All posts by Jennifer Klitzke

Effective Use and Timing of Aids

Bit Acceptance vs Bit Avoidance for the Naturally Gaited Horse

Bit Acceptance vs Bit Avoidance
Pictured is Lady, a 20-something grade gaited horse in a shoulder in position on a circle while working in hand.

Does your gaited horse rush off into a pace or hard trot or dip its nose behind the vertical? 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 a bit or bitless bridle 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 naturally gaited horse.

If you ask me, I have tried all of the above in my quest to learn how to ride my head nodding naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horses and fox-trotting mare. Then I discovered my role in the cause and effect on quality smooth gait.

from hard trot to relaxed fox trot
From hard trot to relaxed fox trot through teaching relaxation and bit acceptance.

What is the difference between bit acceptance and bit avoidance?

I’ve noticed when naturally gaited horses are relaxed in their minds and bodies they offer smoother gaits. Bit acceptance for naturally gaited horses leads to relaxation not just in the mouth. When the mouth, (lower jaw, tongue, and poll) are relaxed and pain free, the body relaxes and that leads to smoother gaits.

Bit avoidance creates tension and resistance―the absence of relaxation. If the naturally gaited horse’s mouth feels pain or is resistant, the lower jaw and poll tense and the horse becomes braced in its mind and body―especially its back. A tense back leads to more pacing, hard trotting, and a horse that runs away from contact. 

Signs of bit avoidance in the naturally gaited horse

  • Horse is difficult to bridle
  • 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

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 the rider is following the natural head and neck motion. The horse is relaxed and offering an even, four beat smooth flat walk with head nod.

What causes bit avoidance?

  • Tight nosebands
  • 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

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

Rider’s 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? Many riders of gaited horses are taught to hold their hands low and fixed at their sides. Yet, low, fixed hands position the bit to press on the horse’s sensitive tongue. This can lead to bit avoidance.

Higher hand position and why

Dressage is another way to ride a naturally gaited horse. Dressage teaches a rider how to communicate with the horse through rein, leg, seat, and weight aids.

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 on the sensitive tongue and bars.

Each hand holds a rein, and together they provide a light, steady, even contact with a snaffle bit. This is an important element of communication with the horse’s mouth and great care is needed to build trust with the horse. The mouth is sensitive. Hands positioned higher make contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips instead of pressing on the sensitive tongue and bars.

The rider teaches the horse how to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact, beginning in hand, and then in the saddle.

Following the natural head and neck motion

The horse learns to follow the snaffle and the rider learns to follow the horse’s natural head and neck motion. Why? So, the horse remains comfortable. This following motion helps the horse trust the rider’s hands and continue to accept the contact. If the horse begins to feel tension or pain, then the horse develops self-protection and bit resistance. Is it easy to learn all this, no. Is it worth it, yes! My horses are happier. They want to be ridden. We enjoy our time together. And best of all their gaits are smooth! No more pace and hard trot!

My story: Insights from a non-gaited dressage rider for the smooth gaited horse

In 1988, I was drawn to the horse-rider connection through dressage and began taking lessons with my non-gaited horses. My instructor taught me to follow my horse’s head and neck motion at a walk and canter. At a trot, the horse’s head and neck remain stationary, so my arms remained stationary. However, I learned how to post the trot with my body 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. This would have led to bit avoidance.

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.

Dressage taught me to follow the natural head and neck motion of the horse. With a naturally gaited horse, there are more gaits with a head and neck motion to follow with a light contact. Is it easy? No. Yet it has been a journey worth pursuing.

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. Why? Because I had to become aware of the cause and effect I had on my horses and then change my riding habits to benefit my horses.

How I became aware of bit acceptance and bit avoidance

As a German dressage rider, French dressage challenged my paradigm. Most profoundly, is in a DVD called Classical versus Classique which contrasts and demonstrates French dressage and German dressage theologies using the same horses and students.

Before watching this DVD, dressage was a method to produce results with my horses. After watching this DVD, dressage became a partnership of relaxation and balance with my horses that actually produced greater results as a benefit. My dressage paradigm changed.

I became a DVD, book and cyber student of French dressage masters and began adopting work in hand exercises with my naturally gaited horses. This study helped me become aware of my cause and effect to my horses. Instead of seeing bit resistance as my horse’s problem, I began to notice what I was doing to encourage resistance. I began to listen to what my horse was trying to say. Then offers ways to bring my horse back to relaxation and balance.

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

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.

