Does horseback riding hurt the horses?

As long as the horse is in good health and the rider is not too heavy for the horse it does not hurt them.

It does not hurt the orse, unless the rider is heavy or the horse is not tacked up properly.

If They are in bad shape then yes it can, If htey are sick or have a injury don't ride them. But no, normally it doesn't hurt them. most horse enjoy being ridden especially doing things that they like. some horses like trail rides, others love to j. ump. So no, it doesn't hurt them. Have fun riding

Trust me...with how much they weigh...an average human is an after thought. It lets them work out frustration and pent up energy. It is actually quite healthy for them. Hope this helps!

Not unless you're insanely fat. Think of it this way. A horse weighs 1500-2000 pounds. The average person weighs what, 150 or less? So 150lbs on a 1500lb animal, is like you carrying a backpack that weighs 15lbs. Hardly painful.

It dosent hurt the horse at all as long as your riding him or her the right way. If your riding Western you need a blanket a pad and a saddle of course. ANd when you ride English you need an English pad and a saddle. You haave to have good posture and you have to hold the reins right if your comfortable dosent always mean your horse is comfy too. You have to sit straight with you heels pointing down and your ears hips and heels should be in a straight line So the answer to your question is NO unless your riding the wrong way. Cassie O. <16

Not if done correctly. If a horse is in pain, they'll usually let you know. Riding can be painful to a horse if they have an existing condition such as lameness or back soreness. When a horse is hurt they won't perform well, so usually you can find the problem and give the proper treatment and then go back to riding as normal when the horse is better. If a rider uses poorly fitted tack or overly harsh bits, it can be painful as well... in fact, even the mildest bit can be harsh on the horse's mouth if not used properly. If you're jerking on the reins a lot, it's not very fun for the horse. As long as the horse you are riding is sound and healthy, and you're careful about being a quiet, gentle rider, you shouldn't be causing the horse any pain. You'll probably find that many horses actually enjoy the exercise!

Of course not lol. It actually makes them healthier. They're built to be ridden, and they have enough muscle to support a human. The only horses that CAN'T be ridden are smaller ponies, below about 10 hands. Shetland Ponies for example. They're too small to support an adult's weight, and it could hurt their back. But anything 12+ hands, yes. They're perfectly fine. Actually, bigger horses such as Clydesdales, etc, are used for pulling heavy farm equipment.

No it doesn't. I ride to and love it but I definately wouldn't if it hurt them. The have very thick skin and a layer of fat and muscle protecting them. Also the position you are in puts very little of your weight on thier backs so you aren't hurting the horse as long as thier are no sharp spurs or excessive crop use involved.