DressageArena.org

Your abs, gluts, inner/outer thighs, even your lower back

For the most part the lower calf muscle, making finding those stupid boots harder to find in a size that fits w/o costing a bunch! (what are they thinking anyway)

Every where your whole leg abbs arms lower back…excetera

When riding properly, muscles in nearly all areas of the body are worked.

It’s more lower areas. Unless you’re yanking your horse’s mouth off, you’re probably not working your upper back/shoulders/arms. You do use them, but not to the extent of your lower body. Riding takes a lot of thigh, calf, and core muscles. I’ve noticed cantering takes a lot of lower back muscle. Ever since i got my horse and started to regularly canter, my back strengthened quite a bit and i don’t have as frequent problems with my back. I used to only be able to walk a couple hours before my back started to kill me, now i can walk all day and my back only hurts a little. So yes, it is mostly in your legs & stomach, but it’s definitely in your back too. It’s also surprisingly in your neck too. To keep your head up & still, takes muscle.

After seriously starting to ride dressage, I am on my way to 6-pack abs! Stomach and leg muscles are mostly what you will get from riding.

Factor in the barn work of lifting hay bales, mucking stalls, pushing wheel barrows, you’ll be getting arm muscles too!

Well, after this weekend’s riding, I’d say mostly calves, thighs, stomach, neck and back muscles all get a proper workout. I find today my calves and stomach hurts most of all, but can also feel my neck and back muscles have been working.

It helps to ride a lively horse also, to keep all your muscless in motion, even if you don’t canter (but I do!!!) I just love the feeling of freedom. And though I don’t compete or anything like that, I feel like I’ve had a good gym session every time after riding! And best part is, you don’t even realise you’re working out!