From me and my furry friends to you and yours, have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
—Jennifer Klitkze
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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A year ago, I acquired a three-year-old unstarted gaited horse thanks to the help of a friend. Today this four-year-old and I are riding dressage solo through the woods. Here’s a review of this colt’s first year under saddle with dressage.
By Jennifer Klitzke
Mary and I have been horse friends for many years. Then COVID closed the world and drew everyone apart. The internet helped us stay connected, at least 1D. It is hard to ride horses that way, though. Thankfully, my horses are near.
Only, my horses are getting up in age. So are we, according to my husband.
While my husband has been set on downsizing and golf courses, I am way too young for retirement. I know many who still ride non-gaited and smooth gaited horses into their senior years. That means I’ve got at least one more horse to raise. After all, whacking a ball with a stick hasn’t been my gig. (Dreams of gaiting the manicured greens, on the other hand, that’s my jam!)
“No. No. No!” Said my husband every time I brought up the idea of another horse.
On October 7, 2021, “No. No. No!” didn’t stop me. I went to see him anyway. His name was Marvel, a three-year-old, unstarted Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse gelding. I had a feeling about him. It became an even stronger feeling when I saw him. Kind of like seeing the puppy at the Humane Society, only x 10.
Just how would I convince my husband to change his mind?!
Meanwhile, my Facebook activity tipped off Mary. Likes and comments about horse rescues and rehoming gaited horses caught her eye. Unaware of my husband’s resistance, she offered to help with the rehoming fee. Turns out, her willingness to help, was enough to sway my husband’s “No. No. No!” to “yes.”
Elated, Marvel arrived October 16, 2021. It would be up to me now to prove this decision was worth pushing off his downsizing golf course retirement dreams.
My husband has witnessed the joy Marvel has brought the last year and realizes he doesn’t have to live on a golf course to golf (and we can push back retirement for another day)!
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.
If you study horse training from more than one circle of thought, you’ve probably encountered the word “correct.” Circles of thought collide when views of “correct” contradict each other and when one circle of thought is imposed on all.
Let’s take a look…
By Jennifer Klitzke
Over thirty-six years I’ve been devouring humane horse training methods—predominantly dressage as a form of communication and training with my non-gaited and naturally gaited horses. Even within dressage, there are colliding circles of thought regarding what is “correct.”
I have studied from many circles of thought that encompass my riding paradigm. Among these circles of thought are German dressage, French dressage, competition dressage, classical dressage, natural horsemanship, rail class, biomechanics of riding, holistic views, horse care, natural hoof trimming, cross country, stadium jumping, endurance, trail riding, obstacles, and cow sorting. Between each circle of thought are similarities and often sharp contrasts of “correct.”
Is one circle of thought “correct” for all riders and horses? I don’t think so. I am leery of anyone imposing their view of “correct” upon all.
What is correct within one circle of thought is wonderful. It provides a great guide to learn a particular horse training method. However, correct over all circles of thought is absolute, not open to learning, growing, improving upon, or finding more options.
It would be like saying, “To be correct, you need to adopt a jockey’s style of riding and training even though racing isn’t your gig.” Or, “To be correct, you need to apply bronk-style riding and training when you have no intentions of teaching your horse to buck or join the rodeo.” Of course, these ideas are ridiculous, but what if someone says, “All gaited horses must be ridden in a curb bit with contact to gait correctly?” Many gaited horse riders believe this. It is one way, not the only way.
Within many circles of thought, I embrace what I believe is humane training with respect for the horse. This means no harsh or dominating methods of training. No gadgets such as draw reins. No artificial enhancements to create excessive movement such as weighted shoes or caustic substances applied to the horse. No harsh bits such as long shanks or twisted wire snaffles. No tight nosebands, crank nosebands, or flash nosebands to force a quiet mouth. None of these harsh methods are part of my riding paradigm, yet I won’t impose my methods of training naturally gaited horses on anyone. I simply share my experiences for your consideration.
Most importantly, my horse training paradigm is still evolving as I learn new circles of thought. What works for one of my horses may not work for another. Teaching a green or newly started gaited horse under saddle will be different than how I ride a well-established smooth gaiting horse. Therefore, I love considering the hows and whys of different circles of thought. This adds tools to my horse training toolbox.
When one circle of thought deems “correct” for all is when circles of thought collide and divide.
“Correct” raises one above the others. “Correct” drives wedges between circles of thought and people. If each circle of thought is “correct,” which “correct” is the correct “correct”? That’s the problem with absolutes.
There are benefits to learn and apply one circle of thought before considering others. My dressage journey began over 36 years ago. I studied from one local German dressage instructor for 12 years. As I read books, watched videos, and attended clinics by other dressage experts, it quickly became apparent that there are differences of “correct” even within dressage. Having a consistent foundation with one instructor was helpful. This gave me a baseline to compare other circles of thought to. Yet, what is deemed “correct” within one instructor’s paradigm doesn’t apply to all—even within the same riding method.