What working in hand teaches the naturally gaited horse

  • 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

I have been learning to communicate with the horse through equal steady contact with both sides of the snaffle bit through these exercises. Together they have been developing a partnership of communication through the light snaffle bit connection.

Everything taught in hand translates directly to the saddle at a halt and then at a slow walk and then the tempo increases as the relaxation is maintained.

shoulder in on a circle with a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
Shoulder in on a circle with a 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse. Work the shoulder in and haunches in at a slow balanced, collected walk.

Don’t worry about depth of stride and head nod. There will be very little to no head nod in the collected walk. This exercise supples, strengthens, straightens and improves the flat 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. This produces 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. What I noticed most is I needed to be relaxed in my shoulders, arms and hands to effectively follow the motion.

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 gaited horses to maintain relaxation in the mouth and jaw which helps to keep the back relaxed for more smooth natural 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.

It is much easier to ride a naturally gaited horse on a long floppy rein than it is to learn to ride with contact and follow the natural head and neck motion with relaxed shoulders, arms and hands. Riding on a long, floppy rein can avoid many of the bit avoidance issues, however, it isn’t dressage, nor does it teach bit acceptance. Effective dressage riding with contact is essential to teach bit acceptance and a horse that is light in the bridle without getting behind the vertical.

Riding on a long flopping rein and riding on a long rein in self carriage are two different things.

There’s nothing wrong with riding on a long rein. Dressage allows for this, yet it doesn’t begin this way. Dressage teaches bit acceptance first. Then we offer moments of release to a long rein for moments of self-carriage when the horse is in balance with relaxation, rhythm, and forward motion without rushing.

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.

Sign up for the Naturally Gaited Horse eNewsletter and learn more about how dressage improves quality smooth gaits

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Research Proves Chest Muscles Key for Balance & Collection

Research proves importance of developing the chest muscles for balance and collection

Research by Dr. Hilary Clayton proves the chest muscles are a key to balance and collection. What does this mean for the naturally gaited horse?

Research Proves the Importance of the Chest Muscles for Balance & Collection

By Jennifer Klitzke

The article: Equine Biomechanics Research the Significance of a Horses Chest Sling Muscles has opened my eyes of awareness! This research by highly credentialed veterinarian Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS spans over 40 years of collecting data on gait analysis for dressage horses, most recently in the McPhail Equine Performance Center at Michigan State University where she conducted studies to evaluate a horse’s body during collection.

Dr. Clayton is not only an accomplished research veterinarian. She knows the how’s and why’s of collection and balance from the inside out. Dr. Clayton is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist, which requires showing through the Grand Prix level.

“I’ve been studying equine biomechanics for over 40 years,” said Dr. Clayton. “And I am convinced that understanding the action of the horse’s sling muscles and the role of the forelimbs are crucial to understanding the mechanics of self-carriage in the dressage horse.”

Awakening to the Biomechanics of Balance

I dreamed of owning a horse from the time I was three. Then in 1988, when my career could support a horse, I became the proud owner of a five-year-old Trakehner/ thoroughbred gelding named Seili. Dressage became my passion and study. Seili’s lofty trot was far from smooth, yet I learned to ride and show him as an adult amateur dressage rider/trainer.

Seili first recognized show

Dressage taught me to stretch my horse’ top line, engage the hindquarters, and encourage my horse to step deeper under the belly at a trot as the energy carried through the body to the bit.

Seili and I did lots and lots of long and low trotting on a 20-meter circle to strengthen his top line muscles. As an adult amateur dressage rider/trainer, it took us several years to move from Training Level to First Level and then Second Level.

Several years of long and low didn’t prepare us for Second Level

Second Level dressage is when the horse demonstrates collection and balance through movements as the shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk pirouettes, and transitions between collected and medium gaits.

Several years of long and low didn’t teach us collection and balance. Several years of long and low taught us to travel on the forehand. Second Level was like starting our training all over again.

It took a couple more years of schooling Second Level before Seili and I were ready to show Second Level. The exercises of shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk pirouette, and transitions between gaits did their job to develop balance and collection. All along I had thought my horse become lighter and more balanced because I had engaged the hindquarters to step deeper under the belly with the hind legs, activate the abdominal muscles to lift the back and raise the wither. Then capture the energy through his body to the bit.

Yet it never occurred to me these balancing exercises activated the shoulder and pectoral muscles.

The chest muscles were never talked about: Not in my lessons, not in the clinics I attended, not in the books I read, not in the videos I watched.

My Trakehner/Thoroughbred and I began schooling Third Level dressage before his age took over, and we dropped out of competition. When Seili reached his mid 20s, I began searching for another horse.

