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Anyone who has ever slung a leg over a horse’s back, held the reins and ridden into the sunset (or at least around a corral) knows the sensation.

Yeah, that one. The one that makes you sit tall, sit proud and feel one with another living being. The one that fills your nostrils with the smell of hay or of pine trees, that fills your spirit with hope that anything is possible and fills your mind with wonder at the majestic beast supporting you.

As a bonus, you’re also guiding yourself to a longer and healthier life. You’re bonding — with yourself, your horse and nature. Because in a world filled with treadmills and weight machines, nothing beats being outside.

And once out there, benefits to your heart, your body, your spirit and your mind abound.

Here are six reasons to saddle up.

1. Cardiovascular health. A study commissioned on behalf of the British Horse Society found that horseback riding is indeed a good cardiovascular workout. Even just half an hour of riding is considered moderate exercise, while trotting exerts more energy than playing badminton.
   
   
2. Core strength. Sitting tall and pushing your legs into the body of your horse ignites the core muscles, which are imperative for balance and posture.
   
   
3. Burning calories. In a Texas A&M University study, researchers focused on the energy expended during high-intensity horseback riding. But you don't have to rope cattle to burn calories.
   
   Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories. If you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly 7 calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period.
   
   Plus, lifting a saddle onto and off the horse’s back, carrying buckets of hay and water to its stall and grooming — all burn plenty of calories.
   
   
4. Lowering blood pressure. One of the benefits of regular exercise is lowered blood pressure and horseback riding is exercise. Lower blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart disease. Plus, being around animals has been shown to do that as well.
   
   
5. Helping make decisions. While riding, you’re constantly deciding whether to speed up or slow down, which paths to avoid and when the horse and you need a break. That knowledge translates into the rest of your life, too.
   
   
6. Relaxing. The horse’s natural movement is calming; walk together and your bodies will be in sync.
   
   People who have participated in the ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥’s Beach Ride know these benefits firsthand. The event has raised more than $5 million for the AHA.