Counting Calories at the Barn
Get fit--and slim--while you spend time at the barn and with your horse. To help you out, we've put together this chart of calorie-burning values for common horse-related activities.
Keep in mind--the more vigorously you perform these exercises, the more you'll maximize the calorie burning benefits. We'll give you the number of calories burned per exercise for a person who is 5'8" and weights 150 lbs. If you have a smaller frame and weight, you'll burn slightly fewer calories; you'll burn slightly more if you have a larger frame and weigh more.
Exercise???????????????????????????? Time Spent????????????????????????? Calories Burned
Vigorously curry your horse, using a circular arm motion.?? 10 minutes ?? 68
Vigorously brush your horse. (Tip: alternate arms). ? 10 minutes??? 46
Walk a 10-foot circle, as you longe your horse. ? 20 minutes??? 79
Briskly hand-walk your horse. (Tip: add wrist or ankle weights for increased calorie-burning and aerobic benefits.) 20 minutes ?? 91
Muck/rebed stall. 20 minutes 159
Push 50-pound load in wheelbarrow. 10 minutes 63
Ride at the walk. ? 20 minutes??? 57
Ride at the trot. (Tip: Posting at a medium trot will burn more calories than sitting at a jog.)?? 10 minutes ?? 74
Ride at the lope.?? 10 minutes??? 93
Sweep/rake. (Tip: For a great waist trimmer, twist your upper body with each stroke, rather than using only your arms. When sweeping with a pushbroom, slightly bend your knees, to push off with your legs into each stroke.) ? 20 minutes??? 91
Unload/stack 100-pound hay bales. (Tip: Protect your back by bending at the knees, and using your legs to lift the load. Consider a back support brace when lifting heavy loads.) ? 20 minutes??? 249
Unload/stack 50-pound straw bales. ? 20 minutes??? 181
Lift/heft 20 pounds (feed/water).?? 30 minutes ?? 153
Lift/heft 40-pound Western saddle on/off horse.?? 10 minutes??? 56
Lift/heft 20-pound English saddle on/off horse.?? 10 minutes?? 46
