All posts by Jennifer Klitzke

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Misconceptions about Gaited Dressage

Misconceptions about Gaited Dressage

Does dressage permanently alter smooth gaits? How is gaited dressage different from rail class shows? Could rider aids influence the outcome of a horse’s gait?

Misconceptions about Gaited Dressage

By Jennifer Klitzke

Dressage will make my gaited horse trot. Cantering my gaited horse will ruin my horse’s natural smooth gait. Dressage will destroy my gaited horse’s show gait. These are misconceptions about dressage for the gaited horse.

Where do misconceptions come from?

  • Do people watch a recognized dressage show with non-gaited horses and believe that competition dressage makes horses trot?
  • Do people expect to see show gait from beginning to end of a gaited dressage test?
  • Do people believe that dressage permanently alters the length of stride when a gaited horse shows collected movements with shorter strides?
  • Do people think that competition dressage is evaluated with the same criteria as rail class?

Here’s good news! Dressage teaches the rider a balanced riding position and effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat, and weight aids. This is a communication system with the horse to improve the quality of natural smooth gaits on cue and develops the horse’s full range of motion. Dressage can even improve the quality of the show gait!

You can learn dressage with your gaited horse and reap these great benefits without ever showing. If you do show competitive dressage with your gaited horse, here’s more good news…

Gaited Dressage and Rail Class are Different

First of all, competition dressage and rail class shows are judged by different criteria. It is like comparing apples and oranges.

How Gaited Dressage is Evaluated

medium-walk

Competition dressage offers many levels and tests from Introductory two-gait tests to upper level three-gait tests. The higher-level tests require more range of development such as extended through collected gaits and engagement from the horse.

In competition dressage the rider and horse perform a test in front of a professional judge. The horse and rider are evaluated on how well the rider helps the horse execute the Pyramid of Training as they move through a series of required gaits, transitions, and movements precisely on the letter.

The 2019 Pyramid of Training:

  • Rhythm (Regularity and Tempo)
  • Suppleness (Elasticity and Freedom from Anxiety)
  • Contact (Connection and Acceptance of the Bit
    through Acceptance of the Aids)
  • Impulsion (Engagement and the
    Desire to Go Forward)
  • Straightness (Improved Alignment and Equal,
    Lateral Suppleness on Both Reins)
  • Collection (Balance and Lightness of the Forehand
    from Increased Engagement)

Harmony and submission are factors in scoring, as well as the horse’s gait quality; the rider’s balanced position; and the rider’s effective use and timing of leg, seat, weight, and rein aids as the horse is ridden through the test requirements.

Competitive dressage is a great way to confirm where you and your gaited horse are at in your training. You’ll get written feedback by a professional dressage judge which can help you know where you need to improve or confirm that you and your horse are ready to move up a level.

How Rail Class is Evaluated

TWH 3 gait trail pleasure class.
Tennessee walking horse three-gait Trail Pleasure class.

Rail class is a performed in a group of horse/rider teams. A judge will award ribbons for first through sixth place. The judge evaluates the horse’s movement according to the class requirement. For Tennessee walking horse rail classes, big strides and exaggerated head nods are prized.

To achieve a maximum length of stride, the horse needs to be positioned in a frame where the hind leg trails behind the tail and pushes from behind while the other hind leg steps deep under the body to pull the horse along. This frame positions the horse in a neutral to hollow back and flat croup where the push and pull of the hind legs activate the head and neck nod with each step.

The Rail vs Rider Aids

A horse ridden in rail class is predominantly ridden in straight lines along the rail. During a dressage tests, there is no rail for the horse to follow so the horse needs to be directed by the rider’s balanced riding position and effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat, and weight aids.

The purpose of the rider aids is to lead the horse through the test requirements of circles, transitions between gaits and directions, and lateral exercises. The goal is to produce soft, round, relaxed, engaged, and balanced movements.

