If you are looking for ideas for a new family pet then you have probably already considered the classic options such as cats and dogs. These are all wonderful additions to a family but maybe you aren’t convinced by these cute creatures and would like to see a different sort of option.
Well, there are some powerful reasons for choosing a horse as your next family pet. The following are some of the benefits that you and your children will get by doing this.
Relax and Get a Break from Stress
It is no secret that bringing up a family is a highly stressful business these days. From financial worries to concerns over the kids’ education and other crucial issues, there are lots of reasons why the parents in any family could be feeling anxious right now.
We can’t forget the impact that rising stress levels can have on the younger members of the family too. Children can feel anxious about many things going in their life. They might be worried about upcoming exams, for example. Or moving home and dealing with changes could be the trigger for their stress.
It has been shown that pets have a beneficial effect in terms of helping to lower stress levels among their owners. This includes bringing down stress hormones and lowering blood pressure, among other benefits. A horse can be particularly good in this respect, as brushing down a horse or talking him for a walk can be incredibly relaxing.
Stay Active
While finding a relaxing hobby of any type is great news, you might also have concerns about staying active at the same time. This is why getting a horse as your new family pet can be a terrific idea. You will all get some more exercise as you look after your horse and take him out; from lifting bales of hay and mucking out the stables daily (find out more here about stabling options) to riding out regularly, there is always plenty of exercise to be had.
Riding a horse is one of the most interesting ways to burn off calories. Even just walking alongside your horse is a good form of exercise. Riding also helps to tone your core muscles and inner thighs, as well as improve your balance and co-ordination. It really is a worthwhile all-round type of exercise that everyone can try.
Looking after your horse will also add some extra activity to your life in other ways. Cleaning out the stable, grooming him, and feeding him are all more strenuous than you might first think. You won’t need to worry about anyone in the family getting lazy or out of shape once you have a horse to look after.
Teach Your Kid New Skills
Every new hobby that you and your family undertake will teach you all a new set of skills. This is why it is so important to think about what they will learn from any new pet that you take on. There is no doubt that horses are among the pets that offer us most in this respect.
Many competitive jockeys and horse trainers started out by looking after horses and cleaning out their stables at an early age. Yet, there is no reason to think that this hobby is only useful for someone who is planning to ride or train a Kentucky Derby winner in the future.
Youngsters can learn a lot from their horse. This ranges from the riding skills that they will pick up to the confidence that comes from looking after a horse. Even if horses don’t play a big part in their future, this is still a very useful way of learning useful new skills that will stand them in good stead from now on.
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