"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!
“In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do, we ‘ask’ the horse to do,” says the French dressage clinician. These were humbling words when I took an honest look at my riding and its effect on my horse. Yet, it transformed how I ride today.
Make vs Ask: What Kind of Rider am I?
By Jennifer Klitzke
“In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do, we ‘ask’ the horse to do,” says the French dressage clinician. These were humbling words when I took an honest look at my riding and its effect on my horse. Yet, it transformed how I ride today.
Riding with Lightness clinic
In 2013, I brought one of my non gaited horses, to a “Riding with Lightness” clinic with Susan Norman, a classical French dressage instructor. She had been a 15-year student of the late Jean Claude Racinet and a 3-year student of Philippe Karl—both classical French dressage masters and authors. Susan, among others, introduced me to the teachings of Philippe Karl and his Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness).
Among the highlights are:
Slowing the tempo WAY down to teach the horse balance
Lightness doesn’t mean a riding with a long floppy rein—the horse needs to learn balance and self-carriage before releasing to a light contact
The introduction of demi arret and descent de mains (lifting my hands up to touch the corners of the horse’s lips and release when my horse stops leaning). This teaches my horse not to lean on my hands for balance, rather to carry his own head and neck
Yet, the biggest transformation came from a simple statement: “In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do, we ‘ask’ the horse to do.”
Experiencing the ‘Ask’ difference made me take an honest look at how I ride and its effect on my horse.
What kind of rider am I: ‘Make’ or ‘Ask’?
My Trakehner/thoroughbred, Seili in 2013 at 29 years old
Thoughtful, gentle, kind. That’s who I thought I had been as a rider when I began dressage lessons in 1988. That’s how my German dressage instructor taught me to ride and train my Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding, Seili. He was my best friend, and I thought I had always considered his needs.
In the German dressage system, I learned to confirm our training in the show ring. When we reached consistent scores of 60% or above, we were ready to move to the next level of training. Thirty years ago, achieving 60%-plus at recognized shows wasn’t easy to do. Over the years the scoring system has become more generous.
I unknowingly had become both an ‘Ask’ and ‘Make’ rider. I was an “Ask” rider at home (which is how my German dressage instructor taught me to ride) and a “Make” rider at shows: perfectionistic, demanding and controlling to meet the test requirements and appease the judge, my peers and the crowd of onlookers.
Adding to the pressure I took on, was how my horse reacted while being away from home: nervous, spooky, and tense—Seili became a monster.
I felt even more out of control. Fear overcame me. All I thought about was MY ambition to attain those 60s so that I could advance to the next level. (Or if I am really honest, be on the leader board, win, or at the very least, not be completely humiliated before my peers and a crowd of onlookers.)
I felt pressure because many of those watching knew Seili’s talent riding at home. Yet I could not understand why I couldn’t replicate this at a show. Seili was two horses: a calm and exceptionally talented horse at home and a monster at the show grounds.
Then Susan’s words repeated in my mind, “In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do, we ‘ask’ the horse to do.”
My riding paradigm at home is ‘Ask.’ My riding paradigm at a show had become ‘Make’.
My horse needed my support as an ‘Ask’ rider at a show. Instead of helping him relax away from home, my self interests clouded my horse’s needs. As a ‘Make’ rider, I felt out of control and frustrated that Seili didn’t meet my expectations.
I didn’t recognize my horse at a show. My horse didn’t recognize me at a show. Susan’s words helped me realize I had two horses because I was two riders: ‘Ask’ and ‘Make’. My horse became a monster in my own ‘Making.’
‘Make’ isn’t fun for me or my horse. ‘Make’ doesn’t relax me or my horse. ‘Make’ produces perfectionism, control, tension, and dominance in me. ‘Make’ creates more tension, resistance, fear, shutting down, and wanting to run away in my horse. Seili became a monster of my own ‘Making.’
If I am the leader in our partnership, I realized the importance of becoming an ‘Ask’ rider wherever we are together: at home or away from home. ‘Ask’ invites relaxation in the rider and horse, leading to harmony, partnership, and trust.
Obstacles arise at home and away from home. Yet, the answer is still ‘Ask’ which leads to relaxation. When tension or fear creep in, I need to help my horse find relaxation before I ‘Ask’ again.