Why the show gait isn’t seen throughout a gaited dressage test

The show gait is achievable during portions of a dressage test when a flat walk or running walk is called for along the diagonal. However, the show gait becomes bio-mechanically impossible to maintain during collection while the horse performs small circles and lateral movements.

Collected and engaged
Collection and engagement place the horse in a frame that bends the hips and hindquarter joints. The horse carries more weight from behind and lightens the fore. Instead of pushing and thrusting with its hind leg steps for maximum length of stride, the hind steps remain in front of the tail and under the horse.

Here’s why. As the horse advances to higher levels of engagement and collection, the rider encourages the horse to bend the hindquarter joints to carry more weight from behind, engage the abdominal muscles to bring the back to a neutral to slightly round position, while engaging the chest and shoulder muscles to lift the wither and lighten the forehand. The horse grows taller in the wither, head, and neck. The movement produced by this posture is biomechanically different than that of the show gait. This makes it impossible for the horse to push and pull with the hind legs and produce the same length of stride as in rail class.

Instead the horse’s steps are shorter because there is little to no trailing of the hind leg extending behind the tail. The collected gait shortens and the head nods less.

stride length: pushing power vs carrying power
Notice as pushing power increases the hind leg becomes disengaged (stepping behind the tail) and the overall stride length increases. As carrying power increases, the hind leg disengages less (steps less behind the tail) and the stride becomes shorter.

Does Dressage Permanently Alter Gait?

Does this mean that dressage permanently alters gait? Yes and no. Yes in the way that dressage helps the naturally gaited horse develop its full range of motion and improves the quality of its natural gaits—collected through extended.

No in the way that collected gaits or extended gaits are simply the response of a horse’s training combined with the application of rider aids that position the horse in the expression of gait. One set of aids allow more carrying power from behind for collected gaits. Another set of aids allow more push and pull for maximum stride length.

Dressage helps the naturally gaited horse develop its full range of motion so that even the show gait can improve in quality with deeper strides. Plus, dressage teaches the rider a balanced position and effective use and timing of the rein, leg, seat and weight aids.

Does dressage permanently alter gait? Yes it does, but in the best possible way.

Enjoy the journey!

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

Naturally Gaited Horse

Merry Christmas in a Naturally Walkin’ Wonderland

Merry Christmas Walkin in Wonderland

By Jennifer Klitzke

Merry Christmas in a Naturally Walkin’ Wonderland

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas with lots of naturally walkin’ wonderland in the New Year!

The photo above is of my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana and I enjoying a little walkin’ in wonderland. The cardinal represents memories of my late father and the star represents my faith in our CHRISTmas gift.

The Cardinal

Hours before dad passed, a male and female cardinal perched in a tree outside the window of his room. It was a cold, winter day with no bird feeders in sight. This made it more unusual that the cardinals were there, but it was special because dad loved cardinals.

Dad passed that night.

The next day my mom, sister and I were preparing dad’s funeral. We were looking through the programs and were stunned to see one with a cardinal on it. Then we told the chaplain about the cardinals outside dad’s window the day he died.

The chaplain said the cardinal is symbolic of those who have departed and come back to escort a loved one on to eternal life. It was significant that a male and female cardinal were at Dad’s window, because his parents had died a few years ago.

My Grandma had faith in Jesus, and I shared my faith in Jesus with Grandpa and Dad for the hope of eternal life.

There was no doubt in my mind that the male and female cardinal were angels God had sent to give us hope that Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad are with Jesus until one day we join them for eternity.

Even though there will be an empty place at the Christmas table this year, I know Dad is in a better place. A place with no more tears, or pain, or sorrow. And I will see Dad again thanks to that precious CHRISTmas birth.

Since Dad’s passing, a male cardinal sings during our rides.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Horse Stories

Is Perfection the Goal of Dressage?

Is Perfection the Goal of Dressage

Is perfection the goal of dressage? Is perfection what dressage masters expected of all dressage riders who follow their teachings?

