Horse riding helps children's memory

Horse riding may help improve memory, learning and problem-solving in children, as the vibrations produced by the animals activate the kids’ nervous system, scientists have found.

Researchers examined the effects of horseback riding on the performance of children by having them complete simple tests directly before and after horse riding, while measuring the children’s heart rate in response to movements created by the horses.

The behavioural reactions of the children were tested using a “Go/No-go” test, which assesses cognitive response using fast computerised questions.

“We wanted to look into these effects because previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of horseback riding with respect