There is an old adage that states the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. This still seems to hold true. In today's increasingly stress-filled world, horseback riding is a timeout. It allows you to commune with nature while relaxing with a beautiful and intelligent creature. There are medical studies showing that interacting with animals lowers blood pressure and promotes mental wellbeing. The horse presents many challenges that, when mastered by the rider, enhance our psychological profile.

Horseback riding is also good exercise. When walking, the horse is providing symmetrical input to the rider; very similar to the motions required in human walking. It meets all the requirements for aerobic exercise, except intensity, and so can be used for low-level cardiovascular conditioning.

Most of all, riding is fun.