Bumpy to Smooth Gaits

Seili’s bumpy trot made me long for a smoother ride. That’s when I began my search for a naturally smooth gaited horse.

On a cold February day, a just turning three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse named Makana met me at the fence and warmed my heart. She became my first smooth gaited horse on Valentine’s Day 2007.

I applied the dressage principles I had learned with my new gaited horse. We did lots of long and low on a 20-meter circle at a walk and flat walk to develop her top line muscles. I encouraged her to step deeper under her body to increase her depth of stride.

second thoughts about long and low
shoulder in

As Makana matured, I began balancing exercises as the shoulder-in, haunches-in, rein back, and transitions between the smooth gaits.

Then I learned of a DVD by Lisa Maxwell: Getting Started with Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell. This DVD introduced the counted walk—something I had never heard of before.

Jean Claude Racinet's book and Lisa Maxwell's DVD
Jean Claude Racinet’s book Another Horsemanship and Lisa Maxwell’s DVD Getting Started In Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell.

When I began teaching the counted walk to my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is when I began to FEEL balance like I had never felt before. Balance feels like she is lowering behind, rounding her back beneath me, and lifting her wither, neck and head while lightening her forehand.

counted walk

shoulder in on a circle with a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
Lateral exercises at a slow collected walk help the naturally gaited horse develop balance.

Still, all along, I believed that lightening the forehand and raising the wither were due to the engaging the hindquarters. Yes, this is part of the equation, but Dr. Clayton’s research opened my eyes. The important role the shoulder and pectoral muscles play in collection and balance is as much of an epiphany to me as it must have been to people who learned that the world was round, not flat!

Over 30 years of dressage study never taught the importance of engaging the shoulder and pectoral muscles in order to raise the wither and lighten the forehand until Dr. Clayton’s research proves it.

Now I know WHY the shoulder-in, shoulder-out, rein back, and counted walk are so effective in developing balance and collection. Now I know why I FEEL balance and collection during these exercises, because they activate the very muscles that lift the wither and lighten the forehand. 

What does Dr. Clayton’s research mean for the naturally gaited horse?

Thanks to Dr. Clayton I have new eyes of awareness as I ride and train my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, and fox trotting horse, Lady.

Do you have a gaited horse that feels heavy on the forehand, like riding in a car with no suspension in front as your horse pounds the ground with their front feet? Does your horse lean heavy in your hands?

Well, I did. That’s my naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady.

Long and low on the forehand
Here is my naturally gaited fox trotting horse, Lady, in a long and low position. While she is relaxed, she is disengaged from behind (not stepping deep under the body), has a hollow back and collapsed pectoral muscles. She is not effectively developing the top line muscles in the position, she is traveling on the forehand, and behind the bit.

Bit problem or posture problem

I had been conditioned to think “back to front” in my dressage riding. Before learning about Dr. Clayton’s research, I had been trying to engage Lady from behind to lighten the forehand. Lady’s response: rush quicker and get heavier in my hands. Not the result I hoped for. So I tried all kinds of bits. Same result.

Dr. Clayton’s research helped me notice when Lady gets heavy in my hands, it is because she is heavy on the forehand. Why? Lady had slouching chest muscles. Lady didn’t have a bit problem. She had a posture problem. It’s like Lady had a flat tire in her chest. Once I began to inflate her flat tire with chest-engaging exercises, Lady became lighter in my hands and more balanced.

2024 Lady pelham shoulder-in on a circle

Dr. Clayton’s research proves to me the answer lies in chest-engaging exercises to help Lady find balance and collection. Anytime Lady feels heavy in my hands, I transition her to exercises like the shoulder-in on a small circle and shoulder-out, pivot the fore, counted walk, or rein back.

These exercises activate Lady’s shoulder and pectoral muscles while they also engage the hindquarters and abdominal muscles. The result of engaging Lady’s chest-engaging exercises: she becomes more balanced, lighter in my hand, and lighter on the forehand.

Rein back
The rein back engages the hindquarters and abdominal muscles to lift the back and engaging the chest muscles raises the wither.

Whether you ride a naturally smooth gaited horse or a non-gaited trotting horse, Dr. Clayton’s research about chest muscles for developing balance can help you no matter what stage of dressage training your horse is at.

2021 Lady's smooth gait with contact
Lady’s smooth gait today has more balance and lightness.

Learn more about Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Many thanks to Dr. Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS for her equine research that can help us improve our horse’s quality of balanced movement.