‘Ask’ paradigm put to the ultimate test
After processing Susan’s words, I wondered if it possible to show dressage with an ‘Ask’ paradigm? Could I let the perfectionism of the test requirements go? Could I look beyond the crowd of onlooks and my peers while facing the judge’s evaluation as we rode through the test requirements? Could I let go of the fear of failing? The fear of losing control if my horse become a monster? Instead, could I focus on being an ‘Ask’ rider and lead my horse into relaxation, balance, engagement, rhythm and connection? Could I let go of the outcome?
I put this new paradigm to the test with my non gaited horse, Indy. Not only were my peers watching, my first riding instructor was watching, who I hadn’t seen in 34 years!
2014 winning dressage ride and highest score of the day with 73 percent!
Would you know that this dressage test became a test of a lifetime and a turning point. Not only was our ride the most joy-filled, harmonious, connected and relaxed dressage test I had ever ridden, it became proof that ‘Ask’ can produce wonderful results. It was our very best ride ever!
At the final halt salute, the judge popped out of the booth and applauded, “Bravo!”
My horse and I received the highest score of the SHOW (73 percent) and placed first among18 riders in the class.
This paradigm shift made all the difference. ‘Ask’ produced partnership and relaxation between me and my horse. I rode my horse like I would at home and this transformed my horse while at a show.
From that moment on, I became an ‘Ask’ rider with my non gaited and naturally gaited horses wherever we ride: at home, the trails, at shows, at cow sorting league, endurance rides, clinics and lessons.
Taking an honest look in the mirror has been humbling. Yet, it has been profoundly rewarding for my horses’ sake.
How to become an “Ask the Horse to Do” Rider
Showing dressage with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse with ‘Ask’ in mind.
Susan, among others, introduced me to the work of Philippe Karl and his Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness) that teaches this paradigm in great detail. I have been studying Karl’s book Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage and his DVDs: Classical Dressage (Vol 1-4), Classical versus Classique and Legerete 1 & 2. I do my best to translate and apply this philosophy with all of my horses.
Ecole de Legerete teaches a step-by-step progression in how to become an ‘ask the horse to do’ rider. You learn how to train your horse without harsh bits, big spurs. weighted shoes, chains and pads or artificial aids. You’ll learn how to lead your horse into relaxation of mind and body, balance, and impulsion to be light to the hand and light to the leg.
Legerete instructor, Linda Kaye Hollingsworth-Jones coaches me in organizing my aids to draw my naturally gaited horse’s haunches into the circle.
Then you’ll learn how to develop symmetry, flexibility, strength, and softness through lateral exercises that will help your horse become ambidextrous through its full range of motion and produce its best quality gaits. All the while, you’ll learn how to become an ‘ask the horse to do’ rider which will transform your partnership into joy and harmony whether at home or away at a show.
If you are interested, below are others posts I’ve written about how I have applied Legerete with my naturally gaited horses:
Happy Thanksgiving from Jennifer, Makana (bottom right) and Lady (center).
Happy Thanksgiving
By Jennifer Klitzke
It has been quite a year to say the least. And we have all experienced it in one way or another. Yet, I am thankful for another day to ride, another day to live, and another day to love.
I am thankful to have finally landed a full-time job six-weeks before COVID shut down the world. I am thankful to still have a job through this time of COVID while many people are on furlough.
Then a couple months later came the tragic death of George Floyd in my city that stormed the world with public outcry for justice. Many people lost their businesses to looting, arson and rioting. This impacted my husband’s business significantly. Again, I am thankful to have a full-time job.
A couple months later, my husband father passed away. Soon after my husband’s uncle passed away with COVID. He was a health man, who in fact was a high-level medical physician for decades. COVID is no respecter of person.
A couple months later, I lost my Arabian and less than two weeks later I lost my dog. So, it has been a sad year. Yet, I am thankful to still be working full time and have the opportunity to ride my naturally gaited horses.
My greatest apologies for my lack of gaited dressage posts this year. Since March, I have been working from 7am to 9pm most days with a break for lunch and dinner to ride. While I haven’t had much time to write, thankfully, I have been recording my rides. I have exciting insights to share about my experiences with Legerete for the naturally gaited horse. I have made a few gaited dressage posts and can’t wait to unpack more details soon!
I hope you all have a wonderful Facetime Thanksgiving with those you love and have some time to horse around with your naturally gaited horses.
I swore I would NEVER buy another mare…since her I’ve had three.
