Gaited Horse Training

Lifelong Learning and the Gaited Horse

versatility of the gaited horse

Does learning how to ride and train a naturally gaited horse feel like an endless pursuit or an adventurous journey of lifelong learning?

Lifelong Learning and the Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

I was born with the passion for horses. The passion certainly wasn’t inherited by my parents! It wasn’t until I was out on my own, completed my education and entered my profession that I began saving for the dream of owning my first horse.

My first horse an OTTB
My first horse, an off-the-track-thoroughbred mare named Seasons.

When I bought an off the track thoroughbred mare, learning resources were limited. One-on-one instruction and book learning were my options with an occasional video rental at the local tack store. Today the digital age avails endless learning opportunities and riding genres to draw from. We can google a question and receive instant answers in a variety of formats from dozens of thought leaders.

Critical Thinking

Education taught me critical thinking. Whenever I come across a new idea, I listen, discuss, ask questions, think through, and make decisions alongside what I know and have experienced. Then I consider whether to embrace and study this new idea to accompany my riding and training program or even discard an old practice.

I continued my critical thinking when I began riding horses. Then the term was encouraged when I returned to college later in life. As a college student, not all of my classes related with my major, and those that did were taught by (not one) but a variety of instructors who prepared me for my career.

I am grateful for 12 years of one-on-one lessons with the same dressage instructor. She taught me how to ride with feel: to know when it felt right or when it felt out of balanced, too sluggish or too hurried. It takes time to develop this, especially when riding multiple horses as each horse feels different. My dressage instructor provided a solid foundation to contrast and compare other ideas from.

Since 1988, I have predominantly been an avid student of dressage―an endless journey of learning how to ride and train horses in classical ways. Within my dressage study, there have been shifts as there are many differences in application between masters, schools, and instructors.

Sometimes new ideas challenge the paradigm I already have. Like when I became acquainted with a new kind of dressage. Or realizing the language of dressage is broader than the bounds of an arena or only for horses that trot.

If I had stopped learning, I would have missed out on all this…

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

After 20 years riding non-gaited horses, I acquired my first naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. Riding with feel took on a whole new level with a smooth gaited, head nodding horse! I needed to learn how to ride a horse that doesn’t trot, so I set out to find a gaited dressage coach help me develop a new set of feel.

2014 Jennie Jackson clinic
Taking lessons from Jennie Jackson really helped improve the quality of our smooth gaits using dressage.

After purchasing a DVD training set from Jennie Jackson, I began learning dressage for the gaited horse from a true gaited dressage champion. Jennie rode her famous Tennessee Walking Horse stallion, Champagne Watchout to the highest levels of dressage in his natural smooth gaits. Lessons with Jennie taught me how to help my Tennessee Walking Horse get started in flat walk and running walk with connection and balance.

flat walk with contact
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at flat walk.

Sound and Barefoot

When my farrier retired in 2010, I began studying natural barefoot trimming. Here is where I learned that performance horses can be sound barefoot. This blew the paradigm I believed that dressage horses required year-round shoes for their soundness.

After studying a variety of barefoot trimming methods, I came across Linda Harris’s The Happy Hoof Channel and her method: The Anatomically Correct Trim (TACT). I have learned so much in the last 15 years about trimming.

Dressage for the Horse

Jennifer and her 6-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at a clinic with Larry Whitesell teaching us lateral exercises.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at a clinic with Larry Whitesell teaching us the feel of shoulder-in.

At Larry Whitesell clinics, I learned how to become a trusted leader with my gaited horses and lead them into relaxation and balance. Larry’s method challenged my dressage training pyramid paradigm; he helped me understand that dressage is more than showing at Intro and moving up the next level as my score improved. My dressage paradigm now included how to become a trusted leader and meet my horse’s needs for safety, relaxation, and balance.

Dressage as a Language

Beyond the art and sport of dressage is realizing the language of dressage is more than a form of riding or place to ride. Dressage is a way to communicate with the horse in and out of the arena over a course of fences, through wooded trails, around a set of obstacles, sorting cows, and more.

Dressage Riding Position

Jennifer Klitzke riding at a Mary Wanless Clinic
Riding my Spanish Mustang at a Mary Wanless rider’s biomechanics clinic.

