Did you buy a gaited horse and wonder why it paces, has a hard trot or doesn’t stay in a smooth gait consistently? I did.
Here’s my story…
I bought a gaited horse, why doesn’t it have a smooth gait?
By Jennifer Klitzke
Does a gaited horse need special shoes or does a farrier need to trim a gaited horse at special hoof angles for a smooth gait? Do you need a certain bit or a gaited saddle? Does a gaited horse a professional trainer to make the horse smooth?
Smooth gaits are genetic to gaited horse breeds, such as the Tennessee walking horse, Foxtrotter, Paso Fino, Rocky Mountain, Icelandic, among others. Each gaited horse breed has a unique set of natural smooth gaits as the flat walk, running walk, fox walk, fox trot, largo, saddle rack, tolt, to name a few.
I watched people riding these smooth breeds. They aren’t bouncing. They are smiling at the end of a trail ride. Their bodies aren’t paying for it later. Ecstatic, I exclaim, “I gotta get myself one of those smooth gaited horses!” What say you?
Here’s my story to a smooth gait
Me, I had thirty years dressage riding and training the walk-trot-canter horses. Smooth gaits like flat walk, running walk, fox trot, tolt and saddle rack were just as foreign to me as head nodding, ear flopping, and teeth clicking.
All I knew is my youthful mind grew into a grandma body. I didn’t want to give up riding. I just I wanted a smoother horse to ride.
How to train a naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse
Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse filly.
In 2007 I acquired my first smooth gaited filly, a three-year-old, naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse with 20 rides on her when she became mine.
Dressage had been the only form of riding I knew. Yet, the competition world told me dressage is ONLY for horses that trot. Gaited horse owners said dressage would MAKE my gaited horse trot. Others said dressage would RUIN my horse’s natural smooth gaits.
Okay, so how do I train my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse?
I looked for books and scoured YouTube for videos about training Tennessee Walking Horses. Then I came across videos showing the horses moving in exaggerated and unnatural ways. Wondering why, I noticed the horses’ long toes strapped with thick pads and big shoes. Chains clanging around their ankles. The riders sat back on the horses’ loins and hunched forward. They wore long spurs and drove their horses forward into two-handed contact with big shank bits. The horses’ expressions looked tense and distressed.
This wasn’t the training I grew up with. If this is how Tennessee Walking Horses are trained, I would have NO part of it! Dressage is all my barefoot Tennessee Walking Horse would know.
That’s when I set out to discover “dressage is more than trot.”
If this is how Tennessee Walking Horses are trained, I would have NO part of it! Dressage is all my barefoot Tennessee Walking Horse would know.
That’s when I set out to discover “dressage is more than trot.”
Dressage is humane. (At least the dressage I have been taught). Dressage instructs the rider into a balanced position over the horse’s center of gravity. The rider learns how to communicate with the horse by effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat and weight aids. The rider learns how to teach the horse how to accept and follow contact with a mild snaffle bit.
Decades of dressage lessons, study and application had taught me the benefits dressage brings the non-horse. No unnatural hoof angles, long toes, big shoes, thick pads or ankle chains are ever worn. Riders never wear long spurs or harsh bits.
Dressage teaches the rider how to lead the horse into mental and physical relaxation, balance, rhythm (even tempo and strides), forward movement without rushing, connection, symmetry (even flexibility), and collection (engagement). Through kind and humane training over time, dressage develops the horse’s full range of motion for quality gaits, long-term soundness, and a partnership of harmony between the horse and rider.
Just because my Tennessee Walking Horse doesn’t naturally trot, why couldn’t we glean the benefits of dressage to develop her smooth gaits?
We set out on a mission to find out.
How to train smooth gaits on cue
It didn’t take long to realize my young gaited horse had ALL of the gears: walk, trot, canter, flat walk, pace, step pace, saddle rack, and fox trot. If I would be training her, it was my job to discover what each gait felt and sounded like and put cues to the ones I desire.
Easy? No, but the journey has been rewarding!
Watch: How dressage improves smooth gait
This video captures our first few years of training.
Our process to quality smooth gaits
Since my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse was only three years old, we walked a lot for the first summer season. If she had been older than three, I may have introduced brief transitions to a smooth gait sooner.
We began at a free walk on a long rein (with a light contact). This began a good pattern of developing an even four-beat muscle memory. I was fortunate Makana had a natural four beat walk. Many Tennessee Walking Horses don’t. Instead, they pace instead of walk. If that had been the case, we would have introduced walking over rails and working in hand exercises at a shoulder in to diagonalize the step sequence.
At the free walk, I encouraged mental and physical relaxation and forward moving steps without rushing. This encouraged L-O-N-G, ground-covering steps. Rushing the tempo only shortens the steps and tends to create tension in the horse. I encouraged her to take the bit down and forward in a neutral position. This helped stretch her top line muscles which is especially important for long-term soundness.
2007: Here’s my three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse. We began our training with a relaxed and forward moving free walk on a long rein. This quality walk helps develop an even four-beat muscle memory and longer strides.
I rode Makana five-six days a week for 30 minutes each time. Three days of riding in a row followed by a day off helped her progress in her training and strength.
Video: Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at 19 years old.
The aids of communication
Dressage teaches the rider how to communicate with the horse through leg, seat, weight and rein aids. Coming from the dressage world, snaffle bits are all I know to develop a means of communicating with the horse’s mouth, lower jaw, and poll. It is important to develop a positive relationship with my hands and the horse’s mouth so the horse learns bit acceptance and a willingness to follow the contact with a relaxed mouth, jaw and poll.
If the horse becomes defensive in the mouth from a harsh bit or rough hands, the horse learns self-protective measures and bit avoidance. This leads to tension and stiff pacey movement for the naturally gaited horse.
Gaited horses are often ridden in curb bits with two-handed contact and a low, fixed hand position. Many look stiff and tense and are pacing or step pacing. Early on, we gave rail class a try, and that’s what we experienced riding two-handed with a curb (as pictured). I wonder if gaited horses develop a habit of pacing when trained this way.
