There’s more to riding than a horse than being a passenger or learning a set of cues. Here’s my journey to developing trust and a safer ride.

A Trusted Leader

By Jennifer Klitzke

Let the horse know you’re the boss. Did you grow up with this paradigm? I did. This understanding accompanied crude cues as “kick to go” and “pull to stop.”

My riding experiences early on had been the long-awaited annual birthday trail rides at a local horse rental establishment. Mom believed I’d outgrow this horse madness someday. It only grew stronger as the candles grew brighter on my cake.

Upon graduating and getting my first career job, I saved enough money to purchase my first horse in 1988, an off-the-track thoroughbred, named Seasons. Not long thereafter a fellow boarder gently asked me, “Who are you going to take lessons from?”

“Lessons?” I replied, “Why take lessons now that I own a horse!?”

Ignorantly I thought lessons were for horseless people looking for an opportunity to ride—not for horse owners desiring a more effective way to communicate with their horse. Adding to this, I thought there were two kinds of riding, English or western, defined by the saddle style you chose. (Wowzers, did I have a lot to learn!)

This kindhearted boarder invited me to watch a nearby dressage show. “Dressage? What is that?” Curious, I had to find out.

An Introduction to Dressage

We arrived at Brightonwood Farm just as Kathy Theisen entered the arena on a majestic Morgan named Bullwinkle. The music began and the duo danced as one to the rhythm of a waltz, skipping along the diagonal in flying tempe changes and floating across the arena at an extended trot. Kathy rode with an effortless finesse. No “kick to go” or “pull to stop.” In fact, I didn’t even see her cues. It was as if Bullwinkle read her mind! Adding to this was Kathy’s genuine smile emanating an unspeakable joy as she rode through this dynamic dance. This was my introduction to dressage.

No wonder my boarder friend asked me about lessons—no joke, I needed them!

Even more than learning a set of communication tools, I wanted to learn how to have a relationship with my horse like Kathy had with her Bullwinkle.

Back in 1988, the German form of dressage predominated my region, so I learned how to become a more technically correct dressage rider for the show ring.

Fear Meets French Dressage

After a few unexpected falls, I became a nervous and reactive rider, always on guard for the “what if.” Unknowingly, my fear transmitted insecurity to my horse and a lack of trust. My horse’s response further triggered more fear in me. So, I controlled my environment by riding in an indoor arena with few distractions for self-preservations sake. Technically correct but far from the pure joy and dance duo of Kathy and Bullwinkle.

A few years later Dominique Barbier, a French classical dressage clinician began traveling to my region. He demonstrated a similar oneness with the horses he rode. His joyful, harmonious human-horse partnership re-inspired me. This had been lacking from my technically correct and controlled regimen.

I took my horse to a few of Dominique’s clinics. He called out my reactive riding and explained the importance of riding for the horse’s sake by visualizing a plan. Providing a direction. Being the leader of our dance partnership instead of letting fear drive our dance. It was a turning point to becoming a trusted leader.

Cowboys are Skilled Riders, too

While becoming a more technically correct dressage rider, I held an arrogant belief that only dressage riders practiced the skill of riding. Cowboys did not. That was until my friend Judy invited me to watch Pat Parelli. He introduced the philosophy of natural horsemanship. During his symposium, Pat rode his horse alongside a black stallion who was at liberty and mimicked each movement Pat’s his mount performed as he rode. I left his natural horsemanship event deeply inspired and awestruck with what is possible in partnership with a horse! Kathy and Bullwinkle, Dominique and now Pat.

No matter how many 20-meter circles I perfect or how technically correct my riding position may become, it has not brought about the dance partnership and harmonious joy I sought. Something needed to change and that begins with me.

Gaited Horses meet French Dressage

In 2008 I became acquainted with the work of Larry Whitesell who combines French classical dressage with natural horsemanship for gaited horses. In fact, I was interested to learn that his turning point came about when he studied under Dominique Barbier.

I’ve participated at several of Larry’s 3-day clinics and a 5-day clinic, have studied his DVDs, and audited many more of his clinics when he came to my region. His unique riding philosophy is based upon French dressage, years of showing and training gaited horses, and understanding how the horse thinks and relates with its rider. He teaches riders the horse’s need for safety and to lead the horse into relaxation and balance.

Larry says, “Don’t teach the horse what NOT to do. Teach the horse what TO do.”

Instead of punishing the horse for making a mistake, he redirects the horse to find balance and relaxation. This way the horse’s need for security will be satisfied, and the horse will better trust the rider as a reliable leader. This translates into less spooks, bolts, bucks, buddy sourness, and rears. The more a horse can depend upon a rider for security, the more the rider can trust the horse on the trail. It’s a win-win partnership.

Larry propelled me into becoming a trusted leader. He also pointed me into further study of classical French dressage masters as the late Jean Claude Racinet and Philippe Karl.

A Journey of Thanks

I am thankful for the years of study in how to become a more technically correct rider. It was an excellent place to start and certainly better than “kick to go” and “pull to stop.” Yet my zeal for more pressed on. I wanted the relationship Kathy had with Bullwinkle waltzing along the diagonal; the harmonious human-horse partnership Dominique has with horses; the inspiring connection Pat Parelli has with a horse at liberty while riding another; and becoming a trusted leader like Larry is with his horses.

I am thankful to the kindhearted boarder who showed me that lessons are for horse owners, too. I am thankful to Kathy and Bullwinkle who awakened me to dressage as a dance partnership of harmony and joy. I am thankful to Dominique who confronted my reactionary riding fears and taught me to visualize a plan for my horse’s sake. I am thankful to Pat who inspired me with natural horsemanship and humbled my arrogance that there is more than one way to ride with skill. Indeed, cowboys can gifted riders, too. I am thankful to Larry who taught me how to lead my horse into balance and relaxation and point me toward the study of French dressage with my naturally gaited horses.

And thanks to God for giving me the courage to face my fears, new perspectives, and for providing these people and many others who have shown me the way to becoming a trusted leader.

I am still a work in progress, but far from the reactionary rider of my past, and closer to my aspiration of a Kathy and Bullwinkle dance duo.

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