Is Perfection the Goal of Dressage?

By Jennifer Klitzke

Recently I watched a video of my gaited dressage mentor Jennie Jackson riding the late legendary naturally gaited dressage stallion—Champagne Watchout. Jennie and Watchout were the ONLY rider/Tennessee walking horse team in history to train and show at the highest levels of gaited dressage.

The video shows Jennie riding Watchout at 21 years old, who had been retired for a few years and far from show shape. Yet, I saw two good friends reminiscing some the best moments of their lives as they danced between piaffe and passage in gait. While I was tickled to watch Jennie riding Watchout again, others criticized the missteps and imperfections.

Was every step perfect? Did they need to be?

While a few folks focused on faults, I noticed the engagement, harmony, rhythm, balance, softness, relaxation, collection, connection—and pure JOY! I could only imagine what it must have felt like to ride such a powerful naturally gaited stallion—even in his retirement. I aspire for the day to reach this level of training with one of my naturally gaited horses.

Will we reach perfection? Do we need to?

Will that be my goal? No.

Never again.

Perfection: The buzzkill joyless endeavor

I know that buzzkill joyless endeavor firsthand. Back in 1988, when I first began my dressage journey, I was driven to be an Olympian.

(Yes, feel free to insert laughter, because I’m laughing now, too.)

During that time in my life, dressage became a driven, self-seeking pursuit. Yes, I loved my horse, but I used him to achieve my lofty perfectionistic goals.

Then one day I was humbled. After riding at our first recognized show, the judge surprised me when she called me forward. She raved about my horse. I smiled with pride and gave my horse a big pat.

Then the judge asked if she could buy him. She said I didn’t have the talent to ride a horse like that.

Dotting the arena with a trail of tears, her harsh words met my ambitious goals. Crushed, I returned home reflecting on what had happened. The encounter was a turning point for me. I realized that perfectionism is a buzzkill joyless endeavor.

The best I can be vs the best there is

I returned to riding with a new frame of mind. I stopped expecting perfection from my horse and from myself. I stopped striving to be the best there is. I just wanted to become the best rider and trainer I can be for my horse.

Riding became a partnership instead of a selfish pursuit. My horse found relaxation and harmony, and so did I.

Lateral exercises at a collected walk

Since that time, dressage has become the language I speak with my horse. Dressage is a daily discovery as a rider and trainer. It is an ongoing dialogue between me and my horse to bring about harmony, balance, rhythm, relaxation, connection, engagement, symmetry, collection—and JOY.

I even returned to showing as long as I remembered to check my motives and have some fun.

I don’t think “perfection” is the goal of dressage. So far, no one in history has ever ridden a perfect dressage test.

Is this a disgrace to the dressage masters? I don’t think so.

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

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Back to Fore Connected by Core to Improve Natural Gait

back and fore connected by core

Let’s be honest. How many of us who show naturally gaited Tennessee walking horses are fixated on the hind leg depth and length of stride (the distance between the hind foot behind the horse’s tail to the hind foot beneath the belly)?

I know I have been.

Back to Fore Connected by Core to Improve Natural Gait

By Jennifer Klitzke

There is nothing wrong with striving for the BEST possible natural stride length our naturally Tennessee Walking Horses can offer. However, I realized that focusing on the hind leg stride length is only part of the equation to achieving a quality flat walk and running walk.

Think this through with me.

If the hind legs offer a big stride (the distance between the hind foot behind the horse’s tail to the hind foot under the belly), the front foot stride length distance needs to equal this or else the horse face plant. Right?

Below is the sequence of a full stride of flat walk. Notice the length of hind stride and fore stride along with the head nod.

Hind step
Hind leg stride with head nod, snaffle bit contact and following hands.
Fore step
Fore leg stride with head nod, snaffle bit contact and following hands.

In order to create the best possible natural smooth flat walk, I think back to fore, connected by core.