I wonder if gaited horses develop a habit of pacing when ridden in curb bits with two-handed contact and a low fixed hand position.
If riding with two-handed curb bit contact creates tension, it makes it difficult to teach the horse bit acceptance and relaxation. When horses are not comfortable with the bit or low, fixed hands, they find ways to avoid the contact: drawing their nose behind or above the vertical, fighting the bit, running away, flipping their tongue over the bit, and locking their jaw. Any of these pain reactions create tension through the horse’s body leading to pacing (as seen in the photo above).
Video: Rider Position and Effect on Smooth Gait
Relaxation is key to developing smooth gaits
Relaxation doesn’t mean sleepy and dull. Relaxation means the absence of body tension and pain and freedom of mental anxiety. Relaxation is key to developing smooth gaits.
Mental and physical relaxation is key. Relaxation doesn’t mean boring our horses with monotony. Relaxation means the absence of body pain and tension and freedom of mental anxiety. Relaxation is key to developing smooth gaits.
Since we were not producing smooth gaits in a state of tension, I stopped riding in a curb bit with two-handed contact and returned to a mild snaffle bit.
I began teaching Makana how to accept a light, gentle contact with a mild snaffle bit. At the same time, I needed to follow her natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms, hands, and fingers. My hands are an important part of dressage communication and trust. If I hold tension in my shoulders, with locked elbows and fists, it will communicate tension to my horse.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse became more teachable when her mind was free from anxiety. She paid more attention to me and less attention to the distractions around her. Then her body began to relax. When my gaited horse found mental and physical relaxation, smoother gaits started to form, and she became more comfortable to ride.
Cues to the free walk
A split second before I request my horse to move from a halt to a walk, I draw both hands forward slightly to allow space for my horse to move forward into without feeling boxed in by the bit
A split second later, say the word, “walk” and I make a “cluck” sound
If there is no response to a walk, I squeeze and release my lower calves at the girth while urging my seat forward
If still no response, I follow it up with a light tap of the whip behind the girth and a “cluck” sound
When my horse steps forward into the walk, then I reconnect my following contact with my reins
I also notice the side-to-side belly sway and follow (not drive) this motion with each hip joint and my lower back
Leg yield exercises
Leg yields are a great exercise to teach at a walk. This exercise helps the rider coordinate the use and timing of rein, seat and leg aids as the horse moves and it teaches the horse to move away from the rider’s leg pressure while remaining straight in the body by the reins.
Leg yields can be applied along the fence, from the quarter line or center line to the fence or zig zag from quarter line to quarter line.
Leg yields from the quarter line to the fence:
I positioned my horse straight at the quarter line of the arena
encouraged her forward with both calves and release
Then I applied my inside calf at the girth as my horse’s hind leg is about to leave the ground to urge her to step that hind leg under her belly and move forward and slightly at an angle toward the fence
Video: Leg Yield Exercise
Introducing steps of smooth gait
When I began to transition my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse from a relaxed free walk into a few consecutive steps of flat walk, sometimes we had a couple steps of a variety of gaits: flat walk, step pace, pace, saddle rack, fox trot, and a mystery gait with quick small smooth scampering steps.
We’d slow down to a relaxed walk, and I’d ask for a flat walk again. As soon as she took three or four consecutive steps, it was important to stop and reward her before she switched to another gait. Over time, she gained more strength and balance to maintain more consecutive steps of flat walk.
My filly broke into another gait because she lacked the strength or fell out of balance.
When I rode non-gaited horses, there was a clear difference between a walk, trot and canter. The hardest part was discerning the level of quality within each gait.
The hardest part about riding a young, green Tennessee Walking Horse is discerning one smooth gait from another. Smooth feels smooth. How do I decipher one smooth gait from another? This takes time to develop through what I feel, hear and notice. Some smooth gaits have an up and down head nod like the flat walk, running walk, and fox trot.
Some smooth gaits do not have a head nod like the saddle rack. Some smooth gaits like the rack, the head moves side to side instead of up and down.
Adding to this, the flat-footed walk has an up and down head and neck nod that appears much like a flat walk, but this gait is not smooth. There is a lot of motion for the rider to follow with their lower back and hip joints. The flat walk is smooth with no motion for the rider to follow with their lower back and hip joints.
Another smooth gait with an up and down head and neck nod is the canter. Faults to the canter are the four-beat canter which is smooth, the cross canter (hind legs on the opposite lead from the front legs) and pace (lateral) canter. Both the cross canter and pace canter are not smooth. Other jarring gaits I encountered during our training include the hard trot and hard pace. Neither have a head nod.
Rewarding every few steps of smooth gait
For those of us DIY riders, it takes patience, understanding, time, and consistency to train a young, green naturally gaited horse to develop smooth gaits. Discovering how many consecutive steps of smooth flat walk my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse was capable of before losing balance or strength became helpful. Then I would stop to reward her before she broke into another gait. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
Over time, with patience, my smooth gaited Tennessee Walking Horse took more and more consecutive steps of flat walk as she grew stronger.
Once my Tennessee Walking Horse developed the strength and balance to maintain more consecutive steps in the flat walk, I asked for more ground covering strides and tempo to develop the running walk. Then I asked for transitions from flat walk into a few steps of running walk on a straight line.
Canter improves smooth gait
At the end of the second summer, Makana was four years old. By this time we had developed flat walk and running walk on cue. Now it was time to introduce canter on cue.
Canter became my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse’s most challenging gait to develop. I’ve learned this is common among gaited horses. We wrestled with a lateral pace canter, a four-beat canter, a cross canter, and the wrong lead altogether, before we finally achieved a three-beat canter. This took time and practice. Makana’s left lead canter was easier to than her right lead. Most horses are asymmetrical, so one lead is normally easier than the other.
Mental and physical relaxation are important for canter. Many times canter excites the horse which can rattle a nervous rider. Using ground rails are helpful for the horse to take the correct lead.
