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

Connection and the Naturally Gaited Horse

Connection and the Naturally Gaited Horse

Connection and the Naturally Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

What does it mean to ride a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in connection? Did you know that connection can improve length of stride in the even four beat flatwalk and produce a better quality head nod in timing with the hind steps?

When I ride my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in connection at a smooth even four beat gait like the flatwalk, it feels like my horse and I are traveling as one in rhythm, relaxation, balance, forwardness and connection from her hindquarters through her body to a light snaffle bit contact. All this produces her best head nod at a flatwalk in even timing with her hind steps.

Did you know that rhythm, relaxation, connection, balance, and  forwardness are all elements of dressage to improve the quality of movement and won’t make your naturally gaited horse trot? It’s true!

For me, riding in connnection feels like riding that whole horse feeling!

On the other hand, when my horse and I aren’t in connection at a flatwalk, it feels like I am sitting in the middle of an independent front half and back half of a horse. Her back is hollow, she isn’t engaged from behind, her stride length isn’t deep under her body, she take short quick steps, she doesn’t feel light and soft on the bit, and her head nod is inconsistant and isn’t in timing with her hind leg steps.

The video below offers tips from lessons I have taken from my gaited dressage mentor Jennie Jackson. This video talks about riding the naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in connection to improve the head nod in timing with the hind steps. I hope you find it helpful in your riding.

Video: Connection and the Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse

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