The most joyful time of year can also be quite stress inducing, especially if you’re trying to meet end-of-year work deadlines and/or wrangle young kids who are out of school all while finishing your holiday shopping list and other pre-Christmas prep.

This is why it’s well worth fitting in a quick hack over the holiday season, even when your to-do list seems never-ending, your kids and work are demanding attention, and you have a house full of relatives.

1. De-stress: Many of us experience chronic stress that’s often exacerbated during the holiday season when there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. Taking an hour or two to go for a quick, laidback hack will do wonders for your stress level. Physical exercise works as a natural de-stresser; plus, studies have shown that being outside in nature, as well as being around horses, helps reduce chronic stress and lowers blood pressure and heart rate. (We can probably all relate to the amazing “high” we experience after being at the barn.)

2. Give your horse some extra appreciation: Your equine partner gives so much to you throughout the year. Going for a relaxed hack without an ambitious training plan provides a way for you to bond outside the ring and strengthens your partnership. After your ride, take an extra 30 minutes to give your horse a good grooming and massage session, and if you happen to live in area with any green grass at this time of year, give him some grazing time. Extra treats will also suffice!

3. Reflect: Horses have an inherent way of forcing us to live in the moment. Without worrying about training or listening to your trainer’s instructions, take time during your hack to reflect on the past year. What have you and your horse accomplished together? What would you like to improve on in the new year and how can you go about working toward those goals? Is there anything in your horse life you would like to change? How can you carve out more time in your hectic schedule to spend time with your horse and work on new goals? At least for me, I find that just by being at the barn, hacking or lessoning, I can much more easily free my mind from outside distractions and truly just be in the moment with my horse. It’s such a beautiful feeling.

4. Get some extra vitamin D: If possible, try to sneak in your hack when the sun is out. During the winter, especially if we’re cooped up in an office most of the day, we often don’t get enough sunlight exposure. Getting adequate sunlight during the shortest days of the year is crucial for producing vitamin D for bone and immune health and better regulating your circadian rhythms for better sleep quality. Plus, sunlight boosts serotonin and dopamine for improved mood and mental health, and it promotes healthy blood pressure.

5. Tackle your to-do list: After driving to the barn, grooming and tack up your horse, hacking, untacking, grooming, grazing and giving him some extra treats, you’ll feel so productive that your other holiday to-do lists will seem effortless.

We hope these five reasons will inspire you to sneak in a hack with your equine partner this holiday season!