Once Makana understood the canter cues, I used transitions from halt, rein back, and walk to canter on a large circle. Anytime the canter felt four-beat, we would ride canter along the rail of the arena and increased the tempo to achieve a three-beat canter.
2010: Riding at our first dressage show on a horse that didn’t trot.
When Makana was reliably taking either canter lead on cue, I began our riding sessions with canter, because it improved the quality of her flat walk. Canter was a great stretching and warm up exercise for her.
Improving smooth gait quality on cue
When my Tennessee Walking Horse turned five years old, we began to develop quality smooth gaits on cue. Quality smooth gaits include relaxation of mind and body, a consistent rhythm in foot falls, a head nod in timing with the hind leg steps, evenness of strides traveling both directions, forward movement without rushing, and developing maximum depth of stride in flat walk and running walk.
Developing quality smooth gaits on cue is a journey of consistent training and progress over time.
2015: Showing dressage with my Tennessee walking horse, Makana.
2021: My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana. We are riding bareback in her smooth gait, an even four-beat flat walk riding on a loose rein in balance and self-carriage.
In 2021, Makana turned 17. My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse is well established in each quality smooth gait on cue: flat walk, running walk, flat-footed walk, saddle rack, and canter. Natural Smooth Gaits
Six helpful resources to develop a consistent smooth gait
1. Study books and videos demonstrating and explaining a natural smooth gait
Today, there are more resources available in training naturally gaited horses. One of my favorite books in learning smooth gaits as flat walk, fox trot, running walk, and saddle rack is, “Easy-Gaited Horses” by the late Lee Ziegler. This book describes how the smooth gaits sound and feel.
Some gaited horses are born more on the lateral side and pace can be their go-to gait. The best way to help a pacey gaited horse find a smooth gait is to help them find relaxation in mind and body, teach them bit acceptance and exercises that diagonalize the foot falls.
Here are a few great articles to break pace and develop a smooth gait:
3. Get good coaching from gaited dressage and gaited horsemanship instructors to develop smooth gait
I’ve been fortunately to get great coaching from gaited dressage instructors Jennie Jackson, Jennifer Bauer, and Larry Whitesell who traveled to my region. Jennie Jackson’s gaited dressage coaching has helped me establish connection and forwardness to improve quality smooth gaits on cue. Lessons with Jennie have helped me develop the feeling of right to better discern the quality of each smooth gait.
Riding at a Jennie Jackson Dressage as Applied to the Gaited Horse Clinic.
Jennifer Bauer and Larry Whitesell have helped me learn a natural and humane training philosophy which is based on classical French dressage. This method has helped me become a trusted leader in my partnership with my Tennessee Walking Horse and lead Makana into relaxation and balance.
Larry Whitesell demonstrating and explaining shoulder-in with me and Makana.
4. Professional training for the horse (and rider) for a smooth gait
Some people send their gaited horse to a professional trainer to develop a smooth gait. Then the horse comes home, and they wonder why the horse offers a smooth gait for the trainer and not for them.
Professional training is a great investment, as long as you learn how to ride your gaited horse in the same manner it was trained to achieve the same results. This way you and your smooth gaited horse will speak the same smooth gaiting language. Learning to ride well takes time to develop—especially if dressage is your language of choice.
It is the rider’s sense of feel, balanced riding position, and use and timing of aids (leg, weight, seat and rein aids) that communicate with the horse and indicate which smooth gait to perform. This is why it is important for the rider to develop the same skillset from the trainer who taught the horse to gait.
5. Record your riding to confirm your smooth gait
I like to capture video when I ride my gaited horse. Videos help me see what I felt from the saddle during my ride. There are a few affordable robotic cameras on the market, such as Pivo a that work with smart phones. Otherwise, you can set your Smart phone or video camera on a tripod to capture glimpses of your ride. (Unless you are fortunate to have a willing friend to record your rides.)
Throughout my ride, I like to comment about how moments feel on the video. This helps me confirm whether or not what I watch matches what I felt at that moment. I’ve uploaded hundreds of my videos on the Naturally Gaited You Tube channel. If you like what you see, please subscribing to the channel. Then you’ll be prompted for the next video when it is uploaded.
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. (Makana age 19.)
6. Enter your gaited horse in schooling dressage shows
Aside from lessons and clinics, my next favorite way to get feedback from a professional, is by entering my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in schooling dressage shows. These friendly and casual shows are a great way to get written feedback on the qualities of our training: relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, forward movement without rushing, quality gaits, execution of the test requirements, my riding position, and the use and timing of my aids. The judge will provide comments on the score sheet. This helps me know what to work on when we get home. I find this feedback priceless.
When I learn of a schooling dressage show in my area, I contact the show manager and ask if I can enter my gaited horse using a National Walking Horse of America (NWHA) or Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) gaited dressage test. Then I send my tests with the entry form.
Dressage is more than trot
Since 2007, I have learned from personal experience, trot is not required to gain the benefits of dressage. Dressage does not MAKE the smooth gaited horse trot. Dressage does not ruin the natural smooth gaits. In fact, dressage actually improves the quality of smooth gaits on cue. Indeed, dressage is more than trot!
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at 20 years old at a piaffe.
If your gaited horse doesn’t have a smooth gait, now you have a few new ideas to try and reclaim your SMOOTH! None of them require a special bit or saddle, special shoes or hoof angles.
Sign up for the Naturally Gaited Horse eNewsletter and learn more about how dressage improves quality smooth gaits
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Curious about the Jambette and Spanish Walk? Wondering if your naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse can master these moves and what benefits they bring?
Here’s my story…
How my Tennessee Walking Horse Learned the Spanish Walk
By Jennifer Klitzke
Marvel, my magnificent five-year-old Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse/Spotted Saddle Horse, has been my cherished partner for nearly two wonderful years.
I welcomed Marvel into my life as an untrained colt in October 2021. He was a special gift from my dear friend, Mary. Starting a colt from scratch is a rewarding experience, one that my husband and I had previously taken on for a local horse rescue called the 2010 Trainer’s Challenge of the Unwanted Horse.
