Park Hyo-jeong, CEO of Sopra Equestrian Club
[포스트21 뉴스=김민정 기자] As a social atmosphere that values ’work and life balance’ is formed, the enthusiasm for life sports is gradually heating up. Horseback riding is a life sport that has recently spread throughout society and is gaining popularity. The exercise effect is excellent by using the muscles of the whole body, and even the mind is healed by sweating in the wide-open natural scenery. The Sopra Horse Riding Club (CEO Park Hyo-jeong) in Gimje-si, Jeollabuk-do is a source that adds vitality to the lives of citizens by increasing accessibility so that they can enjoy horseback riding in the region.
Life sports popular with Korean horseback riding ‘Keima’
Park Hyo-jung, CEO of the Sopra Horse Riding Club, received three ‘K-horses’ from the National Institute of Livestock Science of the Rural Development Administration for the first time in Korea. It is a Korean-style breed obtained by crossing a Jeju horse, designated Natural Monument No. 347 of the National Institute of Animal Science and Technology, with a thoroughbred racehorse and a European wonblad for equestrian use. Park Hyo-jeong, CEO of Sopra Horse Riding Club, introduced, “This is a place where you can safely ride Korean-style horseback riding (K-horse), which was developed to suit the body type of Koreans by crossing race horses and Jeju ponies.”
Sopra Horse Riding Club
The name ‘Keima’ was given to Park Beom-young, the head of the National Institute of Animal Science and Technology, and his entourage, who recently visited the Sopra Horse Riding Club. (K-horse) This is the name that was suggested. Commonly, domestic equestrian centers use retired racing horses. Racing horses, such as Thoroughbreds, are tall and not suitable for riding for the general public. Rather, it makes people feel fear, and the horse also tends to jump forward, easily startled by small stimuli around it, and the risk of falling off the horse is high.
Conversely, Jeju ponies are too short and dwarfed, so they are not suitable for general riding. Keima has stronger ankles and stronger hooves than general equestrian horse racing, so it does not require shoes. He is also stronger than Jejuma. It has excellent endurance and does not get tired easily even after long hours of exercise and recovers quickly. Most of all, it is popular with people who visit the equestrian club for the first time because of its docile nature.
Photo courtesy of Sopra Equestrian Club
CEO Park Hyo-jung said, “Kima has obtained excellent results in the rehabilitation ability evaluation conducted by the National Institute of Animal Science and Technology, so it is an excellent breed that can be developed for rehabilitation and healing in the future. he explained. The Sopra Horse Riding Club is a horse riding professional training center built in June 2022 on a 10,000 pyeong site near the Innovation City. Located next to Moda Outlet Jeonju Gimje Branch, it is a horseback riding club in the city with excellent accessibility. It boasts a beautiful landscape with a wide lawn of more than 10,000 pyeong and old pine trees, and is equipped with excellent coaches and facilities, and horse riding is managed in the best condition.
Above all, it is equipped with a variety of attractions and convenience facilities, such as an international standard round racecourse where you can experience horseback riding regardless of the weather, a hemp arena, a clubhouse, a large parking lot, a cafe, a carriage experience, and a photo zone. Sopra Equestrian Club operates a bakery cafe on the 1st floor and a VIP member-only clubhouse on the 2nd floor. The surrounding scenery of the horseback riding course is outstanding, and a carriage photo zone is installed along the promenade, creating an atmosphere as if you have traveled to a tourist destination. With word of mouth that started among the members of the equestrian club, applications for horseback riding experience are increasing among families, office workers, and groups.
Activation of local horseback riding, realization of ‘one stone, two pairs’ from national health promotion
The Sopra Equestrian Club is equipped with an international standard round racecourse that can be used day and night, a wide arena, and a comfortable clubhouse for VIP members. Equestrian instructors with skilled skills systematically teach from basic skills to practice according to the purpose of education from youth to adults, such as △life riding △rehabilitation riding △diet riding. In particular, today’s generation of children lacks the experience of being close to nature, and horseback riding provides an opportunity for children to communicate with nature.
Photo courtesy of Sopra Equestrian Club
CEO Park Hyo-jeong said, “Horseback riding is a sport that can develop good spirits through physical training and chivalrous spirit cultivation.” It is an exercise of a special nature in which a living horse and a person must become one, and it is possible to develop balance and flexibility.”
“Horseback riding is a balance exercise in which a person and a horse move as one, and it has excellent cardiorespiratory endurance and a sense of balance, activation of metabolism, and diet effects,” he added. Horseback riding is an exercise with a horse, and when riding a horse, the upper body moves up and down regularly to improve metabolism. Even a short amount of exercise can have a big effect. In particular, it removes abdominal fat, strengthens lower body muscles, and improves back flexibility to help correct the spine.
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