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

French Dressage for Gaited Horses

Relaxing The Lower Jaw And Its Effect On Smooth Gait

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk

What effect does relaxing the lower jaw, mouth and poll have on quality smooth gait? Can comfortable equipment and flexibility exercises make a difference? Let’s take a look.

Relaxing the Lower Jaw and its Effect on Smooth Gait

By Jennifer Klitzke

If relaxing the lower jaw has a positive effect on improving the movement of non-gaited horse, I began to explore its effect on the naturally gaited horse and its effect on natural smooth gaits.

Four great books helpful in learning, understanding, and applying relaxation of the lower jaw are, “Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage: A Search for a Classical Alternative” by Classical French Dressage Master, Philippe Karl; “Another Horsemanship,” by the late Classical French Dressage Master, Jean-Claude Racinet; “The Gallant Mouth” by Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones, a Classical horse trainer and instructor, and “Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse,” by Heather Moffit a Classical riding instructor and saddle maker.

"Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage: A Search for a Classical Alternative" by Classical French Dressage Master, Philippe Karl
“Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage: A Search for a Classical Alternative” by Philippe Karl, a Classical French Dressage Master.

“Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage: A Search for a Classical Alternative” by Classical French Dressage Master, Philippe Karl is packed with details that have helped me understand French dressage and then I applied these principles with my naturally gaited horses. My horses are lighter to the hand and lighter to the leg. Together we are finding relaxation, balance and harmony leading to quality smooth gaits and a greater partnership.

DVDs
DVDs by Philippe Karl.

Karl also has terrific DVDs to help riders understand how to apply these methods with their horses and the School of Legerete has certified instructors who can teach you firsthand. Many of these instructors are able to do virtual lessons.

Learn More: philippe-karl.com/licensed-teachers and philippe-karl.com/worldmap

Jean Claude Racinet's book and Lisa Maxwell's DVD
Jean Claude Racinet’s book Another Horsemanship and the DVD Getting Started In Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell.

“Another Horsemanship,” by the late Classical French Dressage Master, Jean-Claude Racinet is another great book that explains how to help the horse relax through the mouth, lower jaw and poll. This includes the separation of the hand and leg aids which turned my understanding upside down and has helped my horses find relaxation, balance, forward movement without rushing, lightness to the aids, and harmony.

In addition, Racinet’s methods are also demonstrated in the DVD “Getting Started In Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet” presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell.

The Gallant Mouth by Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones
“The Gallant Mouth” by Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones

“The Gallant Mouth” by Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones, a Classical horse trainer and instructor, covers her research of historical Classical Dressage Masters. The book provides a detailed explanation to help the rider teach their horse how to accept and follow a light contact with lots of photos throughout.

"Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse," by Heather Moffit
“Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse,” by Heather Moffit

“Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse” by Heather Moffit. This book is a must-study for anyone desiring to learn the balanced riding position, what the hand, leg and seat aids are and how to effectively use and time of the aids. All of these elements directly impact the horse’s movement for the better. I haven’t come across a book that describes how to ride dressage with the horse in mind better than Heather’s book.

In addition to this Moffit’s book, she has developed the Online Classical Equitation Academy with hundreds of easy-to-follow video instruction. Learn more: Online Classical Riding Academy

All of these Classical dressage professionals apply these methods with non-gaited horses, but these methods work just as well for helping riders apply these methods with their naturally gaited horses to develop smoother gaits.

Comfortable riding equipment

Having the proper equipment makes it easier for the horse to taste the bit, swallow, and relax the lower jaw. Riding with a loose nose band (or none at all) is essential so the horse is able to mobilize the lower jaw, open its mouth to taste the bit and swallow.

For much of my competitive dressage years with non-gaited horses, we rode with snug fitting nose bands with a flash attachment or a dropped nose band. The purpose for these nose bands were to keep the horse’s mouth quiet. It was desirable if the horse produced a foamy mouth. We believed this indicated that the horse was flexed at the poll.

Ride with loose nose bands or none at all

Tight-fitting nose bands can lead to lower jaw tension and discomfort to the horse. They can press on sensitive facial nerves. Dropped nose bands can inhibit the horse’s breathing if too tight. Nichole pointed out that while some salivation around the lips is good, excessive foam dripping from the mouth can indicate that the noseband is constricting the horse’s ability to swallow. Sometimes a horse will grind their teeth when they are tense. That’s why it is important to ride with a loose-fitting nose band (or none at all). The horse needs to open its mouth in order to swallow and mobilize its lower jaw for relaxation.