Prior to Marvel’s saddle training, I dedicated seven months to groundwork, lunging exercises, in-hand work, and liberty training with him. During this time, I familiarized him with accepting and following contact with a snaffle bit, as well as becoming comfortable wearing a saddle. This groundwork laid a solid foundation for our future saddle training.
Then May 2022 melted away the snow and ice. That’s when we began our saddle training. BUT, before riding began, the boring winter months awakened Marvel’s desire to learn Jambette and Spanish Walk.
(Well, actually. That’s when three-year-old Marvel taught me Jambette and Spanish Walk.)
So, what are the Jambette and the Spanish Walk?
The Jambette is a beneficial exercise that teaches the horse to gracefully raise and extend one of its front legs with a cue.
Jambette with a rider.
The Spanish Walk is a graceful and rhythmic four-beat walk where each front leg extends with Jambette-like movements.
From jambette to Spanish Walk with a Tennessee Walking Horse.
So, how did my Naturally Gaited Horse learn the Jambette and Spanish Walk?
I’ve been trimming my horses hooves since 2010. In January 2022, I had Marvel’s leg stretched out ahead of him and his foot on the hoof stand to finish his trim. The very next day, Marvel began stretching his right leg out in the same manner while in the cross ties. Then the next day he did the same thing.
Interesting. The first day I thought it was a fluke, so when he extended his right leg the next day, I began putting cues to it. I tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Jambette” each time he would extend his front leg. Then I said, “GOOOOOOOD!” and gave him a horse treat.
After a few days of practice, Marvel was becoming quite proficient at performing the Jambette cue with his right leg. However, he still needed to learn how to offer the Jambette with his left leg. Like humans, most horses have a dominant side, and Marvel seemed to favor his right leg naturally. To encourage him to try the left leg Jambette, I introduced the cue for that side.
Whenever Marvel made an attempt to lift his left leg, I immediately praised him with an enthusiastic “GOOOOOOOOOD” and rewarded him with a treat. This positive reinforcement motivated him to keep trying, and we repeated the process several times. Within just one week, Marvel was able to perform the Jambette with both his right and left legs on cue.
After Marvel became reliable in performing the Jambette with both his right and left legs on cue, I took our training to the next level and introduced the concept of alternating between right and left Jambettes while Marvel was in the cross ties.
Jambette with the right leg and the left leg
Once he mastered jambette on cue, we ventured outside for liberty training. At a S-L-O-W walk by Marvel’s side, I began to lift each of my legs and cued Marvel with a verbal command of “Jambette” and gently tapped him on the shoulder. This was the beginning of our journey into the Spanish Walk.
Spanish walk at liberty is both super fun and great exercise!
Amazing! I couldn’t believe my three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse had learned Jambette and Spanish Walk before he was saddle trained!
As the snow and ice melted away in May 2022, we began our saddle training journey and incorporated the Jambette and Spanish Walk. But here’s the interesting part: it wasn’t me who insisted on this, but rather Marvel himself! He found joy in expressing himself through these moves, and who am I to argue? I’ve always wanted to develop these skills with my horses, so I embraced these exercises as rewards to Marvel. Since he wasn’t particularly fond of arena work, blending moments of Jambette and Spanish Walk between gait seemed to bring him happiness (and to me as well!).
Marvel’s two favorite things so far: liberty and jambette with steps of Spanish Walk. Yes, naturally gaited horses are versatile, personable, talented and intelligent.
Jambette Saddle Cues
First, I encourage Marvel to be in a square and balance position, not a parked-out position, as this would be hard on his back.
Next, since Marvel understands how to accept and follow a snaffle bit contact, I lift my arms and hands high to ask him to raise his chest, neck and head.
Then I say, “Jambette” and tap him on the shoulder with the dressage whip on the easiest side he offers Jambette.
As soon as he raises the leg on the side I tapped, I praise him with “GOOOOOD.” release the reins, give him a horse treat and a moment to think about it.
I repeat this two times on the same side and then I do the same exercise asking for a Jambette from the other leg.
Then I move on to something else so that the exercise is FUN.
The jambette is a great exercise for the naturally gaited horse stretching the foreleg and shoulder to develop the full range of motion.
Spanish Walk Cues
Once Marvel was set in his Jambette under saddle and understood Spanish Walk at liberty, then I cued for Jambette and asked for a SLOW walk step, stopped, said, “GOOOOOOOOD,” gave him a horse treat, and gave him a loose rein and time to think about it. I repeated this with the same leg two more time.
The next time I rode, I did the same exercise but cued for Jambette with the other leg and a step.
When we were solid in one step with each leg, then we began adding SLOW walk steps with alternating Jambettes on cue. At first Marvel would alternate his Jambettes and then take a step. It took time before he understood one Jambette and one step and then the other Jambette and another step.
Once he understood the concept of Spanish Walk, I helped him by walking my hip joints and lightly follow his rib cage with my calves for only a handful of steps. Then I stopped, praised, gave him a loose rein, horse treat, and let him think about it.
My five-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Marvel enjoying jambette and Spanish Walk.
What benefits does the Jambette and Spanish Walk offer the Naturally Gaited Horse?
When Marvel first joined my fur family as a three-year-old colt, I noticed that he had a base narrow stance. It got me wondering if there was a way to improve his conformation. Fortunately, through the practice of Jambette and Spanish Walk, Marvel’s shoulders and chest have become stronger, and he has filled out beautifully. Now, he no longer stands as base narrow as he did before. These exercises have truly transformed his physique for the better.
Spanish Walk improves scope and range of motion in the Tennessee walking horse.
The Spanish Walk and Jambette have been transformative for Marvel, enhancing his balance, coordination, range of motion, and even instilling a sense of pride.
Additionally, the Spanish Walk is an evenly timed four-beat walk and serves as a valuable tool to break up pace. Marvel, possesses a remarkable range of natural gaits, from the trot to the undesirable pace, and all the desirable smooth gaits in between, including the flat walk, fox trot, and saddle rack.
