Whether you love to walk, ride, jog or play games, add an animal to your workout to double the fun.

You may not realize it, but horseback riding is a great way to get in shape. You can burn hundreds of calories riding, it’s one of the best workouts you’ll find for your legs and core, and there’s virtually no age limit on who can ride. Harford County is in the heart of horse country in Maryland, and there are an astonishing number of recreational barns and activities for horse lovers of all ages all around the county.

“Children really love horses,” says Jodi Rauso, barn manager and trainer of Clayton Ridge Horse Farm in Joppa. “We’ll start children as young as age 4 in half hour private lessons, which is about all they can usually process at one time, providing they can balance and hold themselves reasonably still. They meet the horses, learn how to move safely around them, and get to ‘ride’ – although we hold them on and stay right beside them for safety. After about age 7 children can move on to small group lessons. And adults are welcome at any age!”

Clayton Ridge Horse Farm offers English riding lessons with an emphasis on safe, balanced riding, for beginners through advanced riders. You can even get gift certificates for lessons! Jodi matches the horse and rider based on personality, not size. “Some people get worried if we use a larger horse for a small child, but size isn’t important, disposition is,” she explains. “We want the best match of skills and style more than size. That makes things safer and more enjoyable for our riders.”

When Clayton Ridge riders advance sufficiently, many of them decide to try their hand at horse showing. Harford County has an abundance of horse shows for riders of all skill levels, from casual to professional. The local 4-H Extension Office boasts a horse club, and many shows and organizations are listed on the Associations and Calendar pages of Baltimore Horse Country’s web site. And for many area riders, Harford Horse Shows Association (HHSA) is their first choice for shows that offer quality competition.

HHSA is a family-oriented, local horse show association featuring sanctioned horse and pony shows throughout the area. Members can compete for year end prizes, and the shows draw large and enthusiastic numbers. Best of all, the shows are open to the public and free for spectators, so they’re a great way to check out the equestrian scene in the county. The calendar is listed on the web site, and riders are always happy to tell you all about their horse. Just ask, and you may find yourself catching the horse bug, too!

Baltimore Horse Country Information:
http://www.bcpl.net/~gharris
Clayton Ridge Horse Farm:
http://www.claytonridge.com  |  443-243-0480
Harford Horse Shows Association:
http://www.hhsamd.org