Over the years I have been acquainted with a variety of ways to ride a horse. After studying Ride with Your Mind books and videos, I audited and rode at Mary Wanless rider’s biomechanics clinics. I learned ways to reposition my body and be more balanced and lighter for my horse to carry. I began to apply these methods of riding with my naturally gaited horses and noticed when I corrected my riding position first, there were less adjustments to make to my horse.

More than one Dressage

I had my first taste of French dressage in 1994 when I rode at a few Dominique Barbier clinics held in my area with my late Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding. I loved the joy, harmony and lightness of his approach to dressage.

Decades later, I learned of a French dressage clinician traveling to my area. Her name, Susan Norman and her Riding with Lightness clinics introduced me to the work of her mentors, French dressage masters Philippe Karl and the late Jean Claude Racinet.

French dressage has challenged my German dressage paradigm more than any other. There have been many instances where French methods have replaced my former German roots of riding and training, such as, “Legs without hands and hands without legs,” separating the stop and go aids for clarity to the horse, as well as the importance of a relaxed mouth, lower jaw, and poll and its effect on movement. I have found this to be paramount for training smooth gaits.

In 2014, I learned Philippe Karl had launched École de Légèreté (School of Lightness) Instructor Certification Clinics in the United States. Eager to locate instructors who taught this classical dressage method, I traveled to ride at a few clinics. Learning from books and DVDs offer a great general concept, but nothing beats one-on-one learning and receiving real-time coaching. The fabulous feedback from the two instructors I learned from further inspired my desire to continue French dressage for the gaited horse.

Travere or Haunches In
Linda coaches me and my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse through organizing my aids in lateral exercises on a circle.

Then in 2018, Légèreté instructor, Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones traveled to my region for two clinics and coached me and my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana.

Scientific Research Spotlights Balance and Collection

Facebook led me to the life-long research of Dr. Hilary Clayton which proves the importance of developing the chest muscles for balance and collection. Dr. Clayton is also a credentialed dressage rider to the highest levels. Her research further inspired me to pursue French dressage application for the gaited horse, particularly relaxation and balance. It has helped me train the whole horse for full range of motion and symmetry instead of fixating only on length of stride.

Learning Horse Speak

I have gained many wonderful friends through this Naturally Gaited blog over the last 15 years. One friend has been a longtime student of Michael Gascon, a fifth-generation Paso Fino trainer and international colt starter of more than 5,000 horses. My friend invited me to join his FREE 30-Day Horse Help Challenge.

Colt starting collided with my dressage paradigm for sure. Initially I thought, “Why on earth would I apply this training with a horse I have been riding the last four seasons?!” But I was game to learn something new with my friend and was intrigued with his Paso Fino expertise.

I enrolled my seven-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse, Marvel in the virtual challenge. Even though 2026 marks Marvel’s fourth season under saddle, the 30-day challenge illuminated holes in our training that dressage hadn’t prepared us for.

Michael said dressage without attending grade school is like jumping ahead to college. I didn’t understand what he meant until after completing his Pre-K-Grade 12 colt starting program.

Michael’s program is based upon growing up at a barn and studying how horse’s behave and communicate with each other. Over the years, he has developed a step-by-step process in how to speak “horse” from the ground to the saddle which helps set boundaries and clarify directions to the horse. This ultimately creates a safer ride―no matter what’s going on around. My horse is less distracted, keeps more attention on me, responds to my seat and body position, and is lighter on the bridle. Now my go-go-go horse waits for my cues forward and is more balanced and relaxed. Plus, I don’t have to wait for perfectly calm conditions to ride! It wasn’t until I gave Michael’s 30-day Horse Help Challenge a try that I realized the freedom I had been missing in my riding program.

Now I can say we have graduated grade school!

After the challenge I met my friend and many wonderful people from around North America for a five-day gaited horse retreat at Horse Haven Ranch with Michael Gascon―a truly extraordinary learning and paradigm stretching experience! I watched Michael transform dozens of challenging horses within minutes to be relaxed, sensible and ridable. While training, he explained his step-by-step process with a keen sense of humor! Michael has wisdom and experience far beyond his age.

In addition to watching Michael work with retreat horses, we had so much fun having horseback sword fights with pool noodles, working through trail obstacles, playing horse soccer, sorting cows, and learning ways to refine smooth gait with balance and collection.