Jambette and Spanish Walk for the Older Horse
Can an older horse learn the jambette and Spanish walk? Well, my 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana began offering the jambette in the cross ties just like Marvel did. So, I began applying aids to them each time she offered.
This spring, I began asking her for jambette under saddle. Now we are beginning to take steps in between each jambette to begin the Spanish walk. She enjoys this about as much as Marvel does.
Yes, you can teach an old horse new tricks!
Jambette is a great exercise for the gaited horse to stretch and strengthen the shoulders and improve balance. Here’s my 21-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse learning jambette and Spanish walk.
I hope you find these benefits enticing and consider incorporating the Jambette and Spanish Walk into your own journey with your naturally gaited horse.
What is the difference between long and low and the neck extension? How do each impact the naturally gaited horse’s quality of movement? Here’s my story…
Neck Extension vs Long & Low for the Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Many of us with naturally smooth gaited horses are familiar with the term long and low. For me, long and low was taught to help the naturally gaited horse relax and to break up pace into a smooth gait. A few years ago, I learned about the neck extension from Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) teachers.
Before I purchased my first naturally gaited horse in 2007, I had been a dedicated student of dressage since 1988. I learned the benefits of stretching and developing the top line muscles of my trotting horses. We rode forward in a long and low frame on a 20-meter circle and encouraged our horses to step under the rider’s body mass with the inside hind leg toward the outside rein. Then we changed directions and repeated the exercise. Long and low on a 20-meter circle was taught as a way to warm up, relax, stretch, and cool down our horses.
However, as my late father would say, “Too much of anything isn’t good.” Too much long and low conditions the horse to move on the forehand with disengaged the chest muscles. In 1992, when my Trakehner/Thoroughbred and I moved from Training Level into First and Second Level dressage it was like starting over in our training because he had been conditioned to travel on the forehand. First and Second Level dressage introduce balance with engaged chest muscles.
Three reasons why too much long and low puts the horse on the forehand:
The head and neck of the horse weigh as much as 1/9th of its total body weight. When the head and neck are propelled ahead of the horse, it places the horse on the forehand by nature. The lower the head and neck gets, the heavier the weight, especially in a nodding motion at a walk or a gait.
In this long and low position, the horse’s chest muscles (pectoral and shoulder muscles) are collapsed and not lifting the horse in balance
When the horse’s head and neck get too low and out of balance, the horse tends to disengage the hind legs beyond its tail and pushes itself onto the forehand. While the lowered head and neck position can help the horse find relaxation and stretch through the back, the disengaged hind quarters push the horse onto the forehand. This doesn’t lift a hollow back to a neutral position for a quality smooth gait.
A better way: moments (not miles) of neck extension AFTER balanced work
Instead of long and low, I learned the neck extension from Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) teachers. Classical French dressage master Philippe Karl’s DVDs and books also illustrate the neck extension. Karl, the originator of Ecole de Légèreté (School of Lightness) is not a trainer of naturally gaited horses that perform the flat walk, fox trot, tolt, and running walk, but his teachings have so much positive application for the naturally gaited horse—especially the neck extension.
My DVD library includes terrific education through Philippe Karl Classical Dressage volumes 1-4, The School of Légèreté volume 1, and Classical versus Classique.
For me, learning the difference between the neck extension and long and low has been an eye opener. Why? Because up until this point, I didn’t have the riding awareness of how long and low had been training my naturally gaited horses to carry themselves on the forehand. The neck extension has brought all the benefits I had been seeking in long and low without collapsing the chest and shoulders.
What is the neck extension
After moments of balanced work, the neck extension trains my naturally gaited horse to stretch her head and neck forward and out to lengthen her spine, stretch her top line muscles from a balanced frame, encourage her to step deep under her body with her hind leg steps in a regular relaxed and forward rhythm without rushing, and engage her abdominal muscles to lift her back to a neutral position.
Watch: Action-Reaction to Neck Extension
Action-Reaction to Neck Extension
How to apply the neck extension
First, I help my horse find balance and relaxation first through in-hand exercisesthat help her accept an even snaffle bit contact. These exercises help my horse unlock tension in her jaw as she tastes the bit. These in-hand exercises are then applied in the saddle before I ride.
While riding I will follow the natural head and neck motion of my gaited horse to maintain an even snaffle bit contact to maintain relaxation of the jaw. Beginning lessons in Legerete: Following Hands»
Instead of beginning my ride with long and low, I encourage my horse to walk in a slow, relaxed and balanced position while still tasting the bit, either in a shoulder-in or a small circle.
After I achieve relaxation and balance, I release my horse into moments of the neck extension while she is already in balance. Then throughout our ride, I will ask for neck extension ride in all gaits, whether it be the walk, flat walk, running walk, foxtrot, trot (on cue) or canter.
I begin the neck extension on a 20-meter circle and encourage her to step deeper under her belly and engage her abdominal muscles to lift her back to a neutral position.
Differences between the neck extension and long and low
A big difference between the neck extension and long and low is that the horse’s head and neck are no lower than poll level. It is also important to keep the horse’s nose ahead of the vertical with an open throat latch. This position helps minimize weight loading the forehand.
Comparisons of long and low and neck extension
This is a great example of a neck extension at a flat walk. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is engaged from behind, lifting her back, stretching, forward, out and down at chest level with an even snaffle bit contact. The dressage fundamentals of rhythm, relaxation, connection and engagement are shown here. Also notice that the withers are higher than the croup instead of the croup being higher than the withers.
This is a great example of an ineffective long and low. There are some things going well here like my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is relaxed and showing a decent length of stride in rhythm, and her withers are higher than her croup. However, she is behind the bit without an even snaffle bit contact and is not lengthening her spine.
Here’s Lady, my naturally gaited fox trotting horse performing a neck extension at a fox trot which is a great contrast to the long and low fox trot below. The dressage fundamentals of rhythm, relaxation, connection and engagement are shown here.