I’ve noticed that all of the naturally gaited horses and non-gaited horses I ride have been lighter, softer, and more relaxed since I have been riding without a nose band. When I show English dressage, I ride with a loose-fitting nose band.

fulmer-full-cheek-snaffle
Fulmer snaffle bit (available in single or double jointed styles)

Snaffle bit

A comfortable fitting snaffle bit is also important in order to communicate with the horse. Karl begins a horse’s training using a Fulmer snaffle bit. These bits are available in a single or double joint. A Fulmer snaffle looks similar to a full-cheek snaffle, but the Fulmer snaffle has loose rings which make a difference with contact.

Relaxation exercises from the saddle

After a couple lessons on how to encourage the horse to taste the bit, swallow, and relax the lower jaw in hand, Nichole showed me the same exercises from the saddle.

Flexions using Action-Reaction

Flexion to the left
Flexion to the left stretches the right side neck muscles. My hands are raised in the “Action” cue.
flexion in extension
The “Action” cue asks the horse for “Reaction” to lower the head and neck. In this case, to the side in a neck flexion to stretch the outside neck muscles. The Action-Reaction can be applied as the horse is faced forward to stretch the top line and spine.

Flexions at a halt from the saddle

  1. At a halt from the saddle, I placed my outside hand at the wither and raised my inside hand, palm side up while vibrating the rein. This encouraged the horse to taste the bit, relax the tension in the lower jaw, and flex at the poll to the inside. 
  2. As soon as the horse flexed to the inside and began to taste the bit, I lowered my inside hand to the wither and gathered the slack of the inside rein so that I had an even contact with both reins. This meant that I had a longer outside rein and a shorter inside rein.
  3. We repeated this exercise at a walk with one important addition: my shoulders, elbows, and hands needed to stay relaxed and FOLLOW the natural head and neck motion of the horse.
  4. My relaxed arms, following the natural head and neck motion of the horse along with the horse flexing at the poll, tasting the bit, and relaxing the jaw brought relaxation and softness to the horse’s entire body. This improved the horse’s quality of movement.

When the horse is flexed 45 to 90 degrees to the inside, the inside rein is shorter than the outside rein in order to keep an even contact. This felt awkward to me at first until I experienced the many benefits for the horse:

  1. It stretches the outside neck muscles
  2. It prevents the horse from using its underside neck muscles
  3. It helps straighten the horse’s shoulders to find balance before introducing a circle

Fléchi droit

flechi droit
Flechi droit stretches the outside neck muscles while straightening the shoulders.
(Think about it: Can you stretch the outside neck muscles on a straight line?)

When the horse is flexed 45 to 90 degrees to the inside while its body travels straight is an exercise called fléchi droit. This helps the horse learn how to bend the outside neck muscles while remaining straight through the shoulders and body. When the horse is balanced on both shoulders and now overweighting the inside shoulder, then the horse can be directed into a small circle. After a few steps of a small circle, extend the reins so the horse can stretch into a neck extension. Maintain even steady contact and keep the horse’s poll no lower than wither height. This helps the horse maintain shoulder balance and pectoral engagement to stay light.

After a small neck extension circle, move forward along the next long wall at a flat walk neck extension to freshen the horse. Then the horse is directed along the diagonal to change directions and repeated the exercise. The horse is worked briefly in each exercise to condition the full range of motion.

flat walk neck extension
Flat walk neck extension.

Applications for the naturally gaited horse

Bending versus straight lines

How often do we ride our gaited horses on straight lines? We ride straight along the rail. We ride straight along the trail. It is easier to travel in a straight line and establish a consistent stride. However, think about the effect riding exclusively on straight lines has on the flexibility of the outside neck muscles. If the horse doesn’t bend or flex, it will compress the neck muscles. This can lead to stiffness and a ewe neck.

shoulder in on a circle with a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
Shoulder in on a circle with a 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.

Benefits of bending for the naturally gaited horse

Bending the neck stretches the outside neck muscles and the neck extension stretches the top line muscles and spine. The flechi droit is a great exercise to help the horse stretch the outside neck muscles for flexibility.

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. Pictured is the same horse at the age of 19.

Relaxing the lower jaw and its effect on the body

When my naturally gaited horses are relaxed in the mouth and lower jaw, they are more relaxed in the body. This produces quality smooth gaits. Less tense gaits like pace, step pace, hard trot, and rushed quick small steps of smooth gait. Riding without a noseband has helped my horses relax by giving them the freedom to mobilize their lower jaw, taste the bit, and swallow.

