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

Piaffe for the Naturally Gaited Horse

Naturally gaited horses can learn piaffe too

By Jennifer Klitzke

Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl believes that the upper level dressage movements like piaffe are not just for the talented horses. Average horses can learn them, too. (And so can naturally gaited horses!)

Piaffe for the Naturally Gaited Horse

Is it possible for the naturally gaited horse, particularily the naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse to learn advanced dressage movements like piaffe? Why not.

For the last few years I’ve been studying the work of Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl who believes that upper level dressage movements aren’t just for the talented horses. Average horses can learn them, too.

In addition, I have studied the book Another Horsemanship by the late Classical French Dressage Master Jean-Claude Racinet and the DVD Riding in Lightness created by his student Lisa Maxwell who is doing a fine job carrying on his legacy.

Together these teachings taught me the benefits of the counted walk and its impact on balance, softness, and engagement and empowered me to apply them to the naturally gaited horses I ride.

The photo above is me and Makana, my 14-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse who I ride barefoot and in a mild fulmer snaffle bit. We began exploring the counted walk a couple years ago and are now learning steps of piaffe coming from relaxed  engagement. It’s a dream come true to be learning piaffe and I never imaged that I’d be learning it on a horse that’s naturally gaited!

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