Here’s a great example of an ineffective long and low fox walk. A great contrast to the neck extensions shown above and below. While Lady is relaxed and shows a nice stretch, she is on the forehand, disengaged behind (not stepping under the rider), and hollow. When she is on the forehand, she often trips.
Here’s my naturally gaited fox trotting horse Lady showing a neck extension while performing trot (on cue). Her back is in a neutral position. She is in balance and seeking contact with the bit while stretching her head and neck forward, out and down at chest level which allows her to lengthen her spine. Notice that the withers are higher than the croup vs the croup being higher than the withers.
So, whether you’re training your naturally gaited horse to show gaited dressage or western gaited dressage or are looking to break up pace for a natural smooth gait, I hope learning the difference between long and low and neck extension will help bring awareness to your riding. Long and low stretching is great as long as the horse isn’t collapsing the chest and on the forehand, hollow, behind the bit, out of balance, or disengaged (trailing its hind legs) instead of stepping under the rider.
Neck extension to improve quality smooth gait
Instead, try the neck extension in order to improve the quality of smooth natural four-beat gait where the horse reaches under its body with its hind leg steps, engages its abdominal muscles to lift its back to a neutral position, and stretches forward, down and out with the head and neck to lengthen the spine. All of which helps to build the top line muscles and break up pace.
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Pictured is Lady, a 20-something grade gaited horse in a shoulder in position on a circle while working in hand.
Does your gaited horse rush off into a pace or hard trot or dip its nose behind the vertical? Teach your horse bit acceptance and discover relaxation and smoother gaits.
Here’s my story.
Bit Acceptance vs Bit Avoidance for the Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
There are many ways to ride a naturally gaited horse. Some ride with a bit or bitless bridle on a loose rein. Others ride in a curb or snaffle bit two-handed with contact. Some ride with low, fixed hands and others follow the natural head and neck motion of the naturally gaited horse.
If you ask me, I have tried all of the above in my quest to learn how to ride my head nodding naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horses and fox-trotting mare. Then I discovered my role in the cause and effect on quality smooth gait.
From hard trot to relaxed fox trot through teaching relaxation and bit acceptance.
What is the difference between bit acceptance and bit avoidance?
I’ve noticed when naturally gaited horses are relaxed in their minds and bodies they offer smoother gaits. Bit acceptance for naturally gaited horses leads to relaxation not just in the mouth. When the mouth, (lower jaw, tongue, and poll) are relaxed and pain free, the body relaxes and that leads to smoother gaits.
Bit avoidance creates tension and resistance―the absence of relaxation. If the naturally gaited horse’s mouth feels pain or is resistant, the lower jaw and poll tense and the horse becomes braced in its mind and body―especially its back. A tense back leads to more pacing, hard trotting, and a horse that runs away from contact.
Signs of bit avoidance in the naturally gaited horse
Horse is difficult to bridle
Horse throws its head upward or side to side to escape the bit contact
Horse draws its head behind the bit to escape the bit contact
Horse gaps its mouth to escape the bit contact
Horse roots and snaps the reins out of the rider’s hands
Horse lifts its tongue over the bit to escape pain
Horse is tense in the jaw
Horse grinds its teeth
Horse gets tense and quick when contact is made with the bit
Horse is tense and rushes into pace or hard trot
Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk
A naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse ridden in a mild snaffle bit. The horse is accepting and following a light contact and the rider is following the natural head and neck motion. The horse is relaxed and offering an even, four beat smooth flat walk with head nod.
What causes bit avoidance?
Tight nosebands
Harsh bits
Ill-fitting bits
Abrupt rein movements of the rider’s hands
Driving the horse forward into closed hands
Riding with low fixed hands
Pulling back on the reins
Sharp teeth that need to be floated
Riding with head setting and head restraining devices
Signs of bit acceptance in the naturally gaited horse
Horse is easy to bridle
Horse accepts and follows a light contact with a snaffle bit
Horse reaches and follows the bit when the rider offers longer reins
Horse easily repositions its head and neck when the rider regathers the reins
Horse is relaxed in the mouth and lower jaw, tastes the bit and swallows
Horse is flexible side to side and can be ridden on the bit without getting behind the vertical
Horse is relaxed and offers smoother gaits
Rider’s hand position and its effect on the naturally gaited horse
Low fixed hands
Did you know the position of your hands make a difference in how a bit acts in the horse’s mouth? Many riders of gaited horses are taught to hold their hands low and fixed at their sides. Yet, low, fixed hands position the bit to press on the horse’s sensitive tongue. This can lead to bit avoidance.
Higher hand position and why
Dressage is another way to ride a naturally gaited horse. Dressage teaches a rider how to communicate with the horse through rein, leg, seat, and weight aids.
A naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse ridden in a mild snaffle bit. Higher following hands make contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips instead of on the sensitive tongue and bars.
Each hand holds a rein, and together they provide a light, steady, even contact with a snaffle bit. This is an important element of communication with the horse’s mouth and great care is needed to build trust with the horse. The mouth is sensitive. Hands positioned higher make contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips instead of pressing on the sensitive tongue and bars.
The rider teaches the horse how to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact, beginning in hand, and then in the saddle.
Following the natural head and neck motion
The horse learns to follow the snaffle and the rider learns to follow the horse’s natural head and neck motion. Why? So, the horse remains comfortable. This following motion helps the horse trust the rider’s hands and continue to accept the contact. If the horse begins to feel tension or pain, then the horse develops self-protection and bit resistance. Is it easy to learn all this, no. Is it worth it, yes! My horses are happier. They want to be ridden. We enjoy our time together. And best of all their gaits are smooth! No more pace and hard trot!
My story: Insights from a non-gaited dressage rider for the smooth gaited horse
In 1988, I was drawn to the horse-rider connection through dressage and began taking lessons with my non-gaited horses. My instructor taught me to follow my horse’s head and neck motion at a walk and canter. At a trot, the horse’s head and neck remain stationary, so my arms remained stationary. However, I learned how to post the trot with my body while keeping my hands in one place. This wasn’t easy. If my hands moved with the motion of my body, it would bump my horse in the mouth with each rise and fall. This would have led to bit avoidance.