My horses and I still speak French, but now I have become bilingual learning how to speak “horse.” Michael’s step-by-step process is a great accompaniment with our dressage study. Plus, it is so FUN! Now I don’t have to wait for ideal riding conditions to fear potential conflict. We are learning to face our fears from the ground first and then in the saddle with fun activities! This has increased the relaxation, balance, symmetry, and collection I seek with my naturally gaited horses in the versatility training we pursue.

The more I learn seems to inspire lifelong learning―even into my grandma years.

What are your thoughts? Please reach out and send me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

Effective Use and Timing of Aids

Bit Acceptance vs Bit Avoidance for the Naturally Gaited Horse

Bit Acceptance vs Bit Avoidance

Does your gaited horse resist contact with the bit, rush off into a pace or hard trot or curl up behind the bit to avoid contact? Teach your horse bit acceptance and discover relaxation and smoother gaits.

Here’s my story.

Bit Acceptance vs Bit Avoidance for the Naturally Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

There are many ways to ride a naturally gaited horse. Some ride with contact or on a loose rein. Others ride in a curb or snaffle bit two-handed with contact. Some ride with low, fixed hands and others follow the natural head and neck motion of the horse with elastic fingers and relaxed arms.

I have tried all of these methods with my naturally gaited horses in my pursuit to develop smooth gaits like flat walk, running walk, fox trot and saddle rack. Not all of these methods produced the same results.

Lady fox trot
My naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady, in a quality, balanced fox trot with contact.

Granted, there is more to riding a gaited horse to smooth gaits than just the choice of bit how to use the hands. However, this post touches on the concept of bit acceptance versus bit avoidance. For me this meant increasing my riding awareness and noticing how my actions affect my horse. When a method led to the dreaded pace or hard trot, I changed my method until smooth gaits and a happier horse appeared.

balanced flat walk with contact
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana, at a flat walk.

What is the difference between bit acceptance and bit avoidance?

I’ve noticed when my naturally gaited horses are mentally and physically relaxed they offer smoother gaits. A comfortable mouth plays a big part in this relaxation.

Bit acceptance for naturally gaited horses leads to relaxation not just in the mouth. When the mouth (lower jaw, tongue, and poll) is relaxed and pain free, the body relaxes leading to smoother gaits.

Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk

A naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse ridden in a mild snaffle bit. The horse is accepting and following a light contact and I am following her natural head and neck motion. The horse is relaxed and offering an evenly timed, four beat smooth flat walk with a head nod.

What are signs of bit acceptance in the naturally gaited horse?

  • Horse is easy to bridle
  • Horse accepts and follows a light contact with a snaffle bit
  • Horse reaches and follows the bit when the rider offers longer reins
  • Horse easily repositions its head and neck when the rider regathers the reins
  • Horse is relaxed in the mouth and lower jaw, tastes the bit and swallows
  • Horse is flexible side to side and can be ridden on the bit without getting behind the vertical
  • Horse is relaxed and offers smoother gaits
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse balanced and relaxed flat walk with good rhythm and tempo
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse , Marvel, showing a balanced and relaxed flat walk with good rhythm and tempo.

If the horse has a painful experience by the rider’s hands or with a harsh or ill-fitting bit, the horse becomes defensive to protect itself. Resistance sets in.

What are signs of bit avoidance?

  • Horse throws its head upward or side to side to escape the bit contact
  • Horse draws its head behind the bit to escape the bit contact
  • Horse gaps its mouth to escape the bit contact
  • Horse roots and snaps the reins out of the rider’s hands
  • Horse lifts its tongue over the bit to escape pain
  • Horse is tense in the jaw
  • Horse grinds its teeth
  • Horse gets tense and quick when contact is made with the bit
  • Horse is tense and rushes into pace or hard trot
  • Horse is difficult to bridle

Bit avoidance creates tension and resistance―the absence of relaxation. Bit resistance effects the quality of movement. The horse becomes braced in its mind and body―especially its back. For the naturally gaited horse, a tense back leads to pace, hard trot, a horse that can run away and avoid contact with the bit. 

What can cause bit avoidance?

