Saddle up for fitness

In addition to a cardiovascular workout, riding horses is just plain fun

By Gee Loeb Sharp
Special to The Commercial Appeal
Monday, September 1, 2008

For Jennifer Simmons, 42, trainer and owner of Tri Color Equestrian in Eads, there is no doubt about horseback riding's place in the sporting and fitness world.

"It's you and the horse as a team," Simmons says. "It isn't like you're riding a bike where you are in total control. Your horse is your teammate and plays his own role. A rider builds confidence by learning how to work with his horse and problem solve."
Simmons encourages students such as Hope Gilbert, 16, to build relationships with their horses. "With riding, you get a two-for-one deal," Simmons says. "It's both exercise and therapy."
"

"The fitness element of riding is definitely appealing," said Jennifer Simmons, trainer and owner of Tri Color Equestrian in Eads.
Jennifer Simmons, 42, holds a Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry and taught chemistry at Davidson College in North Carolina before deciding to follow her heart and work with horses.

Simmons, an Indiana native who moved to Memphis in 1994 to pursue her career in horse training, says among non-riders, there is a common misconception that riding isn't a vigorous activity, because it would appear that the horse is simply carrying its rider, while the rider takes a comfortable spin on top.

"The reality is that it takes serious coordination to ride and it is a true cardiovascular workout," Simmons says.

"Riding is very demanding work, from the riding itself to mucking stalls, walking a colicky horse or moving hay. You will break a sweat even on the coldest days in the winter."

Gregory Florez, spokesman for the American Council on Exercise, backs up Simmons' words.

"There is no question that horseback riding is a cardiovascular activity; in fact, it can be considered a total- body workout," Florez says. "It utilizes all the major muscles groups, plus some muscle groups that are often underused, such as the forearms and inner thighs."

Florez says an hour of trotting on a horse burns 457 calories for a 155-pound person. The same person would burn 281 calories an hour with brisk walking, 422 calories with general aerobics, or 493 calories in an hour of tennis play.

"For most people, exercise is boring and they eventually burn out," Florez says. "Riding is a labor of love, so burn-out doesn't happen."

But the exercise is only one of the benefits of horseback riding. "With riding, you get a two-for-one deal," Simmons says. "It's both exercise and therapy."

"The fitness element of riding is definitely appealing," Simmons says, "but I chose to work with horses, because I love nature and being outdoors. The number one reason I ride is my love of horses and my relationship with them."

East Memphian Allie Hull, 14, who rides at Simmons' barn, agrees.

"When you ride, you get really close to your horse," Hull says. "Your horse becomes your best friend, and I think riding has taught me how to be a really good friend. Mostly, though, I ride because it is fun."

Simmons earned her Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from the University of Rochester in New York in 1992, and went on to teach chemistry at Davidson College in North Carolina for two years.

"But I didn't want to spend my life in a classroom or at a desk job," she says. "I have a passion for horses. I can't imagine doing anything else. I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be a horse trainer, and nothing else."

Simmons works with more than 40 clients and houses 20 horses at her barn. She spends 12 to 15 hours a day riding, teaching private and group lessons and doing the endless chores that keep her barn in shape.

Simmons began riding when she was 7, and was jumping horses that same year. She and her older sister became dedicated riders, heading from school to the barn several days a week. As her riding career progressed, she began doing chores at the barn to pay the upkeep for her horse.

She says being outdoors instead of in front of the television playing video games was an asset to her upbringing.

"The amount of discipline involved in riding carries over into everyday life, including schoolwork," Simmons says. "I hear from parents all the time that their children's grades have improved as a result of their riding discipline. By the time you get your horse groomed and ready to ride and then cooled down after your lesson, a half hour lesson takes from an hour-and-a-half to two hours. That's a big time commitment. Children become more organized as a result of this and develop time management skills."

Rachel Vandeven, 16, of Cordova, rides at Simmons' barn four to six days a week.

"I'm training my horse right now, and it feels good to get a point across to her," Vandeven says. "I really feel a sense of accomplishment when I train. It gives me a purpose."

Calorie Burn

There are many online sources that list calories burned for various exercises. All note that several factors, including weight and level of exertion influence calorie burn.

From ifitandhealthy.com:

(Activity: Approx. calories burned per hour)

Skating (ice or roller): 360-600

Jogging (5.5-6 mph): 606-720

Tennis or badminton: 300-600

Walking (2-2.4 mph): 150-180

Horseback riding: 222-600

Calisthenics: 222-600

Handball: 600-900

Swimming: 300-600

Volleyball: 222-450

Bicycling: 222-600

Dancing: 222-510

Bowling: 150-300

Golf: 300-510

(Source: American Dietetic Association)