I swore I would NEVER buy a horse under 16 hands…since her I’ve had four.
I swore I would NEVER buy an Arabian…since her I’ve had two.
That was 24 years ago.
They said you can NEVER teach a trotting horse a natural, smooth gait. She taught herself.
She watched Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse move out in a natural smooth gait. I think she was smart enough to realize the fox trot was more comfortable on her back than the hard trot.
Saying Goodbye is Never Easy
By Jennifer Klitzke
Today, I said farewell dear friend, to my Spanish/Egyptian Arabian mare, a great granddaughter of the famous Morofic Egyptian Arabian stallion who was a standing sire for the Egyptian palace for many years.
I’ve been praying about this weighty decision for two months since her last vet call. Nearly 35 years old and missing many teeth made it impossible for Tara to eat hay of any kind to keep her warm. Unlimited Senior feed couldn’t keep weight on her. Then she began to wobble like a drunken sailor. Her lack of coordination was a sign of being 120-something in people years. Then came an early October winter storm that made it clear she didn’t have another winter in her.
Yet, to her very last day, Tara remained the top-of-the-pecking-order boss mare who was the first to greet me in the morning with a nicker.
Making the decision to say goodbye is never easy even though the vet encouraged the decision for a peaceful and humane ending. It was better than finding her on a bitter cold winter day fallen on the ice with no way to get back up.
Yes, that’s true. It still doesn’t make the weight of the decision any easier.
How Tara Squashed the Nevers
Back in the early 1990s, I was searching the Sunday classified ads for a kid’s horse since my 16.1H trakehner/thoroughbred Seilie (aka, Mr. Seilie Monster) was not suitable. Seeing an ad for a 10-year-old, 14.1H, registered, purebred Arabian mare caught my eye.
Why? She was small, an Arabian and a mare. The three things I swore I would never.
Yet, small was practical for kids and her affordable price overshadowed the latter.
After interviewing the man on the phone, he assured me Tara would be a great kids horse. She began as a trail horse, you know.
Arriving to his small hobby farm, I was struck by her beauty which blinded all the red flags:
He didn’t want to ride her to show me what she knew
He wouldn’t let me ride her or work with her to know what she knew
Turns out she was only trail horse at Bunker for a week because it didn’t work out. That’s when he brought her home for his wife (who didn’t ride), and there she sat for the last six years.
I hit the road with disappointment. I loved her look. She reminded me of an Andalusian, my favorite breed. And she had a white heart on her nose the kids would surely love.
A week went by and I couldn’t stop thinking about Tara. If Tara was a kid’s horse, surely he could ride her for me, right? If Tara was a kid’s horse, surely I should be able to take a test ride, right? I called the man back and asked if he would reconsider.
The man agreed as long as I signed a waiver that I wouldn’t sue him if I were injured. Red flag number four.
Well, Tara clearly had little training . On a scale of 1 (lazy) to 10 (hot), she was an 11 (firecracker). I figured I could work with her for a while and she would settle down.
Tara at 27 years old.
I remember taking her to the outdoor arena where I boarded. Tara was so explosive that riders began to disappear, one by one. No one wanted to ride with us, because she could rein back as fast as she moved forward and our steering wasn’t very good.
A year later, when she turned 11, I took her to the Brightonwood schooling show and rode her in three Training level tests. The first judge remarked, “Hmmm, perhaps you could look into getting your mare on some hormone treatment to help her settle down.”
Tara at Brightonwood, age 11.
The last Training Level 3 test was our best. (After schooling her for three hours, she had finally calm down.)
Well, ten years later. That’s how long it took before Tara became that kid’s horse after-all. She packed many young people around: Jumping, dressage, trail riding yee-haw style. Kid’s LOVED it!
Tara introduced many kids to riding including this 5-year-old who later returned as a teen to ride Tara.
One of the many kids who fell in love with Little Miss Tara.
Another ambition young rider with Tara.
Tara brought smiles to many adult riders, too.
First time on a horse for this teen and Tara took good care of her.
Another adult rider who enjoyed Tara.
Tara even brought smiles to many grownups, too.
A Gaited Arabian?
After I purchased Makana, my naturally, gaited Tennessee walking horse, Tara picked up a natural, smooth gait on her own. And because it was much more comfortable than her hard trot, I encouraged it. She still had her walk, trot and canter on cue, as well.
