Horses are amazing teachers. And proof of their value abound.  For instance, college students participating in equestrian sports rank the highest of all student athletes with an average 3.3 GPA (an average freshman is 2.54).  While a higher GPA is ideal, there are other subtler, but just as important, benefits that interacting with a horse can do for your children.

The idea that horses can help turn kids into responsible and confident adults is no surprise to some amazing mom bloggers out there.  A few of our favorite posts about horse ownership and equine activities include “10 Reasons Your Teenage Daughter Should Own a Horse” from the wonderful blog Conversations Over Coffee, and,  “Because My Daughter Grew Up with Horses” by Tracy Meisenbach.  We were so inspired that our own team of moms at TimeToRide.com put together our top five reasons for engaging in horse activities.

1. Responsibility – Cleaning, grooming and caring for a horse each day quickly teaches a child that another living thing is dependent on them. This type of learning lasts a lifetime.
2. Confidence – Horses can seem big and looming, and to children they can be quite intimidating. But once your child has the chance to handle a horse on their own, their confidence and self-assurance skyrockets. Move a 1,200 lb. animal with your finger and see how it feels.
3. Patience –It takes consistency and, you guessed it, patience to help a horse and rider progress.  Learning patience with a horse might just translate to patience with people!
4. Discipline – A horse is the ultimate life coach.  Quiet, strong, and sometimes willful.  Nothing teaches discipline like caring for and working with a horse. Nothing.
5. Sensitivity – Just like with people, a horse has a mind of its own. Each day the horse is dealing with something different. Children learn to read a horse and take appropriate action. Another invaluable life lesson.

Don’t own a horse but want to reap the benefits of having your child interact with one? Visit www.timetoride.com to find a horse event or stable near you and start building memories (and all of that great confidence) today.  Come share your stories and photos with us on our social sites including Facebook, Twitter (_timetoride) and Pinterest.