Many school horses develop bit avoidance since they introduce beginner riders who haven’t learned how to keep their hands quiet. These school horses become hard mouthed and bit resistant as a result. Hard-mouthed horses become this way as a means of self-preservation.
In 2007, I became a rider of naturally gaited horses, I am blessed with a smooth ride and no need to post. However, naturally gaited horse breeds, such as Tennessee Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, and Missouri Fox Trotters have a natural head and neck motion at a walk, canter, flat walk, running walk, and fox trot.
Dressage taught me to follow the natural head and neck motion of the horse. With a naturally gaited horse, there are more gaits with a head and neck motion to follow with a light contact. Is it easy? No. Yet it has been a journey worth pursuing.
For me, following the natural head and neck motion of flat walk, running walk, and fox trot has been the hardest part in training naturally gaited horses using dressage. Why? Because I had to become aware of the cause and effect I had on my horses and then change my riding habits to benefit my horses.
How I became aware of bit acceptance and bit avoidance
As a German dressage rider, French dressage challenged my paradigm. Most profoundly, is in a DVD called Classical versus Classique which contrasts and demonstrates French dressage and German dressage theologies using the same horses and students.
Before watching this DVD, dressage was a method to produce results with my horses. After watching this DVD, dressage became a partnership of relaxation and balance with my horses that actually produced greater results as a benefit. My dressage paradigm changed.
I became a DVD, book and cyber student of French dressage masters and began adopting work in hand exercises with my naturally gaited horses. This study helped me become aware of my cause and effect to my horses. Instead of seeing bit resistance as my horse’s problem, I began to notice what I was doing to encourage resistance. I began to listen to what my horse was trying to say. Then offers ways to bring my horse back to relaxation and balance.
Instead of correcting the bit avoidance, I began teaching bit acceptance, beginning with working in hand.
Working in hand with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana. This photo shows flexion to the side which stretches the outside neck muscles while the horse is in balance over all four legs.
What working in hand teaches the naturally gaited horse
The horse learns to accept a light contact with a snaffle bit
The horse learns to follow the bit
The horse learns balance, how to carry its own head and neck and not lean on the bit
The horse learns to relax the mouth and lower jaw, and flex to each side by stretching the neck muscles
I have been learning to communicate with the horse through equal steady contact with both sides of the snaffle bit through these exercises. Together they have been developing a partnership of communication through the light snaffle bit connection.
Everything taught in hand translates directly to the saddle at a halt and then at a slow walk and then the tempo increases as the relaxation is maintained.
Shoulder in on a circle with a 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse. Work the shoulder in and haunches in at a slow balanced, collected walk.
Don’t worry about depth of stride and head nod. There will be very little to no head nod in the collected walk. This exercise supples, strengthens, straightens and improves the flat walk.
Through a progression of working on the ground with my horse in hand to in the saddle at a halt to a slow walk, my horse learns to trust my hands and I learn to communicate with my horse more effectively through the reins. This produces bit acceptance.
When I increase my naturally gaited horse’s tempo to the smooth gait, I began to learn how to gently follow the head nod. What I noticed most is I needed to be relaxed in my shoulders, arms and hands to effectively follow the motion.
Bit acceptance and a light contact lead to a two-way dialogue between me and my horse. I choose a gait, movement, frame, and tempo that my horse is capable of performing, and then my horse follows that choice. Then I follow my horse’s natural head and neck motion within that choice. This is not easy. Yet it has been worth it for me and my gaited horses to maintain relaxation in the mouth and jaw which helps to keep the back relaxed for more smooth natural gaits.
Bit acceptance takes time. Riding with awareness takes time. Learning new ways to ride that benefit the horse takes time. Yet learning bit acceptance pays dividends versus unlearning bit avoidance down the road which takes even more time.
Riding my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk.
It is much easier to ride a naturally gaited horse on a long floppy rein than it is to learn to ride with contact and follow the natural head and neck motion with relaxed shoulders, arms and hands. Riding on a long, floppy rein can avoid many of the bit avoidance issues, however, it isn’t dressage, nor does it teach bit acceptance. Effective dressage riding with contact is essential to teach bit acceptance and a horse that is light in the bridle without getting behind the vertical.
Riding on a long flopping rein and riding on a long rein in self carriage are two different things.
There’s nothing wrong with riding on a long rein. Dressage allows for this, yet it doesn’t begin this way. Dressage teaches bit acceptance first. Then we offer moments of release to a long rein for moments of self-carriage when the horse is in balance with relaxation, rhythm, and forward motion without rushing.
My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and I enjoying a moment of flat walk in self-carriage on a long floppy rein as long as she remains relaxed and with the same rhythm, forward motion without rushing, and balance.
When my horse has developed bit acceptance and self-carriage, I release the reins as long as my horse maintains the same relaxation, rhythm, and tempo as we had with contact. If my horse begins to rush off, I gather the reins and help my horse find relaxation, balance, forwardness without rushing, and rhythm.
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Research by Dr. Hilary Clayton proves the chest muscles are a key to balance and collection. What does this mean for the naturally gaited horse?
Research Proves the Importance of the Chest Muscles for Balance & Collection
By Jennifer Klitzke
The article: Equine Biomechanics Research the Significance of a Horses Chest Sling Muscles has opened my eyes of awareness! This research by highly credentialed veterinarian Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS spans over 40 years of collecting data on gait analysis for dressage horses, most recently in the McPhail Equine Performance Center at Michigan State University where she conducted studies to evaluate a horse’s body during collection.
Dr. Clayton is not only an accomplished research veterinarian. She knows the how’s and why’s of collection and balance from the inside out. Dr. Clayton is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist, which requires showing through the Grand Prix level.
“I’ve been studying equine biomechanics for over 40 years,” said Dr. Clayton. “And I am convinced that understanding the action of the horse’s sling muscles and the role of the forelimbs are crucial to understanding the mechanics of self-carriage in the dressage horse.”
