"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!
Have you longed to learn dressage with your gaited horse, yet have a trail horse that detests arena work? That’s me and Lady.
Gaited Dressage for the Trail Horse
Not all horses are wired the same. That includes my naturally gaited fox trotting horse Lady. I began riding her in the arena, because that’s how I’ve introduced all of the horses I’ve ridden to dressage over the years.
Lady is a marvelous trail horse, and I quickly discovered that she didn’t understand the purpose of riding in an arena without a change of scenery!
Instead of fighting with her, I brought Lady to her happy place—the trail. And that’s where we work on our gaited dressage. We use natural obstacles to maneuver around such as trees and the fire pit. Then we leg yield from one side of the path to the other, followed by a soft halt, and a gentle and slow rein back, to a slow balanced walk, and then transition to her easy gait before transitioning back to a free walk on a long rein.
Gaited dressage on the trail helped our training in 5 ways:
1) Passenger to Participant
Instead of being a passenger and let Lady follow the trail, I became an active participant in our relationship through the exercises and transitions,
2) Tuning Me Out to Listening
By being present with Lady and guiding our travels, it gave gave her a reason to stay dialed in to me instead of just following the trail.
3) Tension to Harmony
During our ride on the trail Lady lost the tension she had in the arena and we developed more harmony.
4) Fight and Flight to Trust
Working together on our journey through the woods helped Lady and I develop a partnership of trust. Lady began to listen to me for the next cue, release and reward. This helped establish me as the trusted leader of our relationship where Lady looked to me over her fight or flight defenses.
5) Developing the Basics of Gaited Dressage
While on the trail, we began to ride the elements of a low level gaited dressage test by establishing relaxation, rhythm, balance, connection, and forwardness, as well as developing harmony and softness. While I worked on applying effective aids and reinforcing a balanced riding position.
Lady seemed happy working gaited dressage on the trail. Come to think of it, so did I.
Dressage on the trail has become a new kind of training for me—training without walls in the beauty of nature which feeds my soul while freeing me of the rigidity and perfectionism that often plague me in the arena.
Let me know your thoughts if you’ve given dressage on the trail a try.
Many gaited riders choose to ride still or to ride with a long floppy rein. So, why follow the natural head and neck motion of the gaited horse with relaxed arms, shoulders, hands and fingers? If dressage is your riding style, here’s something to consider.
Following the Head and Neck of the Gaited Horse with Relaxed Arms & Rubber Band Fingers
By Jennifer Klitzke
When I returned from my Seattle vacation last Fall, I was excited to try out all I learned from Nichole Walters, a student of Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl. I was especially curious about following the natural head and neck motion of my naturally gaited horse with relaxed shoulders, arms and hands.
Granted, I rode non gaited horses at Nichole’s farm. Yet a trotting horse walk expresses an even four-beat gait. The head and neck nods naturally with each step. This is where Nicole encouraged me to relax my shoulders, back, and arms so that I would follow the horse’s motion.
It got me thinking. This seemed like a direct take-a-way for how I ride my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and fox trotting horse. It was critical that I learn to follow the natural head and neck motion while maintaining a light, even contact.
After publishing the video: Following the Motion of the Head Shaking Horse, I received a great tip from someone on the Naturally Gaited Facebook page. Along with following the natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms, a women encouraged to open and close my fingers with each head nod. This is what I call “rubber band fingers.”
I began giving this idea a try with both my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and my fox trotting mare.
Along with following the natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms and rubber band fingers are leading my naturally gaited horse into:
Relaxation: relaxed in the mind and relaxed in the jaw and back which will help break up pace.
Balance: so my naturally gaited horse will carry equal weight on all four legs and not be heavier on the forehand or leaning on the bit.
Rhythm: that my naturally gaited horses tempo is even, steady, forward, and not rushing.
Engagement: that of the hind leg steps deeper under the body more than trailing behind the tail.
Straightness: so that the shoulders are carrying equal weight and the horse isn’t leaning on the inside shoulder or bulging the outside shoulder.
I am seeing great results from combining these elements. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse’s head nod is more defined and regular in timing with the hind leg steps. Her rhythm is more even, and she seems more forward and engaged from behind.
Video: Following the Motion of the Head & Neck
I hope you find this video helpful. Please let me know your thoughts by completing the contact form.
Relaxation, Softness & Engagement in the Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Wowzers, was she ever a hot tamale! After five months of Minnesota winter off, this was Lady’s second ride of the Spring.
Lady is my friend’s naturally gaited fox trotting horse. She is ridden barefoot and in a snaffle bridle. In this riding session, we focused on relaxation (of mind and body), softness in the jaw, and engagement (stepping deeper under the body).
With a little persistence, gentleness, and encouragement, Lady settled into some rather nice fox trotting that was relaxed, soft, and balanced, with good rhythm and engagement.
Video: Relaxation, Softness & Engagement in the Naturally Gaited Horse
I hope you find this video helpful. Please let me know your thoughts by completing the contact form.
Many of you know me as an avid gaited dressage equestrian and the author of Naturally Gaited, but I am also a daughter of a gentle, kind and generous man with unwavering integrity and a brilliant mind who lost his battle to Alzheimer’s disease on January 25, 2017, at the age of 77. The day my dad passed away, we had an angel encounter without even knowing it.
Angels Unaware
By Jennifer Klitzke
As a child, Dad grew up around work horses, Dolly and Sally. His Grandfather was a blacksmith for the logging mill where horses earned their keep.
Unfortunately, the love for horses didn’t gravitate to Dad, so he didn’t raise me up with them. Mom and Dad prayed I’d outgrow this insanity for horses.