  • Tight nose bands
  • Harsh bits
  • Ill-fitting bits
  • Abrupt rein movements of the rider’s hands
  • Driving the horse forward into closed hands
  • Riding with low fixed hands
  • Pulling back on the reins
  • Sharp teeth that need to be floated
  • Riding with head setting and head restraining devices

Following the natural head and neck motion

In 1988, I was drawn to the horse-rider connection through dressage and began taking lessons with my non-gaited horse. My instructor helped me select a mild snaffle bit and fit the width and contours of my horse’s mouth. She taught me to follow my horse’s natural head and neck motion at a walk and canter.

At a trot, the horse’s head and neck remained stationary. However, I had to learn how to post (rise and be seated with my body) at each step of the trot while keeping my hands in one place. This wasn’t easy. If my hands moved with the motion of my body, it would bump my horse in the mouth with each rise and fall of the post. This would have led to bit avoidance.

To help me gain awareness of my hands and to protect my horse’s mouth as I learned how to post, my ingenious instructor added twine to the pommel rings of my saddle. I placed my pinky fingers in the twine which notified me each time my hands moved with each rise of the post. Each time my pinky fingers were pulled by the twine it reminded me to relax my arms down with each post. I was surprised how often my pinky fingers were pulled!

Many school horses develop bit avoidance since they introduce beginner riders who haven’t learned how to keep their hands quiet. These school horses become hard mouthed and bit resistant as a result. Hard-mouthed horses become this way as a means of self-preservation.

In 2007, I became a rider of naturally gaited horses. I am blessed with a smooth ride and no need to post. However, naturally gaited horse breeds, such as Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, and Missouri Fox Trotters have a natural head and neck motion at a walk, canter, flat walk, running walk, and fox trot. Just how does a dressage rider accommodate the natural head nod at a flat walk, running walk, and fox trot?

Dressage taught me to follow the natural head and neck motion of the horse and dressage teaches bit acceptance. For me, following the natural head and neck motion of flat walk, running walk, and fox trot has been the hardest part in training naturally gaited horses using dressage. I had to become aware of the cause and effect I had on my horse and make adjustments to develop the smooth gaits I desired.

Hand position and its effect on the naturally gaited horse

Low fixed hands

Did you know the position of your hands make a difference in how a bit acts in the horse’s mouth? I had no idea. Years of German dressage lessons taught me to keep my hands low and follow the natural head and neck motion of the walk and the canter. A high hand position was frowned upon.

Then I acquired my first naturally gaited horse as a three-year-old. There wasn’t anyone near me who taught dressage for the naturally gaited horse, so I began to take lessons from a TWH rail class instructor. I was taught to hold my hands low and still at my sides as my horse’s head nodded up and down. Adding to the low fixed hand position are the bits used. Most use curb bits and ride with low fixed hands. I gave this a try hoping it would bring us to smooth gaits.

The low fixed hands with a snaffle or a curb bit didn’t help us achieve smooth gaits, so I gave up on that approach and began to ride on a long floppy rein.

Riding without contact

In some ways it was easier to ride a naturally gaited horse on a long floppy rein than it is to ride with contact and follow the natural head and neck motion. Riding without contact seemed to avoid many of the bit avoidance issues. However, to ride exclusively on a long floppy rein, I struggled with communication and balance without contact, so I returned to the dressage I knew.

Dressage teaches the horse how to stretch into a long rein and be released onto a loose rein in self-carriage, yet it begins from contact and bit acceptance. Then the horse is released to moments of a long rein stretch.

Featured Makana flat walk loose rein
My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and I enjoying a moment of flat walk in self-carriage on a long floppy rein as long as she remains relaxed and with the same rhythm, forward motion without rushing, and balance.

When my horse has developed bit acceptance and self-carriage, I release the reins as long as my horse maintains the same relaxation, rhythm, and tempo as we had with contact. If my horse begins to rush off, I gather the reins and help my horse find relaxation, balance, forwardness without rushing, and rhythm.

Another kind of dressage

As a German dressage rider, I had thought all dressage was the same until I watched a DVD called Classical versus Classique. In this DVD, French dressage and German dressage theologies are contrasted and demonstrated. Impressed with the results, I became an avid DVD, book and cyber student of French dressage masters and applying what I learned with my naturally gaited horses.

This study has helped me become aware of the cause and effect my hands have had with my horses. Instead of seeing bit resistance as my horse’s problem, I began to notice what I was doing that lead up to resistance. I began to listen to what my horse was saying through their response. Then I offer ways to bring my horse back to relaxation and balance.

