Students at The Columbus School are facing intense pressure from schoolwork and competition. But for a dedicated group of riders at Club Campestre Llanogrande, horseback riding offers a powerful escape.
These riders, who juggle academic demands with their passion for equestrian sports, find emotional balance in the bond they share with their horses.
“Riding lets me disconnect from everything else. It’s the one time of day I fully focus on something I love,” said Sara Gómez, an 11th-grade student and rider.
The mental health benefits of horseback riding go beyond the ring. Riders report feeling calmer, more focused, and emotionally stronger thanks to their time with horses.
“Even when I’m anxious, I know Copenhagen trusts me. That helps me stay grounded, focused, and looking forward to what comes next,” Sara Gómez, 11th grader, said.
Sara, who has struggled with anxiety, worked closely with a sports counselor to overcome pre-competition nerves. She has made a lot of changes to how she looks forward to her competition and has learned to control her nerves and positively use them.
“Now I use breathing techniques and focus on my horse instead of outside pressure, which helps me concentrate and have positive nerves that help me urge the competition,” Gómez said.
For other riders, the challenge is not emotional pressure but the weight of progress and performance, everyone wants to be the best they can be and wants to excel in everything they do horse riding is complicated and hard to grow if you do not have a connection because its a two souls and personalities work for the pier to succeed.
“Caldo helps me realize when I’m making too many mistakes, he stops and refuses to jump and makes me pay attention, this makes me have a diaper bond with him because he trusts me and makes me understand what I’m doing wrong.” Alicia Baquero, 11th grade, said.
Caldo’s subtle way of holding Alicia accountable has helped her grow mentally tougher, especially when jumping into higher courses, she gives her full attention to what she is doing and she gives her best effort to making things perfect.
“I get anxious jumping 1.30, but it also helps me focus and be more aware, because when I jump 1.30, there is no margin of mistake; I have to be perfect, so I am a lot more focused and concentrated once jumping,” Baquero said.
Still, riding doesn’t always need competition to be meaningful. For Amelia Morales, riding is a source of peace and emotional strength even when she can’t compete. She has built a giant bond with her horse due to repeated injuries and lack of competition and adrenaline, she has taken time to bond and grow with him.
“Moro is still recovering, but I visit him daily. Just walking with him helps both of us heal, bond, and build a stronger connection,” 10th grader Amelia Morales said.
Her calm presence at competitions and her patience during Moro’s rehab show how riding builds resilience and hardcore athletes. She has a strong-willed personality and knows that when she comes back, she will be stronger than ever.
“Even if things are hard, being with my horse reminds me why I love this sport,” said Morales.
For Elisa Isaza, horseback riding is about maintaining balance and learning how to recover from setbacks. As she jumps a course, her main focus is to make mistakes and look forward to what’s coming next.
“If I make a mistake in one jump, it affects the rest—so I’m learning to reset my mindset immediately, and only look forward to what is next,” Elisa Isaza, 10th grader, said.
The rider-horse relationship teaches students emotional regulation, a key part of mental health. It helps students connect not only with the horse but with themselves; it gives them mental strength and power.
“When I ride, I feel calm and safe. It’s a completely different kind of focus than school,” Isaza said.
Helena Medina, an experienced rider and mentor to many of these students, sees firsthand how riding changes their outlook. She is there for the riders all along, and she even works with the horses to keep them in shape when riders are not present.
“Riding builds confidence and resilience. The horse gives you immediate feedback—there’s no hiding your emotions, they make you know when something is wrong and make you feel they are giving their all,” Helena Medina said.
Helena, who has been riding since she was seven, now helps train horses and riders alike while studying virtually. She keeps her 100% focus on succeeding in her horse career and wants to always be the best and have time with her horses.
“I’ve seen riders grow emotionally just by learning to connect with their horses and manage mistakes better,” Medina said.
Experts agree that horseback riding has real mental health benefits, supported by equine therapy research. Horses create a bond and feel everything as people do; they have the power to sense the feelings of people and act within the mood.
According to a study by the Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, “horseback riding improves emotional regulation and stress resilience in youth.”
The rhythmic movement of horseback riding activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the rider’s body and mind.
“The horse’s movement mimics a soothing pattern that relaxes the brain,” said the journal Frontiers in Public Health.
This effect is amplified by being outdoors in nature, which boosts mood and reduces anxiety. It helps relieve stress and takes things out of your mind, and gives you time for yourself and to think of different things.
“A 2021 report in Psychology Today found that nature-based therapy, including horseback riding, significantly improves mental well-being.” Psychology Today stated
Despite these benefits, not everyone recognizes the emotional strength developed through equestrian sports. This sport gives people really good things that help them grow every day they practice it.
“Some people think riding is just a hobby, but it’s really helped me handle life better,” Sara Gómez, 11th grader, said
In the end, each rider has found a personal refuge in their time at the stable, where lessons go far beyond the competition.
“Without riding, I’d feel lost. It’s taught me patience, strength, and how to breathe through anything,” Baquero said