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 Exercises for the Gaited Horse

Rein Back for the Gaited Horse

Gaited horse rein back
Practicing rein back with smaller steps that bend and fold the hind quarters of my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse.

A quality rein back has many benefits for the naturally gaited horse.

Rein Back for the Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

Back in the days when I rode dressage with non-gaited horses, the rein back was commonly not introduced until the Second level tests. Since many riders never reach Second level, they miss out on learning the benefits of the rein back.

I took my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to a gaited horse clinic. The clinician introduced the rein back to horses and riders of all ages and training levels. After all, the rein back is a required movement in TWH rail class shows. Yet a quality rein back has great benefits for the gaited horse.

A quality rein back

In a quality rein back, I like to train my naturally gaited horse to engage from behind, bending the hindquarters, engaging the abdominal muscles, and lifting the back, chest, and wither. The horse needs to soften in the bridle without dropping behind the bit. Then step back with the hind legs leading versus the forelegs pushing back.

Also, important to note: In a quality rein back, the horse needs to walk back, not pace backward. The rein back is a diagonal foot fall sequence, not a lateral footfall sequence.

Benefits of a quality rein back

  • It rounds the back and engages the hind quarters
  • It diagonalized the steps which is helpful for gaited horses that tend to pace
  • It is a great transition exercise for horses that tend to get heavy on the forehand and lean on the bit
  • It is a great preparation to a canter depart and piaffe

Introducing the rein back to the horse in hand from the ground is a great way to help the horse understand the concept before teaching the horse from the saddle.

Cues for the rein back from the saddle

  1. At a halt, soften and round the horse by massaging the reins and a snaffle bit.
  2. Then draw your tailbone forward and tap on the horse’s sides in front of the girth with your lower leg and say “back.” It is the seat and leg aids that encourage the rein back. The purpose of the reins are to soften and prevent forward movement. The reins DO NOT pull the horse back.
  3. As the horse offers a step back, immediately stop cuing and let the horse think about it. Scratch the horse on the neck lightly and reward the effort.
  4. Repeat one step a few times and reward each time.
  5. Then ask the horse for two steps with the same cues and alternate your leg cue with the second step.

After the horse is consistent with the concept of rein back from the saddle, I ask for more deliberate steps backward. Sometimes I tap my riding crop on the horse’s shoulder to encourage the backward movement. Soon, the deliberate steps can be accomplished without the encouragement of the riding crop.

Another application is to apply the lower leg behind the girth and tap the riding crop on the horse’s croup. If the horse moves forward, close your fingers on the reins without pulling back. After a few tries, the horse will grasp the concept and produce a more engaged rein back.

If you’re interested in showing Walking Horses at rail class shows, the rein back is a required movement in most classes. So, get good at it and while you do, you’ll discover just how much the rein back improves the roundness and engagement of the forward gaits.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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