Applying French dressage with my naturally gaited horse opened my eyes and awareness to how my hands directly affect my horse’s comfort and relaxation leading to smooth gaits and why the low fixed hand position seemed to lead us to tension, bracing, anxiety, pacing, step pacing, pace canter, and runaway hard trot.

2021 naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk bareback with contact
A naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse ridden in a mild snaffle bit. Higher following hands make contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips instead of pressing into the sensitive tongue and bars.

Dressage became a partnership with my horse and a two-way communication. I asked with my aids and listened to my horse’s response. Soon we were reaching relaxation and balance leading us to smoother gaits.

The hand has many parts to communication

Years of riding German dressage had taught me a gentle use of my hands. Yet French dressage has taught me the hand has many parts and uses for communication I had never known.

French dressage taught me a different way to hold the reins and use my fingers, wrists and elbows. Each rein is held by the thumb and index finger to prevent the reins from slipping longer. Together the thumbs and index fingers provide a light, even contact with a snaffle bit. The middle, ring and pink fingers can vibrate on a rein to soften the jaw. The turning of the wrists upward with a bending of the elbows are also used in communication to ask the horse to rebalance.

The middle, ring and pink fingers are like gentle springs that follow the natural head and neck motion of the horse along with relaxed wrists and elbows. This is particularly important to encourage smooth gaits like the flat walk, running walk and fox trot.

The many parts of the hand are important elements of communication with the horse’s sensitive mouth, and great care is needed to build trust. When cueing, the elbows bend upward to raise the hand positioned higher. This makes contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips instead of pressing the bit into the tongue and bars which cause pain.

Work in hand
Working in hand with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana. This photo shows flexion to the side which stretches the outside neck muscles while the horse is in balance over all four legs.

Instead of correcting the bit avoidance, I began teaching bit acceptance, beginning with working in hand.

What working in hand teaches

  • The rider learns how to communicate with the horse’s mouth
  • The horse learns to accept a light contact with a snaffle bit
  • The horse learns to follow the bit
  • The horse learns balance, how to carry its own head and neck and not lean on the bit
  • The horse learns to relax the mouth and lower jaw, and flex to each side by stretching the neck muscles
  • The rider can see the response and effect these exercises have on the horse

These in hand exercises have been teaching me and my horse a a two-way communication with each other. I learn how to communicate with my horse just as my horse seeks to understand it. As I become clearer and more consistent with my hands, it clarifies communication to my horse and builds a better partnership.

Taking it to the saddle

Everything I have been applying in hand translates directly to the saddle. While in the saddle I begin at a halt, then a slow walk, then I increase the tempo only as long as relaxation is maintained.

The horse learns to follow the snaffle and the rider learns to follow the horse’s natural head and neck motion with elastic fingers and relaxed wrists and elbows. This helps the horse remain comfortable.

Following the natural head and neck motion helps the horse trust the rider’s light contact and accept gentle contact with the bit. If the horse begins to feel tension or pain, then the horse develops self-protection, resistance, and bit avoidance.

Is it easy to learn all this? No. Is it worth it? Yes! My horses are happier. They enjoy our time together. And best of all their gaits are smooth! No more pace and hard trot!

shoulder in
Shoulder in on a circle with a 21-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse working the shoulder in and haunches in at a slow balanced, collected walk.

Through a progression of working on the ground with my horse in hand to in the saddle at a halt to a slow walk, my horse learns to trust my hands and I learn to communicate with my horse more effectively through the reins. The goal is bit acceptance.

When I increase my naturally gaited horse’s tempo to the smooth gait, I began to learn how to gently follow the head nod with elastic fingers, relaxed wrists, and elbows.

Bit acceptance and a light contact lead to a two-way dialogue between me and my horse. I choose a gait, movement, frame, and tempo that my horse is capable of performing, and then my horse follows that choice. Then I follow my horse’s natural head and neck motion within that choice. This is not easy. Yet it has been worth it for me and my naturally gaited horses to maintain relaxation in the mouth and jaw which leads to smoother gaits.

