This is a great question!  Incorporating riding into a workout plan can be done, but it depends on a couple things.  First and foremost, how much experience you have.  If you’re used to riding, or have ridden in the past, and are comfortable with all the gates (walk, trot, canter), you’ll definitely get a greater benefit from your “workouts.”  If you are a beginner, and are just getting used to sitting in the saddle and walking forward, then it will be a while before you can really count riding as a significant part of your workout regimen. 

     Second, it depends on the style of riding you participate in.  For example, typical western pleasure riding is much slower than English or Huntseat which requires additional movement, strength, and balance such as *posting.  

     Riding has many benefits.  Besides a great ab workout (most beneficial during a seated trot), it also can firm up the adductors (the inner-thigh muscles that draw your legs toward the body), and tone the glutes.  And with proper **equitation, it provides a fabulous core workout.  This is because as a rider, you have to balance against the partially independent movement of a 1000 lb. plus animal.  From that balance point and center-of-gravity, your arms and legs/feet must move independently from your torso and seat, all while compensating for your own weight against gravity and momentum.  You’ll find as you do this, your abs must stay engaged so your upper body remains stable.  Your adductors must be engaged to stay seated in the saddle.  And all this is taking place while your arms and legs are moving to affect how – and in what direction – the horse moves. 

     So back to your original question:  Yes, you can incorporate a good 30 – 60 min. ride into an exercise program, with only a couple caveats.  Be realistic as to the kind of exercise you’re getting – you may be able to substitute it for your once-a-week pilates class, or add it to a weight training day, but don’t think that substituting it for your 45 min run or spin class will get you to burn the same amount of calories.  However, it’s a great way to improve core strength, which can benefit you in your other workouts.  Plus, you’ll be recruiting additional muscle fibers when you ride that you’re not likely tapping into in your regular routine.  And remember . . . just staying active is one of the most important ingredients to getting and staying fit.  So, the variety will add spice, it will likely improve your overall results, and, as you’ll find out, it can be extremely enjoyable as well!

*posting is a term used to describe the rider’s up-and-down motion in an English saddle, rather than sitting through the horse’s stride

**equitation is a term used to describe the generally accepted standard of how a rider’s body should be positioned on a horse for both safety and aesthetics