How Naturally Gaited began and how dressage can be applied with naturally gaited horses to developed quality smooth gaits.
By Jennifer Klitzke
Jennifer Klitzke and naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Gift of Freedom (Makana)
Yes, I rode bumpy, trotting horses for decades. I have been an avid student of dressage since 1988: taking lessons, riding and training a variety of horses. Then I learned about naturally smooth gaited horses. My aging body longed for a comfortable ride and that’s when I began my search. The breed wasn’t important as long as it was smooth. I was open to Paso Finos, Tennessee Walking Horses, Missouri Fox Trotters, Icelandics, Rocky Mountains, just to name a few.
In 2007, my search for a SMOOTH gait led me to a black, barefoot and sound, three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. She met me at the fence with the enthusiasm of a puppy. Her name was Gift of Freedom, a.k.a. Makana, which is Hawaiian for “gift.” Makana had been family raised and imprinted at birth with 20 rides on her when she arrived at my place.
Makana as a six-year-old.
Beginnings of Dressage for the Gaited Horse
When I acquired my smooth gaited horse, Makana, dressage had been the only form of riding and training I knew. Yet, the competition dressage world told me dressage is ONLY for horses that trot. Gaited horse owners said dressage would MAKE my gaited horse trot. Others said dressage would RUIN my horse’s natural smooth gaits.
I looked for books and scoured YouTube for videos about training gaited horses. Then I came across a Walking Horse registry. It showcased Tennessee Walking Horses wearing heavy shoes, pads, and chains. The horses moved in exaggerated and unnatural ways. The riders rode the horses forward into two-handed contact with long shank bits. The expressions on the horses’ faces were tense and distressed.
If this is how Tennessee Walking Horses are trained, I would have NO part of it! Dressage would be all my smooth gaited Tennessee walking horse would know.
Two decades of dressage lessons, study and application taught me the benefits it brings the horse:
Dressage develops the horse’s full range of motion and quality gaits on cue for long-term soundness
Relaxation of mind (less anxiety and less distraction equal more peace of mind, harmony and less spooking)
Relaxation of body (less muscle tension equals a swinging, round, relaxed back and smoother gaits for the rider to sit which are also easier on the horse’s body)
Balance with more evenly distributed weight over the horse’s body mass for long-term soundness
Rhythm with even tempo and strides
Forward movement without rushing
Connection with the rider’s rein, leg, seat and weight aids to move as one
Symmetry to develop even strength and flexibility to become ambidextrous
Collection to lighten the forehand with more engagement of the hindquarters, abdominal muscles to lift the back, and chest to raise the wither, neck and head
Harmony between the horse and rider
Just because my Tennessee Walking Horse doesn’t trot, why can’t we gain these benefits of dressage to improve quality smooth gaits?
We set out on a mission to find out.
Ah-Ha Moment: Dressage is More than Trot
Since 2007, I have learned from personal experience, trot is not required to gain the benefits of dressage. Dressage does not MAKE the smooth gaited horse trot. Dressage does not ruin the natural smooth gaits.
In fact, dressage actually improves quality smooth gaits. Dressage exercises develop flexibility and symmetry for even strides and lengthened strides. Dressage adopts principles of mental and physical relaxation, riding with comfortable-fitting equipment, and teaching the horse how to accept and follow a gentle snaffle bit contact. These principles replace tense hollow gaits as pace, step pace, and hard trot with natural smooth gaits as flat walk, running walk, fox trot, saddle rack, and tolt.
Dressage is more than trot!
This is a great example of a neck extension at a flat walk. My horse is engaged, lifting her back, stretching out, forward, and down at chest level with an even snaffle bit contact (Makana, age 15).
Six Ways Dressage Benefits the Naturally Gaited Horse
Relaxing the mind allows for a more teachable and attentive horse. Relaxation means less anxiety and distraction. Relaxation helps build a partnership of harmony between the horse and rider to promote trust. A relaxed horse is able to listen to the rider and worry less about the distractions around. This reduces the risk of spooking for a safer ride.
Relaxing the body allows for a more trainable horse. Relaxation transforms tense muscles and a hollow posture for flexible, supple, and maneuverable movement. Relaxing the body allows expression of the mouth, releasing tension in the lower jaw and poll, stretching and flexibility of outside neck and body muscles, a maneuverable posture, and lifting the chest, wither, and back. Relaxing the body promotes smoother gaits—less tense and hollow gaits such as pace, step pace, hard trot, and lateral canter.
Stretching the spine and building the top line muscles increase the horse’s depth of stride, length of stride, and long-term soundness.
Developing symmetry through gymnastic exercises help the gaited horse become ambidextrous. These exercises promote balance, strength and flexibility for more even strides.
Diagonal moving exercises such as shoulder in, haunches in, half pass, and the use of ground rails break up lateral moving gaits such as pace and step pace to develop smooth gaits. These exercises also improve balance.
Dressage develops the full range of motion for quality smooth gaits and long-term soundness.
In 2010, I launched NaturallyGaited.com to share stories, insights, videos, and photos of how I ride and train smooth gaited horses using dressage. There are also stories about the people I have met and those who have helped me along the way.
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. (Makana age 19.)
Dressage Mentors
I’ve been a student of dressage since 1988 and continue to take lessons with my naturally gaited horses. I am thankful for those I studied under including Jennie Jackson, Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones, Larry Whitesell, Jennifer Bauer, and Bucky Sparks. They have been instrumental in helping me achieve quality smooth gaits using dressage.
Attending a Dressage for the Gaited Horse Clinic with Jennie Jackson.
French Dressage for the Naturally Gaited Horse
In 2014, I began studying books and videos about French dressage from Masters Philippe Karl and the late Jean-Claude Racinet. Their teachings have challenged and transformed my dressage paradigm. I’ve taken lessons from French dressage instructors who have been students of Philippe Karl such as Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones, Nichole Walters, and Susan Norman.
Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones teaching us at a French Dressage Clinic. Renvers or haunches out is another exercise to check the mobility of the hindquarters.
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