Bit acceptance takes time. Riding with awareness takes time. Learning new ways to ride that benefit the horse takes time. Yet learning bit acceptance pays dividends versus unlearning bit avoidance down the road which takes even more time.

flat walk
Riding my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
Lady (naturally grade gaited horse) shown at a fox trot, Makana (naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse) shown at a flat walk and Marvel (naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse) shown at a Spanish walk.

From me and my furry friends to you and yours, have a Merry Christmas, a happy new year, and peace on earth!

—Jennifer Klitkze

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Let me know your thoughts by completing the form below.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Does Rhythm Produce Relaxation

Produce relaxation for smooth gaits

Relaxation is key in developing smooth gaits for the Tennessee Walking Horse and other naturally gaited horse breeds. So, how do you teach a horse relaxation? Is rhythm the best way to produce it?

Here’s my story.

How I learned rhythm: The Pyramid of Training

I began a journey into competitive dressage with non-gaited horses in 1988. Back then we didn’t have the plethora of resources we have today. The internet was a dark distant dream, and resources like social media, blogs, and video channels were nonexistent. We were fortunate to have a traveling dressage instructor teach us the Pyramid of Training.

Back in 1988, the Pyramid of Training began with a foundation of rhythm (with energy and tempo) followed by relaxation (with elasticity and suppleness). Then connection (acceptance of the bit through acceptance of the aids), impulsion (increased energy and thrust), straightness (improved alignment and balance), and collection (increased engagement, lightness of the forehand, self carriage).

Dressage training pyramid

We showed our horses by riding dressage tests at the level of our training, beginning with Training level, followed by First, Second, Third, Fourth, Prix St. Georges, Intermediate, and Grand Prix. The latter showed the horse attaining the top of the Pyramid of Training. We moved up to the next level after achieving a few scores in the 60s or above. Most riders and horses never reached beyond Second level. The Pyramid of Training is a challenging, time consuming, and costly way to progress in dressage.

We believed rhythm produced relaxation. So, for my first 20 years of dressage riding with non-gaited horses, I lunged my horse and then rode him on a 20-meter circle in a long and low position to develop rhythm until he was relaxed. This was my process to achieve relaxation.

The Pyramid of Training with a Tennessee Walking Horse

In 2007, I acquired my first naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana. I applied the dressage Pyramid of Training I learned with non-gaited horses. Makana often worried about her surroundings and tensed her body. Worry quickened and shortened her steps. Was it smooth? Yes, but not the long striding flat walk she was capable of. Tension also affected her gait. When she tensed her body, it produced a step pace and a pace canter―definitely not smooth.

Makana often spooked when tense. This certainly didn’t create relaxation in me. My tense reaction only reinforced her spooking and perpetuated her worry. If I continued to ride her in this state, it was like trying to control a stiff plank caught in a gusty wind. Each spook made it harder to establish rhythm. We definitely had energy and tempo! I hoped to stay on long enough until she found rhythm and eventually reach relaxation.

I wondered, “How long does a nervous rider persevere on an anxious horse through spooks and tension before rhythm is established and relaxation sets in to develop smooth gaits?”

If I could sweat it out, riding a tense horse in a jarring gait for an hour, was this really the best approach? What was my horse learning by riding through miles of tension? Wasn’t I reinforcing her fear with my fear? I was certainly reinforcing mine!

Perhaps a relaxed rider could have ridden Makana through her tension and spooking to rhythm until she relaxed. For me, I needed a different approach.

The Pyramid of Training with a fox trotting horse

When my naturally gaited fox trotting horse, Lady, was tense in her lower jaw, mouth, and poll, it affected her whole body, and she would blast off into a hard, hollow trot. Any attempt to slow her down with bit contact only made her trot faster. Lady wasn’t having fun, and neither was I.

Perhaps after a few miles of a hard trot, Lady would have been tired enough to relax into rhythm, relaxation, and a smooth gait. However, what muscle memory was I teaching her? Wasn’t she just learning to run away in tension? For me, I needed a different approach.

Is there another way to do dressage?

In 2013, I began exploring a different application of dressage with my naturally gaited horses. Through DVDs and books by French dressage masters Philippe Karl and the late Jean Claude Racinet, I discovered techniques to help my horses mentally and physically relax before BEFORE I rode.

While Karl and Racinet rode dressage with non-gaited horses, their methods offer many benefits for my naturally gaited horses and for me as the rider.