Also important is giving my gaited horses time to stretch their muscles and relax with me before our riding session. Exercises like the fléchi droit, shoulder in, shoulder out, haunches in and haunches out at a slow walk teach my gaited horses how to find relaxation, balance and flexibility and lead to symmetry. These exercises also help the rider connect with the horse through the coordination of the rein, leg, seat and weight aids in timing with the horse’s movement.

In the end, relaxation is meant to develop the naturally gaited horse’s full range of motion and quality smooth gaits on cue for long term soundness.

Video: How to Introduce the Gaited Horse to Accept and Follow Snaffle Bit Contact

Educating the Mouth: Why work in hand makes training easier

Beginning Lessons in Légèreté: Working in Hand Covers the importance of educating the horse’s mouth starting from the ground.

Following the Natural Head and Neck Motion

Beginning Lessons in Légèreté: Following Hands Covers the importance of following the horse’s natural head and neck motion with an even contact of both hands to a snaffle bit, and how this translates to the flat walk, running walk, and fox trot for naturally gaited head nodding breeds.

Learn more about Dressage for the Gaited Horse

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Sign up for the Naturally Gaited Horse eNewsletter and learn more about how dressage improves quality smooth gaits

Special thanks to Nichole Walters, the owner and instructor of Cadbury Farm, WA and Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones, owner, trainer, and instructor of Willow Grove, ID, who taught me the “Educating the Mouth” and “Aids to Lightness” exercises that they learned firsthand from Philippe Karl and his School of Légèreté instructor certification program.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits

Does your gaited horse have a smooth gait but short strides? Or does your gaited horse have a rough ride? In either case, I have experienced both and here are tips on developing longer strides and smoother gaits.

tips to a longer stride and smoother gaits

Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits

by Jennifer Klitzke

Like many of us gaited horse riders, I couldn’t wait to experience that comfortable smooth gait. In 2007, when I began my journey with Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, I quickly realized that the faster she moved, the shorter her strides became. Although this quick gait was smooth, I yearned for longer strides at the flat walk and running walk.

To achieve longer strides and smooth gaits, I learned that I had to begin by SLOWing down. By taking the time to develop a quality free walk, my horse learned to move in four evenly timed steps with longer strides. This groundwork transformed her flat walk and running walk from short quick steps to long smooth strides.

Video: Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits

How to develop longer strides at a free walk

What is a free walk

During a free walk, the horse takes slow, ground-covering steps while maintaining a relaxed and extended posture. The horse stretches its head and neck forward and out, making contact with a snaffle bit and an open throat latch.

The free walk is an even four beat footfall. It is not a pace. If your horse has trouble walking, don’t practice more pace if you desire a walk. There are tips in this post to help break up pace: Quality Step to Quality Steps | Naturally Gaited Horse

Riding with a snaffle bit and a light following contact

There are various approaches to training gaited horses, and my passion is French dressage to develop quality smooth gaits. In training, I use a mild snaffle bit to teach my horses how to relax their mouth, lower jaw, and poll, as well as how to accept and follow contact with the bit. As I ride, I maintain a light following contact with both hands to ensure a harmonious connection and communication with the horse.

Learn more: Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit

Why I don’t ride with low fixed hands

Relaxation of the mouth, the body and mind are keys to unlocking a quality, smooth gait with rhythm and long strides. This is why I teach my horses to accept and follow a snaffle bit contact, while I gently follow their natural head and neck motion with my hands.

When riding with low fixed hands, the bit can uncomfortably press into the horse’s tongue. This causes pain and leads to tension in the lower jaw and poll. In response, the horse may run off or over flex at the poll in an attempt to escape this tongue pressure. This tension not only affects the mouth, it also has a negative impact on the entire body, including a braced back which can result in more pacing, step pacing, and hard trotting.

Additionally, a noseband that prevents the horse from opening its mouth can contribute to the tension, and the horse may struggle to swallow, further exacerbating the issue. An indication of this is when saliva drips from the horse’s mouth.

For these reasons are why I believe it is best to ride with a light following contact using a snaffle bit and ensure the horse’s comfort and relaxation.

2023: Makana, my naturally gaited barefoot Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk (19 years old).
2023: Makana, my naturally gaited barefoot Tennessee walking horse
at a flat walk (19 years old).

Cues for the head and neck

To encourage my horse to stretch her head and neck forward and achieve a more extended posture, I position my arms at my sides and gradually lift my hands until I feel the bit touching the corners of her mouth. As she responds by lowering her head to a neck extension position, I follow her movement by guiding the reins down and out, until her poll is aligned with her withers. These asking and releasing cues are known as known as “Action/Reaction.”