Awakening to the Biomechanics of Balance
I dreamed of owning a horse from the time I was three. Then in 1988, when my career could support a horse, I became the proud owner of a five-year-old Trakehner/ thoroughbred gelding named Seili. Dressage became my passion and study. Seili’s lofty trot was far from smooth, yet I learned to ride and show him as an adult amateur dressage rider/trainer.
Dressage taught me to stretch my horse’ top line, engage the hindquarters, and encourage my horse to step deeper under the belly at a trot as the energy carried through the body to the bit.
Seili and I did lots and lots of long and low trotting on a 20-meter circle to strengthen his top line muscles. As an adult amateur dressage rider/trainer, it took us several years to move from Training Level to First Level and then Second Level.
Several years of long and low didn’t prepare us for Second Level
Second Level dressage is when the horse demonstrates collection and balance through movements as the shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk pirouettes, and transitions between collected and medium gaits.
Several years of long and low didn’t teach us collection and balance. Several years of long and low taught us to travel on the forehand. Second Level was like starting our training all over again.
It took a couple more years of schooling Second Level before Seili and I were ready to show Second Level. The exercises of shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk pirouette, and transitions between gaits did their job to develop balance and collection. All along I had thought my horse become lighter and more balanced because I had engaged the hindquarters to step deeper under the belly with the hind legs, activate the abdominal muscles to lift the back and raise the wither. Then capture the energy through his body to the bit.
Yet it never occurred to me these balancing exercises activated the shoulder and pectoral muscles.
The chest muscles were never talked about: Not in my lessons, not in the clinics I attended, not in the books I read, not in the videos I watched.
My Trakehner/Thoroughbred and I began schooling Third Level dressage before his age took over, and we dropped out of competition. When Seili reached his mid 20s, I began searching for another horse.
Bumpy to Smooth Gaits
Seili’s bumpy trot made me long for a smoother ride. That’s when I began my search for a naturally smooth gaited horse.
On a cold February day, a just turning three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse named Makana met me at the fence and warmed my heart. She became my first smooth gaited horse on Valentine’s Day 2007.
I applied the dressage principles I had learned with my new gaited horse. We did lots of long and low on a 20-meter circle at a walk and flat walk to develop her top line muscles. I encouraged her to step deeper under her body to increase her depth of stride.
As Makana matured, I began balancing exercises as the shoulder-in, haunches-in, rein back, and transitions between the smooth gaits.
Then I learned of a DVD by Lisa Maxwell: Getting Started with Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell. This DVD introduced the counted walk—something I had never heard of before.
Jean Claude Racinet’s book Another Horsemanship and Lisa Maxwell’s DVD Getting Started In Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell.
When I began teaching the counted walk to my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is when I began to FEEL balance like I had never felt before. Balance feels like she is lowering behind, rounding her back beneath me, and lifting her wither, neck and head while lightening her forehand.
Lateral exercises at a slow collected walk help the naturally gaited horse develop balance.
Still, all along, I believed that lightening the forehand and raising the wither were due to the engaging the hindquarters. Yes, this is part of the equation, but Dr. Clayton’s research opened my eyes. The important role the shoulder and pectoral muscles play in collection and balance is as much of an epiphany to me as it must have been to people who learned that the world was round, not flat!
Over 30 years of dressage study never taught the importance of engaging the shoulder and pectoral muscles in order to raise the wither and lighten the forehand until Dr. Clayton’s research proves it.
Now I know WHY the shoulder-in, shoulder-out, rein back, and counted walk are so effective in developing balance and collection. Now I know why I FEEL balance and collection during these exercises, because they activate the very muscles that lift the wither and lighten the forehand.
What does Dr. Clayton’s research mean for the naturally gaited horse?
Thanks to Dr. Clayton I have new eyes of awareness as I ride and train my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, and fox trotting horse, Lady.
Do you have a gaited horse that feels heavy on the forehand, like riding in a car with no suspension in front as your horse pounds the ground with their front feet? Does your horse lean heavy in your hands?
Well, I did. That’s my naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady.
Here is my naturally gaited fox trotting horse, Lady, in a long and low position. While she is relaxed, she is disengaged from behind (not stepping deep under the body), has a hollow back and collapsed pectoral muscles. She is not effectively developing the top line muscles in the position, she is traveling on the forehand, and behind the bit.
Bit problem or posture problem
I had been conditioned to think “back to front” in my dressage riding. Before learning about Dr. Clayton’s research, I had been trying to engage Lady from behind to lighten the forehand. Lady’s response: rush quicker and get heavier in my hands. Not the result I hoped for. So I tried all kinds of bits. Same result.
Dr. Clayton’s research helped me notice when Lady gets heavy in my hands, it is because she is heavy on the forehand. Why? Lady had slouching chest muscles. Lady didn’t have a bit problem. She had a posture problem. It’s like Lady had a flat tire in her chest. Once I began to inflate her flat tire with chest-engaging exercises, Lady became lighter in my hands and more balanced.
Dr. Clayton’s research proves to me the answer lies in chest-engaging exercises to help Lady find balance and collection. Anytime Lady feels heavy in my hands, I transition her to exercises like the shoulder-in on a small circle and shoulder-out, pivot the fore, counted walk, or rein back.
These exercises activate Lady’s shoulder and pectoral muscles while they also engage the hindquarters and abdominal muscles. The result of engaging Lady’s chest-engaging exercises: she becomes more balanced, lighter in my hand, and lighter on the forehand.
The rein back engages the hindquarters and abdominal muscles to lift the back and engaging the chest muscles raises the wither.
Whether you ride a naturally smooth gaited horse or a non-gaited trotting horse, Dr. Clayton’s research about chest muscles for developing balance can help you no matter what stage of dressage training your horse is at.
Lady’s smooth gait today has more balance and lightness.
Many thanks to Dr. Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS for her equine research that can help us improve our horse’s quality of balanced movement.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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