Why dressage?
Dressage riding is a healthy way of exercising every horse, not only the high end dressage athletes. The systematic dressage training has been developed over hundreds of years by the cavalry with the purpose of making their horses strong, ridable and useful in all situations. Since horses have always been valued assets, the training was especially designed to keep them healthy and sound for as long as possible. For many horses the basic dressage training can be like physical therapy.
Dressage riding is very graceful and beautiful, even to people who don't know anything about horses. Dressage at higher levels is not just a sport, it is a form of art.Benefits
Riding horses is much more than just exercise. Of course it makes your body - especially the core- stronger. But it also improves balance, rhythm, posture and body awareness. Mental benefits are increased focus, self-discipline, thinking ahead, emotional balance. Children grow in responsibility, self esteem and many other leadership qualities.
Many riders consider the time spent with a horse as "therapeutic".Age of the rider
Children can start riding as young as 6. This is usually the time when the body proportions make balance easier (upper body plus head compared to length of legs). At this age the child is ready to learn more complex movement patterns. Children need to have sufficient control over their own body before they attempt to control the much bigger body of the horse.
There is no upper age limit for riders!