My naturally gaited Arabian. Call it a fast walk if you want: it is four beat and smooth with a head nod and her smooth natural gait is like a fox trot leaving my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in the dust.
One of my little friends who rode Tara was interested in showing Tara. She hadn’t been to a show since in 15 years, so I took Tara to a dressage schooling show when she was 26 years old to see how she would do. The judge commented, “The free walk on a long rein is not suppose to be a running walk!”
I would normally ride my Tennessee walking horse with a couple other gaited riders on the trail. One day I brought Tara instead.
Unloading her from the trailer, one of the gaited riders asked, “You’re going to ride an Arabian?! You’ll be trotting the whole time to keep up with us, you know!”
“Do you want to bet on that?” I replied.
Birthday ride with Tara when she was 24.
Little Miss Tara kept up with the gaited horses without breaking into a trot or canter! She was happy to be the brave leader or to tag along behind.
In fact, when Tara and Makana, my TWH went on trail rides together, Makana could hardly keep up with Tara’s smooth, what-ya-gonna-call-it gait.
Tara’s last trail outing at 30 years old riding across bridges my late father had designed while at the MN State Department of Natural Resources.
All-around Trusted Friend
Tara was my go-to horse for decades between the kids who came to ride. I could ride her anywhere, with horses or alone. She jumped, did dressage, trails, obstacles, sorted cows and team penning. We even rode bridleless. I wish I had gotten into endurance riding earlier in her life, because Tara would have been amazing!
Tara at 26.
Tara was the only horse I’ve ever trusted enough to give bridleless riding a try.
Team penning at 26 years old.
Dang, the cows were practically bigger than Tara! She had no fear.
Our first time sorting cows.
I rode Tara until she was 32 years old. Granted our rides were just hacks around the farm, but she still had spunk.
Me and Tara with Ernie enjoying the trails at our farm.
You are forever in my heart Miss Tara. You are the horse that turned those NEVERS into possibilities. You turned me into an Arabian lover, a mare lover and a short horse lover. You became the Arabian who learned a natural smooth gait, and you became that kid’s horse after all.
But one NEVER remains the same: Saying goodbye is NEVER easy.
Riding across the many bridges at Wild River State Park designed by my late father, Gerald Filson.
You and Mr. Seilie Monster are now running free on the other side of the rainbow bridge.
Does your naturally gaited horse lean on the bit? Have you tried just about everything to help your horse be lighter in your hands? It might not be your horse’s relationship with the bit.
The Missing Link to Lightness
By Jennifer Klitzke
Since 1988, I have been a dedicated and passionate student of dressage. Early on I was taught that horses were born on the forehand. It was my job to teach my horse to travel less on the forehand to be lighter. Which body parts are actually responsible for lightness? How do we achieve lightness? This has been a journey. Here’s our story and breakthrough to lightness with my naturally gaited horses.
Are True Bends True?
The first 20 years of my dressage education taught true bend exercises. This means directing my horse’s body bend to the arc of the circle or corner we are riding. I rode my horse from my inside leg to my outside rein to encourage my horse to step the inside hind leg under its belly and maintain forward motion back to front to the bit without popping through the shoulder. We practiced true bends because dressage tests required true bends through the corners and shapes as serpentines, circles and half circles.
To help my horse find balance, I believed I needed to transfer more of my horse’s weight from the forehand to the hindquarters through driving my horse forward using true bend circles. I rode lots and lots of true circles.
Hindsight is 20/20
Back then, I had no awareness of the role the shoulders and chest play in lightness. Although my horse was moving forward from behind and stepping under his body with the hind leg, I was unaware that he was still on the shoulders.
Lightness, yes, he felt light in my hands. Was it true lightness? In hindsight, no. True bends had produced forward movement onto the shoulders into a closed hand. I believed this was a light contact. In fact, I was proud to ride him in mild hollow mouthed double-jointed snaffle! What actually happened was my horse positioned his nose behind the vertical to avoid my hands. His poll was not the highest point. Instead, the highest point was his neck. My horse was light, because he was evading the contact.
I used to believe this was “on the bit.” Even though my horse was light, I see that my horse is behind the vertical, the poll is not the highest point, and the lightness was because my horse was evading a closed hand.