The core of the French dressage philosophy is “respect to the horse” and the foundation of training is relaxation, balance, and impulsion. The ideal is to train the horse to be responsive to the lightest hand, leg and seat aids from a state of relaxed balance.

Legerete training model
The Legerete (lightness) training model.

Legerete begins with relaxation and balance BEFORE rhythm.

Surrounding the foundation of lightness is developing flexibility through suppleness. Then mobility with straightness and rhythm, followed by collection developing cadence. Legerete begins with relaxation and balance BEFORE rhythm.

In hand exercises

Instead of lunging or riding a worried or tense horse for miles in hopes of developing rhythm leading to relaxation, I have learned in-hand exercises that teach the horse relaxed balance at a halt and then at a slow walk. These exercises both improve my rein communication with my horse to help them accept and follow a gentle contact with a mild snaffle bit.

inhand flexion
After a flexion to the right to stretch the left-side neck muscles. I signal “Action.”
extension in flexion
The “Reaction” encourages the horse to stretch out in a lower position

Shoulder in
Shoulder in

I’ve noticed the in-hand relaxing and balancing exercises make riding easier, too. These same in-hand flexibility exercises are applied from the saddle at a halt. As long as my horse maintains a relaxed and balanced state of mind and body, I’ll proceed to a slow walk and then increase the tempo to a smooth gait. After developing relaxed balance then we work on developing rhythm.

Anytime my horse gets tense, anxious, or loses balance, I slow down the tempo or halt and reapply these flexibility and suppling exercises until relaxed balance is restored. This has been a better option for me and my naturally gaited horses compared with riding through miles of tension. Plus, the riding we do in a relaxed and balanced state develops the quality smooth gaits and muscle memory I desire. This dressage approach has led to a harmonious partnership with my naturally gaited horses.

work in hand to teach the horse how to accept and follow a light contact
Relaxing the mouth
In-hand flexion
Flexion
Action
Action
Reaction
Reaction
Flexion
Flexion
Flexion in an extended position
Flexion in extension
shoulder in
Shoulder in
shoulder in
Shoulder in
naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse flat walk
Flat walk
Natural smooth gait
Natural smooth gait

My six-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse, Marvel, has been trained exclusively with the Legerete method and is coming along nicely. Plus, I cherish the fun and interactive partnership we have developed.

In hand
Square halt
Action
Reaction
Flexion
Jambette
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse balanced and relaxed flat walk with good rhythm and tempo
Flat walk
Stretching at a halt
Stretching at a halt

Anytime my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horses get worried, or my Foxtrotting mare gets tense in her body, I just ease down to a slow walk, halt or even dismount to work in-hand and restore relaxation. I don’t proceed until I’ve established mental and physical relaxation.

How relaxation creates smooth gaits

For me and my naturally gaited horses, we don’t proceed into movement until they are mentally and physically relaxed.

Without relaxation, there is no quality rhythm, no quality steps, no trainable or teachable horse to produce quality smooth gaits.

Thankfully French dressage has been the training philosophy I needed for my naturally gaited horses. Directing my horse to relaxation of mind makes a teachable horse−less tense and distracted and able to stay more focused on our time together. Teaching the gaited horse to relax its body leads to smoother gaits.

Ways to lead the horse into relaxation are:

  • Teaching the horse how to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact
  • Teaching the horse how to relax the mouth, lower jaw, and poll which helps the horse relax through the back
  • Riding with a snaffle bit contact and following the natural head and neck motion with relaxed hands, arms, and shoulders
  • Making sure I am relaxed as a rider helps me lead my horse into relaxation
  • Shoulder in exercises in hand or from the saddle at a slow walk
  • Developing a partnership of trust and harmony with the horse

Relaxation of the horse’s jaw and back are especially important for the naturally gaited horse. The gaited horse is more prone to pacing when there is tension in the mouth, lower jaw, poll, and back.

My Tennessee Walking Horse has learned to relax her mouth, lower jaw, poll, and back. The step pace and lateral canter are gone. Now she has quality smooth gaits such as flat walk, running walk and saddle rack, and her canter is a quality three-beat canter.

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse balanced flat walk
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a relaxed and balanced flat walk.

For my fox trotting mare, by relaxing her mouth and lower jaw helps her relax her back. The hollow, hard trot is gone. Now she consistently offers a smooth gait.

