Cape Town Accommodation and Activities – a horse of a Different Colour
The cultural hub of South Africa’s Western Province, Cape Town offers the
visitor an increasingly wide variety of exciting accommodation and activity
choices. Sightseeing, safaris, ethnic experiences and much, much more await the
keen traveller in the Mother City.
Those who enjoy outdoor activities are in for a treat – Cape Town is situated
in the midst of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a habitat so rare that it has been
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in order to better conserve it. A
beautifully fragile ecosystem consisting mainly of Fynbos, a type of vegetation
peculiar to this region, it has been identified as one of the world’s 18
biodiversity hotspots.
A variety of Cape Town tours and outdoor activity providers operate from this
beautiful setting and in recent years, horse riding has become an especially
favoured pastime of both locals and visitors alike. There is nothing like a
relaxing stroll along the beach or a brisk cross-country outride to do away
with the stress and cobwebs of daily life. Horse riding has been proven to have
a multitude of health benefits that range from cardiovascular fitness to muscle
conditioning and improved balance. Add to this the simple pleasure of having
the wind in your hair and the majestic feeling of establishing a connection
with an animal much larger than yourself and you get an outdoor pursuit that is
as good for you as it is fun.
Horse riding is also recognised as having excellent therapeutic qualities.
There are references to the benefits of therapeutic riding as far back as 600
BC, when Socrates wrote of the "riding's healing rhythm" for both
mental and physical improvement. Horses were also used in the rehabilitation of
wounded soldiers after World War II. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and
Hippotherapy are two branches of psycho-physical treatment that make use of
horse riding as part of rehabilitation regimens. Both are guided by a medical
model but differ slightly in the way they are implemented.
In Equine Assisted Psychotherapy a certified medical professional uses the
singular qualities of horseback riding in various ways for therapeutic benefit;
whereas Hippotherapy (a name derived from the Greek word for horse, ‘hippo’)
involves a certified therapist using the horse itself, as well as the
relationship between the patient and the animal, as a therapeutic tool. In both
instances patients afflicted by conditions as diverse as Autism, Cerebral
Palsy, Down syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis stand to benefit from riding
therapy in a number of ways.
The most obvious benefits are physical. An extremely physical activity, horse
riding can improve balance, joint movement and muscle tones in children and
adults with physical disabilities and special needs. Furthermore, the involved
nature of the sport and the multi-sensory tasks it involves provide cognitive
and mental stimulation. On an emotional level, bonding with an animal is
beneficial for people with social and psychological disabilities. Riding
indicates a direct connection between action and reaction and can go a long way
in explaining the concept of cause and effect. Effective communication, trust
and loyalty are further positive lessons to be learnt in the process of riding.
No matter which way you choose to look at it, horse riding is a very healthy
leisure activity. So next time you visit Cape Town and are looking for things
to do, why not arrange for a pleasant outing with an establishment that
facilitates riding lessons and activities? You only stand to benefit and you’ll
get to experience the Mother City from a whole different perspective.
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