A New Approach to Lightness
Fast forward to 2014. That’s when I began studying French dressage. It opened my eyes to the importance of relaxation of the tongue, lower jaw and poll and its effect on the entire body. I began to learn how to help my horse accept and follow a light contact with a gentle snaffle bit beginning with in-hand exercises. These exercises help the horse find balance at a halt to carry its own head and neck. This means the horse stands in a way that lifts its chest and the horse finds posture while relaxing its lower jaw, tasting the snaffle bit, and following an even steady light contact with my hands.
Watch: Introducing Contact In Hand and In Saddle
Then the same exercises are done in saddle at a halt and then at a slow walk where I follow my horse’s natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms and hands.
If my horse leans on my hands, I apply a cue called “demi arret” which is an upward motion with the reins that make contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips. The contact communicates with my horse to stop leaning on the bit. It is the horse’s responsibility to carry its head and neck.
I worked with my naturally gaited horses in-hand and then from the saddle at a halt and then at a slow walk. This has progressed well.
Why isn’t the Demi Arret Working at Faster Tempos?
When I moved from a slow walk into the smooth gait or canter, I began to encounter heaviness in my hands with both of my naturally gaited horses. I was following their natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms and hands, yet they were leaning on the bit each time we advanced to more tempo. Hmmmm.
The demi arret has been effective in-hand and from the saddle at a halt and slow walk. I couldn’t understand why the demi arret didn’t seem to be working at a smooth gait or canter. Each time my horse grew heavy, I transitioned down to a slow walk to re-establish a relaxed and light balance and resume the smooth gait or canter.
Unveiling the Missing Link to Lightness
In October 2019, I attended my first Ecole de Legerete clinic with Master Instructor Bertrand Ravoux. There were many take aways from this clinic. Among them were two missing links to lightness I had been searching for in smooth gait and canter. No, it wasn’t a different bit. No, it wasn’t adding a gadget.
The first is a simple exercise that teaches the horse lightness and balance by activating the shoulders through counter bend neck rein turns. For me, this was a mind-blowing reversal in my dressage riding. True bend exercises had been so engrained in my riding that I couldn’t see the purpose for counter bends.
I thought, why train counter bends if true bends are required in dressage tests?!
What is a Counter Bend Neck Rein Turn?
The counter bend neck rein turn is an exercise that shifts the horse’s balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder. The outside foreleg steps forward while the inside foreleg steps into the circle as if the horse is extending sideways. It is a terrific exercise to activate the horse’s shoulders to create balance and lightness.
Counter bend with neck rein moves balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder.
Steps to Counter Bend Neck Rein Turns:
The rider positions the horse’s head and neck slightly to the outside bend enough to see the horse’s outside eye
To Turn: The rider draws both hands to the opposite side and motions gentle sideway nudges with the reins at the timing of the front leg in motion
Important: This is a shoulder moving exercise, not a hindquarter moving exercise; do not use one leg to activate an outside hind or inside hind leg, however, both legs can be used to move the horse forward
Counter bend neck rein turns can be done in serpentines, squares, figure eights, circles and random turns as needed for lightness
Think about it: if the horse is turning through the shoulders, they cannot be on the forehand or leaning on the bit, right?
What a Counter Bend Turn is NOT
This is how NOT to do a counter bend neck rein. Crossing of the outside leg over the inside leg throws the horse out of balance. The purpose of the counter bend neck rein turn is to move the horse in balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder. This will help the naturally gaited horse find lightness in their smooth gait.
How Counter Bends are True
After this clinic I began applying counter bend neck rein turns with my naturally gaited horses. We did serpentines, squares, figure eights, circles and random turns as needed for lightness. These exercises began at a slow walk, to a slow gait, and then we increased the tempo.
To my amazement, the counter bend neck rein turns have freed up my horses’ shoulders. My naturally gaited horses have become lighter in my hands because they are less on the forehand and more balanced overall.
Counter bends eventually improved the quality of our true bends—which actually are straightening around circles and corners since horse’s spines don’t actually bend. Horses’ spines move side-to-side with each step. How can the spine remain at an arc when it is in motion? It can’t.
The Source of Heaviness and the Missing Link to Lightness
Getting back to why the demi arret wasn’t working at faster tempos.
Effective use and timing of aids
First, I need to apply the proper timing of the demi arret with an immediate release (descent des mains) as my horse responds to the demi arret. The proper timing to apply the demi arret is at the moment the head nod is coming up at the flat walk, fox trot or canter.