During the free walk, I aim for an open throat latch, ensuring that my horse’s nose is slightly ahead of the vertical position. 

steps to a longer stride
2023: A free walk on a long rein. The horse extends its head and neck forward and out with an open throat latch. The horse takes maximum slow walk steps with over track where the hind hoof steps over the fore hoof print.

Maintaining a neck extension position during the free walk not only enhances the stretching and relaxing benefits for my horse but also ensures better balance. It is important to avoid a head and neck position that is too low, as this can shift too much weight onto the forehand, causing the horse to be out of balance and more prone to tripping. As a responsible trainer, I always strive to keep my horse in balance and avoid any training that may compromise their stability.

Cues for the length of stride

As I tune into my horse’s movement, I notice the side-to-side sway of her belly with each hind leg step. Then I notice my riding position. There is a balance between core tone and a relaxed lower back and hip joints that follow her natural motion. It is essential to maintain relaxation in my hips and lower back, as tension in these areas could lead my horse to shorter her strides. I strive to follow her movements with relaxation and core tone. Yet I avoid driving her forward with my pelvis as this can irritate the horse and actually cause them to slow down. Instead, I coordinate the motion of each hip joint with the corresponding hind leg step, almost as if my own hip joints are walking alongside hers. The belly sway also helps me with the timing of leg cues to encourage the horse to take a deeper step under the belly.

Leg cue

When riding a free walk on a 20-meter circle going clockwise, my right calf will be on the inside of the circle. As my horse’s belly sways down and to the outside of the circle, that’s when her inside hind leg is stepping under her belly and is the ideal time to cue for a deeper step by pressing and releasing with my inside calf. It is important to stop the cue as soon as I feel a response, otherwise my horse will begin to ignore the cue. If my horse doesn’t respond to my leg cue, I follow up with a tap of the dressage whip on the same side at the same time as the press and release of my calf. Another thing I do is make a “cluck” sound at the timing of the leg aid, and/or tap of the whip.

Noticing uneven strides

Asymmetry is common in horses which can be apparent in uneven strides, with one leg taking longer steps than the other. While lameness can sometimes be the cause, it is often a sign of weakness or stiffness. Just like humans, most horses are born with a dominant side, whether it be right or left-handed. As a result, one side of their body may stretch easier than the other. This can affect their stride length and overall movement.

Also, when riding on a circle, the inside of the circle is a smaller circle than the outside of the circle. If a horse is stiff on the outside, it can be harder for them to take a longer stride on the outside of the circle. I make a point to notice which direction my horse is stiffer so I can help my horse become more flexible. Over time, this work helps my horse become more ambidextrous with more even hind leg steps.

Noticing rider unevenness

The other observation I’ve made is that I have an easier riding direction since I am right-handed. This means if I’m always traveling my easiest direction, I’ll be compromising my horse’s development as well as mine as a rider.

Full length of stride

Developing full length of stride is more than just encouraging my horse to take a deeper step under her belly. This is only one half of the length of stride. The other half is the leg that extends back and pushes forward. Together the pushing leg and the carrying leg make the full length of stride. I have found that the best way to develop length of stride is to SLOW the walk down taking relaxed and deliberate big steps.

The full length of stride includes the hind leg step reaching under the belly which can be influenced by the proper timing of the rider's leg cue and the hind leg step behind the tail as it pushes the horse forward.
2023: The full length of stride (green line) includes the hind leg step reaching under the belly (red line) which can be influenced by the proper timing of the rider’s leg cue and the hind leg step behind the tail (yellow line) as it pushes the horse forward.

Slow walk to smooth gait

Why is it important to have a SLOW, big walk? A quality walk is composed of four evenly timed steps— the same sequence in the flat-footed walk, flat walk, and running walk. For horses that are naturally offer pace or step pace, the free walk can be beneficial in developing more evenly timed steps for muscle memory and smooth gaits.

Video: Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk

Circles over straight lines

I incorporate 20-meter circles into our training sessions for several reasons. Not only does the bend a circle produces help develop strength in the inside hind leg as the horse steps under its belly, but the horse develops flexibility when stretching the outside body muscles. The latter benefit cannot be achieved riding a straight line.

Also, circles are particularly helpful for horses that tend to have a lateral pacey gait. For horses that are more square moving or tend to have a diagonal trotty gait, I ride my circles with a slight counter bend position to maintain an even four-step sequence.