It is more helpful when a circle of thought shares their expertise instead of imposing it on all.
Sharing a scope of expertise helps others learn and unifies. Imposing a scope of expertise on all removes critical thinking and divides one circle of thought from another. Positive vs negative.
A while ago I was introduced to a new circle thought. It gained my attention by aligning their methods with someone’s lifework who I highly respect. The author of this new circle of thought claimed to have international dressage expertise. Intrigued, I wanted to know more, and I paid the non-refundable membership fee.
The paid content led me into a dark side of self-promotion with extreme views of “correct” imposed on all— followed by spending more money for consultations.
I was eager to discover how this person was aligned with the lifework I highly respect. Unfortunately, there is no content surrounding this claim. It seemed to be a deceptive way to align themselves with another’s lifework to attract new memberships.
I searched the paid content to learn more about this person’s application of dressage, but there are no photos, videos, or demonstrations. Instead, this person hasn’t ridden in several years because they deem riding as “abusive.” I wondered what I signed up for!
Gasp! If this circle of thought becomes absolute correct, how long will it be before riding horses is deemed abusive and banned for all?
Facebook, YouTube, Google, and newly emerging AI technology are wonderful in gaining quick access to information. However, use caution because the information may be deceptive, untrue, fiction, or “incorrect.”
I’m onboard with people who share their opinion, but I bristle whenever an opinion of “correct” is imposed on all. Red flag alert if it is followed with a cost. It could be self-promotion.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
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Starting a gaited horse under saddle began with developing a relationship of relaxation and communication from the ground up!
Sixty rides later, it’s paying off!
By Jennifer Klitzke
With each horse I work with of any age, relaxation is the key. Relaxation of mind and body. A relaxed mind is a teachable mind. I help the horse focus on me and our training instead of being worried about distractions around us. A relaxed body is a trainable body and able to produce quality smooth gaits.
Most importantly, relaxation begins with me. I need to be relaxed in my mind and body in order to lead my horse into relaxation. This is helpful when working with a young untrained horse or whenever in the saddle.
It is important to note that relaxation does not mean lazy, dull or shut down. Relaxation means the absence of tension and anxiety in both me and the horse. Horses learn best from a relaxed handler and in a relaxed state of mind. A horse’s best quality smooth gaits are produced in a posture of relaxation.
Whenever the horse becomes tense, I redirect the horse’s focus, slow down or stop and regain relaxation. When a horse is tense, they often raise their head and neck, hollow their back, their whole body becomes tight, they hold their breath, they are tight lipped, their eyes grow worried, and their attention is fixed on what is causing the tension. In this state, the horse is not listening and not trainable. In a posture of tension, a gaited horse often paces, pace canters, or hard trots. These are the rough gaits we don’t want, right? That’s why relaxation of mind and body are key to training the naturally gaited horse.
There are many ways I help a horse relax, such as teaching them to draw their attention back to me, lowering their head and neck to a neutral position, breathing, chewing and swallowing, and relaxing their mouth and lower jaw. Beginning this education from the ground from the lunge line or in hand builds a great foundation of relaxation with lots of rewards for every good thing.
With a young horse, their attention span is short, and they are easily distracted. Knowing this, I break down training into small progressive steps with ongoing reminders to draw the horse’s attention back to me any time it drifts off.
I have been working with Marvel about 20 minutes, three days in a row with one day off. During our sessions, when Marvel responds to a cue, I will immediately praise with a voice aid like, “yes, good boy,” and stop and give him a treat. I reward him for every good thing. Then we repeat an exercise a couple times with a reward in between.
If we are working an exercise in one direction, we switch directions and do the same exercise. This is super important. Most horses are like people in that they are born right-handed or left-handed. Horses can be trained to be ambidextrous over time. Ideally, work the less developed direction twice as much as the easy direction. This will help the gaited horse develop more even strides.
Encouragement goes a long way with people, and it does the same with horses. A young, green horse has a lot to learn. Marvel is learning a new language, so it is my job to be clear and consistent day after day.
I used body cues by bringing my energy up and down, verbal cues, “Yes, good boy,” and rewards, treats, and breaks with moments of letting the horse rest in relaxation.
Later in training, I will introduce the snaffle bit to help the horse accept contact and follow a light contact. Then when we begin saddle training, I will add leg, seat and weight aids.
I used the mounting block in our sessions together to get Marvel used to me being taller than him and hearing my voice above him. Then I began laying my arm around him and placing weight on his back.
After establishing a relationship of relaxation and a consistent communication system, the next priority before saddle training begins is to access whether Marvel is physically developed to carry a rider.