Here’s what I mean by back to fore connected by core. First, I establish my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking horse in relaxed balance and forward movement without rushing to develop an even rhythm. At the same time, I follow her natural head and neck motion with my hands to encourage a soft contact. In addition, I follow her side-to-side belly sway with my lower legs and hold my weight in my thighs with my core without tensing. Together this helps my horse produce her best possible smooth flat walk with the most over track she is capable of.

When the naturally gaited horse is working back to fore connected to core, the hind footsteps deeper under the belly and under my center of gravity. This produces my horse’s maximum over track along with maximum depth of back stride equaling the fore stride.

091718 hind fore stride length and overtrack
When the naturally gaited horse is working in relaxed balance, with forward movement, and back to fore connected to core, the hind leg steps deeper under the body to produce maximum over track along with maximum depth of back stride equal to fore stride.

How back to fore connected by fore feels

Bringing it all together. Back to fore connected by core feels through. It feels balanced. It feels rhythmic. The chest and wither feel lifted. My horse moves forward without rushing into deep strides with shoulder scope. Most of all, the flat walk is SMOOTH.

So next time you hop on to ride your naturally gaited horse, think back to fore, connected by core.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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Gaited Horse Stories

Loss of a School Master

After being over horsed with a green, off-the-track rescue thoroughbred as a beginner rider, I took my time to find my next suitable mount. A horse better matched to my skill level,  passion for dressage, and modest budget.

Over the course of a year I had looked at over 50 horses of various breeds, ages, and levels of training. This was back in the days before online immediacy. The newspaper classified ads were my connection to finding horses for sale. Some of the horses were within my budget but not suited for dressage. Others were in my price range  but beyond my training abilities.

Was I  unlucky to find what I was looking for within and my budget? Or was I too picky?

I nearly gave up.

Then in October 1989 I received a call from a friend who had moved to Iowa. She asked, “Are you still looking for a horse?” I answered, “Well, yes.”

“I know that Iowa is a long drive, but I saw well-started, a five-year-old gelding who I know you will LOVE,” my friend said. “He has fabulous gaits, a good mind, is gentle, kind and enthusiastic, and is in your price range.” His lineage was from the Trakehner stallion Karneval II standing at Hamilton Farm and a national show jumping champion thoroughbred mare named Nanaboat.

A road trip was in order to see this horse named Seil Tanzer (which is German for a carnival tight rope walker). They called him Seili for short.

Upon meeting Seili, I will never forget his bright, kind eyes that met me at the gate. I brought him to the indoor and watched him move. OMG did he have the goods! His trot had hang time, his walk over tracked by several footsteps, and his canter was beautifully correct and balanced.

Then I rode him. Yes, he was unsteady and green, yet kind, sane, and generous. His purchase price afforded me professional training while I learned how to ride him.

This was a no brainer. Seili became my next horse.

Twenty-nine years later, Seili has been THAT horse. He hasn’t been ridden the last four years upon turning 30, but he has been my pal, meeting me at the gate, carefully watching over the herd as top of the pecking order.

In those twenty-nine years, Seili and I learned how to become a dressage partnership. We rode 5-6 days a week and took regular dressage lessons to develop rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness, and collection as I developed rider position and correct use of aids. We even rode with international clinician and author Dominique Barbier, were a demonstration team for Axel Steiner as he led a dressage judge certification course.

Seili and I competed successfully at schooling and recognized dressage shows through 1996: Training to Second level.

From that point on, Seili became a school horse for people, young and old, to learn how to ride.

For me, I enjoyed taking the “Mercedes” out every now and then to reminisce our show ring days.

In addition to being one of my very best and life-long friends, Seili was a kind and gentle lead of our herd. He loved the mares and took the young geldings under his wing. All of the horses respected his kind authority.

Even to his dying day, Seili met me at the gate with his kind and generous soul. He will be missed by me and by his pasture mates.

There are no words for our aching hearts. We love you Seili.

See you on the other side of the rainbow.