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!
Gaited Horse Training

Long and Low for the Gaited Horse

Flat walk long and low

A long and low riding position at a walk or flat walk helps the naturally gaited horse relax, stretch, and strengthen the topline muscles of the neck and back. This can help break up a tense and nervous pace with a four-beat walk sequence.

Long and Low for the Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

Riding your gaited horse in a long and low frame can improve the quality of all gaits. In dressage, long and low is called free walk on a long rein. The free walk on a long rein is a great way to start a young green horse, as well as begin and end every ride on a horse of any level of training. This long and low position helps the horse relax and stretch the top line muscles. It also helps the horse slow down into a four-beat walk sequence with maximum over track.

The DVD “Training the Gaited Horse from the Trail to the Rail” by well-known naturally gaited horse trainers Gary Lane with Anita Howe offers tips to resolve pacing by using long and low.

While riding Tennessee walking horses, Anita builds the foundation in the easy gaits by encouraging a forward flat walk on a long and low frame. Over time of consistent and regular training, the naturally gaited horse develops topline muscles along the neck and back while establishing a consistent four-beat step. Then more tempo can be added into the smooth gait.

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