Develop awareness of feel while riding—the feeling of hollow, the feeling of round, and the impact each have on smooth gait. Here’s an exercise that can help..
Rein Back to Smooth Gait
By Jennifer Klitzke
My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana has a rather long back for her size, and she has been rather stiff. That’s one of the biggest reasons why I registered for another gaited horse clinic with Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer.
At last year’s gaited horse clinic, Larry and Jennifer showed me ways to unlock tension and set us on a course to balance and relaxation.
The importance of saddle fit
At this clinic, Larry and Jennifer helped me address my horse’s back bracing issues. We began with saddle fit.
Since 2007, I have tried nine different saddles to find one that fits Makana. I’ve ridden in round skirted western saddles, dressage saddles, gaited saddles, and treeless saddles. Most saddles have been too narrow which pinched her shoulders and restricted her movement. The saddle I have been riding in is an all-purpose saddle which seemed to fit.
At closer examination, the saddle fit my horse in the cross ties. It had plenty of clearance over her wither—until I sat in the saddle. Then the saddle sank and rested on her wither. This is likely a big reason Makana was bracing her back.
Larry switched to his saddle with a gaited tree. It fit perfectly (in and out of the cross ties), and we proceeded with the lesson.
The feeling of hollow, the feeling of round and its impact on movement
Larry and Jennifer helped open my riding awareness to the “feel” of my horse’s back. They challenged me to notice when my horse feels hollow and when it feels round and then pay attention to how each impact her movement.
When my horse hollows her back, she loses forwardness, impulsion, and the depth of stride. Cueing her forward while hollow only makes her take short, quick steps. She feels smooth, but she is not producing the smooth quality four-beat flat walk she is capable of.
Larry explained how I needed to improve the bio-mechanics of my horse’s way of going. Instead of driving her forward while hollow, I needed to help Makana engage her abdominal muscles to lift and round her back before encouraging her forward with relaxed deeper steps.
Rein Back and Forth to Smooth Gaits
Larry taught me a great exercise that helped my horse engage her abdominal muscles to lift her back.
Rein Back to Forward Steps
- Beginning at a soft and round halt, I gently cue my horse three to five steps of slow and steady rein back
- Then halt and gently cue my horse three to five steps forward and halt
- Repeat the back and forth sequence three times
- The exercise is not rushed or forced
- It is important that the horse remains relaxed and round from nose to tail
- Once the horse feels lifted in the back during the last sequence of back and forth, then continue to move forward and maintain the feeling of relaxation and engaged abdominal muscles to lift the back
- When introducing this exercise, I only asked for a step or two of rein back
How to perform a quality rein back for smooth gait:
- For the rein back, I close my fingers on the reins without pulling back. This tells the horse don’t go forward. Then I draw my heels slightly behind the girth, hold my weight in my thighs and move my pelvis upward to lighten my seat. If my horse feels hollow, then I hug my horse with my heels to encourage her to engage her abdominal muscles and lift her back.
- The forward cues are opening my fingers without giving away the reins, move my pelvis forward and squeezing and release my calves if needed to move forward.
- Repeat the back and forth three times until I feel my horse’s back lift the saddle beneath me. Then I proceed forward ending the exercise and maintain the roundness in her back, the connection back to front, and engagement for deeper steps.
So each time I feel my horse’s back begin to sag, I repeat the “Rein Back and Forth to Better Movement” exercise and then resume where we left off before the exercise. This exercise has made a big difference in my horse’s movement and willingness to go forward.
Makana is happy that I am now on saddle number ten that is wide enough for her shoulders and tall enough to clear her withers.
Does anyone want to buy a saddle?
Video: Back and Forth to Better Movements
More Exercises for the Gaited Horse to improve smooth gaits.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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Boy do I hear you!
I’ve been through countless saddles with my TWH. My Passier Relevant fits us both perfectly. Problem is for riding out. A dressage saddle just doesn’t do it for this hilly terrain here in north Geogia.
Tried everything including western (how do people lift those things? And when I sat in most all of them I said “where’s my horse?”), Gary Lane’s saddle (so wanted to like it!), gaited saddles — you name it. Ended up with an all purpose saddle. Henri de Rivel.
Now I have a new Hertage TWH filly who’s built differently than my gelding – short back – so soon it’ll be time for another saddle sleuthing. Will look at Larry’s saddle. Thanks!
Thanks for writing. Yes, it is hard to find a saddle that fits the horse and rider and is suitable for the type of riding your doing. The saddle I’m riding in is a Wintec Isabell which is great for dressage riding, but what about team penning, sorting cows, trail riding and jumping? Oh, no! Looks like I’m off to buy another saddle!