Ask me to run in deep sand on a beach for half an hour because it is good for me and I would tell you to get stuffed. Put me in a huge sand riding ring with a jump and a horse running free then hand me a lunge whip and watch me willing run around in the sand for a an hour. I huff and puff and sweat like crazy but I don't care because I have to help that horse get through that jumping lane....
Tell me to go for long walks everyday down the road or on a treadmill because it is 'good for my heart' and I would say, "My goodness why? What a waste of time. I will not." Take me to a horse show where my camper is 500m from where my horse is and watch me walk miles and miles and miles back and forth and back and forth and back and forth to my horse each day.
Tell me to go hiking in the forest down through trails and up steep hills - noooo thanks. I will whine and complain every step of the way. Put cross country jumps in a 50 acre field that runs through trails up hills and down steep mountain slopes and I will trudge through any trail/path many times over without a word of complaint.
Tell me to do bicep curls at the gym to strengthen my arms. I tried it. I went over and grabbed the little five pound weights and could barely do 10 reps. Then that same day watch me carry full water buckets, heavy saddles, 50 pound feed sacks, 12' poles, huge standards, and push wheel barrows full of water logged horse manure. Hmmmmm
Tell me to strap weights on my ankles and wrists while going for a walk to increase my strength and endurance. Unn - nahhh Give me a saddle, bridle, saddle pad, girth, helmet, whip, gloves, and a grooming kit and tell me that my horse is 'way over there' and watch me strategically place and hang all of the equipment all over my body so that I am able to walk over a great distance to my horse.
Tell me to go outside in minus 26 degree weather in a snow storm with 2 feet deep of snow on the ground and the wind blowing like crazy to "go out and get some exercise" and I would say that you are out of your mind. Now put my horses into the picture. They need to be fed and cared for. I put on two pairs of pants, two toques, 4 jackets, gloves and my insulated gum boots and off I go in the minus 26 snow storm to feed the horses without a problem. Slowly fighting through the deep snow each step of the way, walking sideways to break the wind, and carrying a water bucket in each hand as the horse water is frozen.....Huffing and puffing and sweating like a pig .......I would not give it a second thought - the horses needed their supper.....
Tell me to take up Karate. "Wax on Wax off." Naaadaaa. I would rather just brush my horse with my left hand, brush my horse with my right hand. Pick up the rubber curry comb. Brush in circles with the left hand, circles with the right hand. Below is a picture of the Karate Kid showing us 'how to feed a horse from your hand' - karate style.
Tell me to go running. Go for a run down the road. That would be very good for your health Robyn. And do interval training. Yes. Wind sprints. You run, walk, run, walk then run again. Very, good for health and fitness. Not in your life I would say. Sooo not me. Hhahahaaaa. Here we go. My horse breaks a fence and is now galloping down the road. What do you see. Robyn running after it. The horse stops to eat grass. Robyn walks. The horse puts his head up and starts trotting further down the road. Robyn runs to catch up. Horse stops as he sees something scary. Robyn walks slowly to try and casually get closer to catch the horse. Horse lets Robyn get very very close. Horse then spins around and gallops down the road in the complete opposite direction. Robyn now runs down the road after it. You get the picture. A horse girl's version of interval training.
Tell me to do lunges at the gym to strengthen my gluteal muscles (my bum muscles) and my thigh muscles. I would reply, "That is so boring. Yuck." But give me a a wheelbarrow full of manure and a muddy hill to go up in order to dump it and watch me step forward, bend at my knees, push with my quads and buttocks, and repeat over and over.
I am quite healthy; healthy thanks to horses. Horses make active living easy. Healthy living is good for muscles, bones, joints, lungs, and the heart.
Therefore horses are good for the heart. :)
Funny video for a giggle
The end
