Bella Hadid, Edie Campbell, and More Prove Horseback Riding Is the Model Workout of the Moment

Lithe, agile, and extremely photogenic, horses are a super’s best friend—and a full-body workout buddy, too. While many flock to the Dogpound or Ballet Beautiful to achieve long, lean figures, a growing camp of runway-walkers is embracing the time-honored benefits of an equestrian lifestyle, making for toned frames and even better Instagram moments.

Once in an interview, Bella Hadid—a champion equestrian whose family lived on a horse ranch for 10 years—said that, in the past, she’s thought about horses while posing to evoke a sense of ease in front of the camera. And she’s not the only Hadid with equine fever: Sister Gigi takes the reins on occasion, as evidenced on Instagram, where her tousled blonde lengths and tanned, toned arms artfully complement her animal’s chocolate tones. Both Hadids serve as evidence of the stem-enhancing benefits of cantering: The gait requires a brand of leg-toning strength that results in bodies primed for the miniskirts and slit-to-there dresses favored by the sisters.

Kate Upton is a former competitive rider, and It-Brit Edie Campbell is still in the saddle, taking breaks from shooting campaigns to partake in evening competitions astride her horse, Dolly—sometimes while wearing a Gucci tutu. And when she’s not stomping the runways, Amanda Murphy can be found in Chicago spending time with her four-legged friends.

From a selfie-snap perspective, horses make the ultimate companions: Aside from their ethereal beauty and an otherworldly sense of calm, they seem to accentuate the strength of the women at their sides. Here, eight of our favorite equine-themed model Instagram moments.