Awareness of balance
Secondly, rebalancing. Previous to the counter bend neck rein turns, my horses were traveling on their shoulders. The counter bend neck rein exercise has freed up the shoulders and rebalance my horses and now demi arret works in the smooth gait and canter.
Any time demi arret doesn’t lighten my horse, I move the shoulders through counter bend neck rein turns until the balance returns and we proceed.
Counter bend neck rein turns have been my missing link to lightness and balance!
Counter bend with neck rein moves balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder.
Do you have a gaited horse that’s heavy on the forehand and leans on the bit? Counter bend exercises have helped my gaited horses find balance and lightness.
Counter Bend Balance and Lightness for the Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
For years I rode true bends along the arc of on a circle as I trained my non gaited and gaited horses. While the true bend helps the horse strengthen the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass, it wasn’t helping my naturally gaited horse find balance and lightness through the shoulders.
Why? Because my horses were on the forehand and I needed to teach a shoulder moving exercise before introducing true bend exercises. It wasn’t until I learned a simple but effective exercise called the counter bend neck rein turn that we found lightness, straightness and balance in the shoulders.
What is a Counter Bend Neck Rein Turn?
Introduced to me during a French dressage clinic, the counter bend neck rein turn became a game-changer on our journey towards balance. This exercise shifts the horse’s balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder. The horse’s outside foreleg steps forward while the inside foreleg steps into the circle as if the horse is extending sideways. It is a terrific exercise to help the horse find shoulder balance, straightness, and lightness.
How Counter Bends are True
After this clinic I began applying counter bend neck rein turns with my naturally gaited horses. This exercise began at a slow walk before increasing the tempo to a slow smooth gait. We did counter bend turns in a variety of patterns such as serpentines, squares, figure eights, circles and random turns any time we needed to regain balance and lightness in the shoulders.
To my amazement, the counter bend neck rein turns have freed up my horses’ shoulders and improved the quality of our true bends. My naturally gaited horses have become lighter in my hands because they are less on the forehand and more balanced overall.
Counter bend with neck rein turn moves balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder.
Steps to the Counter Bend Neck Rein Turn:
With an equal light contact with both reins riding in a snaffle bit, I position the horse just enough to see the outside eye while keeping the neck straight.
To turn, I draw both hands toward the inside of the circle (opposite side of the bend) with gentle nudges in timing with the inside shoulder as it begins to lift forward. This encourages the inside leg to move forward and slightly into the circle. The outside leg continues straight and forward. The front legs do not cross over the inside leg for the counter bend turn.
Important tip: This is a shoulder moving exercise, not a hindquarter moving exercise. The rider uses the reins to move the shoulders, not the legs. The rider only uses the legs to cue the horse forward as needed, not to activate an outside hind leg or inside hind leg.
I like to start the counter bend exercises at a SLOW walk until I am organized with my aids in timing with my horse’s shoulder steps and that my horse understands the concept of the exercise before we progress to more tempo at a walk or smooth gait.
Counter Bend Applications: Counter bend neck rein turns can be applied on a serpentine by changing the counter bend at each turn, on a figure eight and changing the counter bend in the center, on a square by applying a counter bend neck rein turn at each corner, on a circle by maintaining a counter bend, or a random counter bend turn any time I feel the need to rebalance and straighten the shoulders.
What a Counter Bend Turn is NOT
This is NOT a counter bend neck rein turn. Crossing the outside foreleg over the inside foreleg throws the horse out of balance instead of moving the shoulders in balance. The purpose of the counter bend neck rein turn is to move the horse in balance from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder. This will help the naturally gaited horse find lightness in their smooth gait.
Counter bend on a circle at a fox trot in regular and slow motion.
Counter bend turns have helped my naturally gaited horses became lighter on the forehand, lighter in the bridle, more balanced in the shoulders. Then I began to re-introduce true bends, shoulder-in and shoulder-fore exercises as long as Lady remained light in the shoulders. I began to notice improvement in engagement and lifting her back to a neutral position.
Together the counter bend and true bend exercises have improved bit acceptance, balance, engagement from behind, activating the abdominal muscles to lift the back, and lifting the chest and shoulders, plus Lady’s naturally smooth fox trot is getting faster without breaking into a hard trot!
Counter bend neck rein turns have helped us find lightness and balance in the shoulders and now I can apply shoulder in and haunches in with greater balance and effectiveness!
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