Nope. Horses were in my blood, and it wasn’t until I moved out, acquired my first real job, saved up my money, and bought my first horse in 1988. She was an off-the-track-thoroughbred named Seasons. I bought her for trail riding, jumping and dressage. Dad kept asking me when I’d be racing at Canterbury. He was sure we’d be a winner.
Me and Seasons 1988
Dad had great faith in me. His support was always with me whether or not I had a winning [race] horse.
In January 2017 I lost Dad to a long and grueling battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Most people knew him as Jerry. I knew him as Dad.
He was a complex character of eclectic interests: an outdoorsman, a country western singer, a rose grower, a videographer, a polka dancer, and an artist.
Dad was a man of few words, a deep thinker, an off-the-chart introvert, and proud to be 100% Finnish.
He was a man of principle; quiet and reserved. Not an easy guy to strike a conversation with, unless you like to do all the talking. He wasn’t much for idle chit-chat at the water cooler. In fact, as Chief Design Engineer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, he was known for conducting staff meeting right before lunch in a room without chairs!
I knew my Dad as a kind, gentle, genuine, and generous man with unwavering integrity. I knew this, not by what my Dad said, but by how my Dad lived.
Me and Dad 1964
My dad was a wonderful provider for our family, a loyal husband to my mom for 54 years, and he was a supportive father of two daughters, me and my sister, Julie. I saw his generosity throughout his life of serving others, notably his family, as well as decades of volunteer work with the Minnesota Horticultural Society, City of Cottage Grove, and the Lutheran church.
Whenever I had car trouble, my dad would drop everything to help me. (My first car was a Ford Pinto, which explains just how often I needed his help!) That was every winter when my car wouldn’t start, every spring when my car got stuck in the mud, and every summer when my car would overheat. Not to forget the times I accidentally locked my keys in my car or got a flat tire. Dad would be there, greeting me with his delightful grin.
As a child my dad taught me how to ride a bike. He ran alongside me to keep me steady until I found my balance and began pedaling on my own.
Dad taught me how to build the best paper airplanes, and he showed me how to construct and fly a kite.
Dad brought me fishing in Northern Minnesota to places he fished as a boy—places where the lunkers live. One summer, Dad took my family to the Boundary Waters where we canoed, portaged, and camped on our very own island.
Me, Mom and Sis at the Boundary Waters 1970 (Dad took the photo)
As a family we always ate dinner together, and on the weekend we’d do things like go bowling, go on picnics, or play catch with the softball. Dad even became our softball coach. One of my favorite memories was when we played the undefeated team. Whenever a fly ball came to right field, our fielder would hide behind her glove. On this particular day, the ball landed right in her glove. My Dad ran into the field and shook her hand!
Dad coached my softball team, 1979
Over the years, my dad had volunteered countless hours caring for the roses at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. In 2002, my husband and I were married there. Dad walked me down the grassy aisle at the rose garden and then he captured the ceremony on video. It was a special day, a special place, and a special memory.
Dan and I married in the MN Landscape Arboretum Rose Garden 2002
When my husband and I moved to our farmhouse, Dad gave me several rose plants he had started from seed. These are treasured keepsakes of my dad every summer when they bloom.
Dad’s Roses
In 2010, Dad came to my college graduation and recorded the ceremony. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree and now both of his daughters had reached this milestone.
During this time Alzheimer’s began to steal my Dad away.
It didn’t seem fair. His parent lived sober-mindedly into their 90s. Dad thought he had longevity on his side. Mind over matter, Dad put up a good fight, but Alzheimer’s continued to erode away his mind.
In 2012, our family took a last-minute road trip to New Orleans and celebrate my mom and dad’s 50th Anniversary. I continued to take Mom and Dad on short road trips to Galina, IL, Munsinger Gardens, and the Apostle Islands before Alzheimer’s overcame Dad’s life.
Mom and Dad, Munsinger Gardens 2014
The last three years have been agonizing for my family, but Alzheimer’s doesn’t define who my Dad was, and Alzheimer’s doesn’t have a hold on him anymore.
I will always remember my dad as a kind, gentle, genuine, and generous man with unwavering integrity. I miss you, Dad. I miss you.
The day after my Dad had passed away, my Mom, Sister and I met with the funeral Chaplain. She showed us the funeral program options. Among them was a cardinal. All three of us gravitated to this program because of my Dad’s great love for birds.
“Do you know the significance of the cardinal?” asked the Chaplain.
We shook our heads, no.
She said the cardinal is symbolic of those who have departed and come back to escort a loved one on to eternal life.
Mom, Julie and I burst into tears because just hours before Dad had passed away, a male and female cardinal had perched in the snowy tree outside of his room. It seemed odd as there were no bird feeders around. The pair perched in the tree for 15 minutes—long enough for their presence to be noticed. Dad was close to his parents who had both passed away just a few years before.
My Grandma had faith in Jesus, and I shared my faith in Jesus with Grandpa and Dad for the hope of eternal life.
There was no doubt in my mind God had sent the male and female cardinal as angels to give us hope that Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad are with Jesus until one day we join them for eternity.
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
At a halt, soften and round the horse by massaging the reins and a snaffle bit.
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.
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.
Repeat one step a few times and reward each time.
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.
Instead of fighting with her, I brought Lady to her happy place—the trail. And that’s where we work on our gaited dressage. We use natural obstacles to maneuver around such as trees and the fire pit. Then we leg yield from one side of the path to the other, followed by a soft halt, and a gentle and slow rein back, to a slow balanced walk, and then transition to her easy gait before transitioning back to a free walk on a long rein.
5) Developing the Basics of Gaited Dressage
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