Myth buster: There is a time for longer strides, but not always

Now having focused this entire post about developing longer strides. It is important to realize that the higher levels of collection require more carrying power vs pushing power. This carrying power shortens the stride length. Not permanently, though, only for as long as you are performing the carrying steps of collection. As soon as you release your gaited horse back to the pushing power, the length of stride returns. Examples of carrying power movements and gaits include: counted walk, half steps, piaffe, and collected walk. Examples of pushing power gaits are flat walk and running walk.

I mention this because for many years, I had been expecting my Tennessee walking horse to maintain the same length of stride in collection. This is not realistic nor biomechanically possible. Just look at the photo below.

stride length: pushing power vs carrying power
Stride length: pushing power vs carrying power.
Learn more: Collection and its Effect on Stride Length

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Quality Step to Quality Steps

Are naturally gaited horses supposed to be smooth? Why do gaited horse fall in and out of a smooth gait or not at all? How can a naturally gaited horse develop quality smooth gaits?

Developing Quality Smooth Gaits One Step at a Time

By Jennifer Klitzke

Lots of people buy a naturally gaited horse believing they automatically offer a smooth gait all the time. Some gaited horses are all born with this ability, but most need training to develop a consistent smooth gait.

Dressage is one form of training for the naturally gaited horse to develop quality smooth gaits. Through exercises that develop relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, symmetry and engagement, a gaited horse can develop quality smooth gaits on cue.

How? With three important keys.

1. Know the difference between a quality smooth step and a step that is unbalanced, rushed, hollow, tense, or disengaged.

2. Practice quality smooth steps.

3. Stop and reward the horse before the steps get pacey, out of balance, tense or hurried.

In the beginning it might be one or two steps. Then it leads to a few quality steps. Over time the few steps become a few minutes of quality smooth steps.

Avoid practicing poor quality steps, because that’s the muscle memory you’ll create. Practice consistent quality smooth steps to deliver clear communication to your horse.

When my horse becomes unbalanced, loses rhythm and rushes, hollows or becomes disengaged, that’s a great clue to simply slow down to a relaxed and balanced walk and re-establish quality smooth steps.

When I’ve re-established a quality walk, then I transition to the smooth gait a quality step to quality steps.

Over time, a few quality steps turn into circles of quality steps. Seconds into minutes for longer durations of quality smooth gait over time.

How can you tell the difference between a quality smooth step from a smooth step that is unbalanced, rushed, hollow, tense, or disengaged?

I’ve been perusing my equestrian education since 1988 and there is always more to learn. Taking lessons, attending clinics, studying DVDs, reading books, and recording rides are great ways to learn. All of this helps me become a more effective rider and better communicator with my naturally gaited horses.

Good dressage lessons are important to gain timely feedback. This feedback helps the rider develop the feeling of right and the feeling of the horse falling out of balance, rushing, hollowing, tensing, or disengaging and knowing what to do to regain the feeling of right.

What if my naturally gaited horse paces instead of walks?

Again, a good dressage instructor can help you determine why your horse is pacing.

There are many reasons why a naturally gaited horse paces:

Sometimes the horse has developed the habit of pacing.

A dressage instructor can help you learn exercises like shoulder in, shoulder out, haunches in at a slow walk that help to break up the pace into a four-step walk.

Sometimes the horse paces because it is tense in the mouth and back.

Lateral exercises also break up tension and help to soften, supple and strengthen the naturally gaited horse.

Sometimes the horse paces because the equipment causes pain.

A good dressage instructor can help you find an english or western saddle that fits you and your horse without pinching or hollowing the back. An instructor can help you learn how to develop a balanced riding position (ear, hip, heal) over the horse’s center of balance. This helps to be an easier load to carry and not throw the horse out of balance.

A good dressage instructor can also teach you how to help the naturally gaited horse accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact. This relaxes the mouth, lower jaw, and poll and has an effect on the entire horse.

Sometimes a horse paces because the rider throws the rhythm off

The horse’s footfall rhythm can been disrupted when the rider cues at the wrong time. A good dressage instructor with teach you effective timing of aids.

Another reason the horse paces is when the rider doesn’t follow the natural movement of the horse’s head and neck, lower back, hip joints and leg with the belly sway. A good dressage instructor can teach you how to follow the horse’s natural movement without disrupting the timing of steps and without creating tension in the horse.

Sometimes a horse paces because it was born to pace

Is there hope for a naturally horse who was bred to pace? Yes, a good dressage instructor can help you learn all the above and your horse can learn a smoother gait.

Will it be easy? No, but with patience, joy, and perseverance, breaking free from a hard pace is possible.

Video: Quality Step to Quality Steps

In this video I share what I’ve learned from good dressage instructors
about developing quality smooth gaits — one step at a time.

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse