admitted that riding did take up her spare funds.
"But if people give up their gym membership, which many never get the use out of, then the can use that to start a wonderful activity," she said.
Owner and founder of Country Treks, Steph Eddies-Davies, said:
"Horse riding benefits everyone – men and women, old and young, able-bodied and disabled.
"Riding will help you improve your fitness, build muscle tone, promote muscle strength and burn calories. It also improves your sense of wellbeing with the same same antidepressant effects as a runner's high."
It was therefore always going to take a lot to persuade me to go along to an equestrian centre for a lesson.
Yet having been talked into having a go at riding as part of the This Girl Can campaign, I can't understand why it took 54 years for me to get on to a horse.
Instructor Steph was delighted to have an absolute beginner on her hands – no bad habits – although she was perplexed at my fears.
Introducing me to Rosie, she explained that the horse would pick up on any fears so I did my utmost to stay calm and get to know this towering animal that I was to climb up on to. Yet once on – with the much needed help of a 'mounting box' – I realised just how wide and how secure Rosie seemed. No slipping off the saddle, no skittish mare, just a patient experienced one.
And, under Steph's brilliant instruction, I was soon – to my amazement – walking around the outdoor horse arena on Rosie.
I was even winding in and out of a mini slalom course, taking her through parallel poles and even bringing her to a halt with the slightest squeeze of my hands.
Apparently, knowing where my 'sit bones' and my 'core' were was a big plus. Thank goodness for Pilates!
My mini lesson was over all too soon, just enough time for a gentle trot before I had to dismount from Rosie. By that time I had even forgotten my fear of heights and again under instruction managed to get back on terra firma without incident.