During the first six months Marvel was at our place, he has grown and put on a hundred pounds. He will be four years old in June. I decided to wait until the snow and ice melted before I started Marvel under saddle. I began his saddle training in May, just a month shy of his fourth birthday.
Six months of groundwork and work in hand led to saddle training with my soon to be 4-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse. For our first time in the saddle, I wanted Marvel to get a sense of my voice and weight on his back before I got off.
I used a mild snaffle bit and a bareback pad. This made it easier for me to gradually get on by adding my weight over his wither, then move my knee onto his back, then my leg and foot to the other side slowly while watching how he handled it, and then I moved into position onto his back. It sure felt great to be on his back! I sat on his back a couple minutes and quietly dismounted.
On my second time in the saddle, I repeated the same slow process of getting on using the bareback pad. Then I asked Marvel to take his first steps with me on his back. Wobble. Wobble. Good boy! It was a short ride, only a couple minutes.
On our third time in the saddle, I again repeated the slow process of getting on using the bareback pad and then asked Marvel to move his hindquarters and his shoulders. We doubled our time in the saddle. What a good boy!
On our fourth ride, I added the saddle now that Marvel understands the concept of me being on his back. I don’t need to get on in steps like I did with the bareback pad. Since Marvel feels like I’m riding a water balloon, it is easier to maintain stability in a saddle with stirrups.
In this fourth ride, I asked Marvel to move forward. It is clear that I need to clearly separate my connection with the bridle when I ask for forward promptings of the leg. It is confusing if I combine a light contact of the bridle with the request to move forward. By separating the rein and leg aids helps Marvel move forward much easier.
Each ride we have increased our time in the saddle over the previous ride.
Marvel has had thirty-one rides in the last 10 weeks. Our last ride was our first time experiencing his smooth natural flat walk!
A good trail ride is in order if I can find someone to be the lead.
Oh, horse whisperer?
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.
All horses have natural gaits. So, what is the difference between a horse with natural gaits and a naturally gaited horse?
By Jennifer Klitzke
As a dressage rider, I help my horses develop their full range of motion and symmetry for quality gaits in a state of relaxation and balance for long-term soundness. My first 20 years as a dressage rider, I rode horses who naturally produced gaits as walk, trot, and canter. I rode and trained Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, and Mustangs. After riding the sitting trot for 20 years, I learned about naturally gaited horses that don’t trot at all!
All horses have natural gaits. Gaits they are born with. Not all horses are born with naturally S-M-O-O-T-H gaits as flat walk, fox trot, tolt, saddle rack, and other ambling variations. Naturally smooth gaits are what define a naturally gaited horse over a horse with natural gaits.
There are many breeds of smooth naturally gaited horses: Tennessee Walking Horses, Missouri Foxtrotters, Paso Finos, Peruvian Pasos, Icelandics, Kentucky Mountain Horses, Rocky Mountain Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, Standardbreds, and more.
The smooth gaits of the naturally gaited horse are what drew me to my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana. Her friendly, meet-me-at-the-fence, in-your-pocket personality surprised me. I learned this is common with many naturally gaited horse breeds.
All horses need to be trained in order to develop quality gaits and full range of motion. The same is true for naturally gaited horses. While the smooth gaits are inherent with the naturally gaited horse, the smooth gaits need to be developed through consistent training.
There are many ways to train a naturally gaited horse to develop the smooth gaits. My method of training is dressage. Through a balanced riding position and effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat, and weight aids, the rider communicates with the naturally gaited horse.
Learn more: Why Dressage for the Rider
In dressage a snaffle bit is used. There are no artificial gadgets, gait enhancements, or weighted shoes with pads used. The rider teaches the horse how to accept a light contact with a snaffle bit.
Learn more: Why Dressage for the Naturally Gaited Horse
People who acquire a naturally gaited horse often focus on developing the smooth gaits exclusively. I know I was at first until I discovered my naturally gaited horse is born with more gears than horses with natural gaits. Through consistent dressage training my naturally gaited horse has been trained to perform the full spectrum and scope of gaits on cue.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Makana has always been ridden barefoot (without shoes). Through developing Makana’s full range of motion and quality gaits on cue, she produces collected through extended natural gaits: counted walk, collected walk, free walk, working walk, medium walk, extended walk, flat foot walk, flat walk, running walk, piaffe, trot, fox trot, saddle rack, flying pace, and canter.
Learn More: Naturally Gaited Horse Gaits
Naturally gaited horses make great trail horses. Their smooth comfortable gaits allow the rider to cover more terrain in a shorter amount of time and their bodies won’t pay for it later.
Even more, through consistent training, naturally gaited horses are versatile. Dressage training has made it possible for my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to compete in dressage, jumping, endurance, cow sorting, trail obstacles, and competitive trail, more.
Learn more: Versatility of the Naturally Gaited Horse
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.
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