Back when I was more limber, I took riding lessons with the UKy riding program on their donated horses, several of which were TBs. Top Gamble (1966) and Swing Papa (1960) were two of them. We did elementary dressage and jumping, so I have just enough knowledge to appreciate what a difficult thing higher level dressage is.
Dressage means 'training' and that's what it does - trains the horse to use its body in its most athletic expression. They learn how to relax, and bend, and control their gaits and in the process develop balance and muscle tone. And they learn to listen to their riders, something a few racehorses could benefit from knowing.
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