Horseback Riding Eases Back Pain and Boosts Confidence

A new study confirms that horseback riding boosts confidence and eases back pain. The study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, states that the main reason seems to be “that the movements transferred from the horse’s body to the rider are very like the body movements made by a person walking.”

“There are no excessive movements, but a continuous bilateral influence on postural balance that is enhancing balance reactions and the fine movements in the rider’s trunk,” said Hakanson, a researcher in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Goteborg University in Sweden.

"For those suffering from back pain, a horse at walk provides relaxing movements. Apart from the movement influence, the psychological effects of managing, communicating with and steering a large animal promote self confidence,” Hakanson said.