Lady fox trot
My naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady in a relaxed and balanced fox trot with contact.
relaxed and balanced flat walk
My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Marvel in a relaxed and balanced flat walk.

Does a relaxed rider make a difference?

Applying French dressage with my gaited horses in hand and in saddle has built my confidence as the trusted leader in our partnership. It has also helped me be a more relaxed rider when we increase the tempo to a smooth gait or canter.

Neck extension at a flat walk
Riding my smooth gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana in a flat walk with neck extension. The neck extension allows the horse to both stretch its spine and build its top line while allowing maximum stride length.

Over the last several years, I have learned tools that have helped me become a more relaxed and confident rider. My relaxation and confidence lead my naturally gaited horses into relaxation of mind and body. From this mutual relaxation, my horses are able to produce quality, smooth gaits (with a lot less spooks)!

Now we are having fun!

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French Dressage for Gaited Horses

Why a High and Light Riding Position

Classical French dressage for the naturally gaited horse: why a high and light position?

Did you know there is a BIG difference between asking the horse to raise its head and neck vs pulling the reins back to force a high position?

Why a High and Light Riding Position

By Jennifer Klitzke

Living in the Northern Midwest without an indoor riding arena provides many months of book study. This winter I took a deep dive into Baucher’s second manner.

Many of the books I have been studying were written by Classical French Dressage Master Francois Baucher (1796–1873), his students, and others who have studied and applied Baucher’s second manner. During this era, ambling gaits were considered a fault and not developed like we do today with our naturally gaited horse breeds. Does this mean classical training doesn’t apply to our horses? I don’t think so. If you ask me dressage is more than trot.

My two favorite books regarding Baucher’s second manner are: Racinet Explains Baucher by the late Jean Claude Racinet and Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse by Faverot de Kerbrech. Some of what I have been reading affirms my training, while I have also discovered more to apply.

Now that Spring has produced suitable riding weather, I couldn’t wait to get out and begin applying my studies. For this post, I’ll focus on a high and light position. There is a big difference between the rider asking the horse to lift its head and neck to find balance vs the rider pulling back on the reins to force a high position. I have been teaching my horses a high and light position for years, thanks to Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl’s DVDs and books. However, my winter book study has challenged me to encourage my horses to reach an even higher position than I had been asking―provided my horse maintains relaxation and lightness.

Asking for a high and light position

For years, I had been asking my horses to lift the head and neck for the purpose of relaxation, lightness, and balance. I have always introduced a snaffle bit from in hand exercises. Then from the saddle at a halt, followed by a slow walk, and then proceeded by a slow gait.

High and light, balanced square halt
A high and light, balanced square halt

For me, balance and relaxation are key to smooth gaits.

Anytime the horse loses relaxation, lightness, or balance, the horse is brough back to a halt to regain relaxed balance. Then the horse returns to the walk or smooth gait. Whenever more tempo is added before the horse is trained in relaxed balance, the horse tends to lose relaxation and/or balance. That’s why starting at a halt is best and gradually adding tempo. For me, balance and relaxation are key to smooth gaits.

A high and light, balanced Tennessee Walking Horse Spanish Walk
A high and light, balanced Tennessee Walking Horse Spanish Walk

My book studies taught me a few more benefits this high and light position offer the horse beyond relaxation, lightness, and balance. Asking the horse to lift its head and neck high and light in relaxation causes the horse to engage the chest and abdominal muscles to raise the wither and bring the back to a neutral position, and it engages the hindquarters. This high and light position teaches the horse balance to best carry the weight of a rider.

A high, light, relaxed and balanced riding position
A high, light, relaxed and balanced riding position

Effects of forcing a high position

When the rider forces a high position by pulling back on the reins, it isn’t helpful for many reasons:

  • It causes the horse to hollow its back
  • The under-neck muscles bulge instead of rounding the top line muscles
  • The hind quarters don’t engage
  • It develops the wrong muscles
  • It makes the horse less able to produce a smooth gait
  • It is more difficult for the horse to carry a rider comfortably
  • It compromises the long-term soundness of the horse
  • Plus, it’s unsightly

Watch the video below and see how teaching your horse a high and light position with a snaffle bit helps the horse find balance and elegance. Plus, it helps the horse develop naturally, smooth evenly timed gaits!

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Dressage is More than Trot

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