All posts by Jennifer Klitzke

"Dressage is more than trot...and the saddle you ride in." -Jennifer KlitzkeSome traditional dressage riders believe that dressage is ONLY for horses that trot. While many gaited horse owners believe that dressage will MAKE their gaited horse trot. Others believe that teaching their gaited horse to trot on cue will ruin their horse's natural gait.I challenge these notions and here's why...Dressage improves the quality of natural movement in a horse whether it trots or has a smooth four-beat gait.Dressage is a French term for training the horse and rider. Whether a horse is ridden in an english or western saddle; whether the horse trots or gaits, it doesn't matter. Dressage brings about the best natural movement whether the horse walks, trots, flat walks, fox trots, or canters.Why? When a rider grows in knowledge, awareness, and application of a balanced riding position with the horse's center of gravity and applies effective use and timing of leg, rein, seat, and weight aids to communicate with the horse, dressage improves relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, harmony, engagement, straightness, and collection. These elements improve the quality of movement and the full range of motion. For the naturally gaited horse, this means, smoother gaits, deeper strides, and a sounder horse for longer.Enjoy the journey!
Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows, Gaited Dressage Videos

Gaited Dressage at Rocking R

Gaited dressage at Rocking R

By Jennifer Klitzke

Rocking R Farm, Foley, MN hosted their second of three well-attended 2011 schooling dressage shows on Saturday, August 6, 2011 open to gaited dressage. I rode Gift of Freedom (Makana), my seven-year-old Tennessee walking horse mare in First Level, Test One and First Level, Test Two. We were the only gaited dressage team riding among 36 horse/rider combinations.

Instead of a three-day affair like last weekend, the Rocking R Show was three hours for us; this included two hours travel time! We were off to a frantic start since I didn’t plan for how long it would take to get there and arrived 20 minutes before my first test. Yet we missed the soaking rain storm that swept through the show grounds a half hour earlier. The overcast sky and rain cooled the temperature down to a comfortable 75-degrees and the precipitation made for excellent footing.

Judge Jane Linville remarked on our winning Gaited First Level, Test Two ride which scored 65.67%: “Wonderful pair. Solid test. Beautiful horse.”

We received 63.1% on First Level, Test One. The Judge provided great constructive feedback in areas we can work on improving before the next show.

Video: Gaited dressage first level, test two