I am thankful for another year of smooth riding. How about you?
I am thankful for another year of training my five-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Marvel who is progressing well in his smooth gait. Thankful for Makana (19) and Lady (20+) who are sound and smooth in their senior years.
And I am thankful to those of you I have met this year, who have shared your dressage journey with your naturally gaited horse. I have enjoyed getting to know you and to hear how dressage is making a difference in developing smooth gaits and a partnership of harmony!
Over the last thirty-five years, I have studied from many circles of thought that have shaped my riding paradigm with dressage as the basis of communication.
By Jennifer Klitzke
As an avid dressage rider and passionate equestrian of humane training methods for over three decades, I have studied from many circles of thought. Throughout this blog you will encounter the sources, experiences, and people who have shaped the foundation of how I ride, train, and relate with my naturally gaited horses using dressage as the basis of communication in everything we do.
Among the many circles of thought and experience that encompass my riding paradigm are German dressage, French dressage, natural horsemanship, naturally gaited horse training, biomechanics of riding, biomechanics of movement, natural hoof trimming, horse care, showing dressage, cross country, stadium jumping, rail class, endurance, competitive trail, trail obstacles, and cow sorting leagues.
The common denominator of the many circles of thought and experience I embrace is humane training with respect for the horse. No abusive methods. No gadgets or artificial enhancements. And consistent communication using dressage.
Lady free walk and fox trot.
Lifelong learning
Since learning is a lifelong study, how I relate with horses today has changed since I first began. I began with one circle of thought, mainly because when I began, one-on-one lessons from a local instructor and book learning were my only options. Today through digital media, we are blessed with instant access to dozens of humane training options from thousands of unique perspectives.
When I encounter a new circle, I give it critical thought, dabble in its tips and concepts, and take relevant parts into my riding and training. Sometimes I drop old ideas for new ideas, but I still hold onto the many circles. One circle doesn’t replace the rest.
Learning is an investment of time, money and commitment—especially the study and application of dressage. I have invested a college education’s worth of lessons over the years. Timely feedback through regular lessons taught me how to ride with feel; develop a partnership of trust and a consistent communication system with my horse using my reins, legs, seat, and weight aids; find a balanced riding position over the horse’s center of gravity; interpret the horse’s body language; and help my horse develop full range of motion and quality gaits for long-term soundness.
Lady’s collected fox trot.
How the many circles improve my dressage
I like to embrace effective humane training methods from more than one circle of thought to enhance my horse’s relaxation of mind and body, balance, forward rhythm and tempo without rushing, connection, quality movement, suppleness, and build a harmonious partnership. I believe these qualities make for a great dressage foundation no matter which circle of thought offers the insight.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after studying German dressage and French dressage. As a result, I blend precision and timing of aids with lightness of philosophy and joy in my heart.
From jambette to steps of Spanish Walk with a Tennessee Walking Horse.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider by learning from both local instructors and traveling clinicians. Local instructors help me persevere in my growth over time while traveling clinicians offer new insights from their breadth and depth of experience.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after studying the work of natural horsemanship cowboys. These horsemen and women have taught me the value of communicating with a horse in ways a horse understands, the importance of establishing trusted leadership in the relationship, and the benefits of groundwork and desensitization.
This trail obstacle is harder than it looks!
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider by breaking up arena work with trail riding, endurance riding, trail obstacles, and cow sorting leagues. The hills and uneven terrain improve our balance and stamina while the latter put my communication through the aids to the test in real time.
Marvel enjoys exploring.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after studying the anatomy of the hoof and understanding it’s impact on movement to promote soundness without shoes. While I’m not a professional farrier, I am an educated care giver.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after spending time riding bareback. Through riding bareback, I’ve improved my balance and core and a better sense of feel.
Riding my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse barefoot and bareback at a flat walk.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider through showing, even when I’m the only rider on a horse that doesn’t trot. And I think trotting horses have made me a better rider of naturally gaited horses. Practicing for a dressage show has forced me to face what I’d rather avoid. Shows challenge me to strengthen our weaknesses and become more ambidextrous as a rider and help my horse develop symmetry.
Showing Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a traditional schooling dressage show at a flat walk instead of a trot.
Will we be in the Olympics someday? No, but I think I’m a better dressage rider than I’d be if I only stuck to one circle of thought.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a free walk, flat footed walk, flat walk and running walk on a loose rein.
Fun comparison of four walking gaits on a loose rein of the same naturally gaited horse on the same day in regular and slow motion.
4 Walks on a Loose Rein
By Jennifer Klitzke
In dressage, we communicate with the horse through the consistent use and effective timing of our rein, leg, seat and weight aids. The horse learns to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact and the rider learns to follow the horse’s natural head and neck motion.
What happens to communication on a long loose rein?
In dressage, through the course of a 30–60-minute riding session, the horse is offered many breaks (rewards). The horse is halted or released to a walk and the rein is extended to the buckle on loose rein.
This is video captures moments through our ride where my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is enjoying her breaktime. She is relaxed in mind and body, traveling forward with even rhythm, and in balance.
As I watch this video, I notice her free walk and flat-footed walk are the most expressive with the biggest strides, over track, and head nod. In these expressions of walk, they have the most motion to follow with my hip joints.
What happens to quality on a loose rein?
I also notice, the faster she travels, the smoother she naturally becomes, and the less motion I have to follow with my hip joints. However, I also notice, the faster she travels on a loose rein, the shorter her strides become.
Very interesting.
In terms of quality gait, her free walk and flat-footed walk are the best she can do. However, while the flat walk and running walk are smooth, they are not the quality steps she is capable of.
Here’s a photo of my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse’s quality flat walk with contact during our session.
Random thoughts and questions about riding on a loose rein
Is contact required for quality smooth gaits or are the faster smoother gaits naturally shorter strided? If the latter, are we forcing our naturally gaited horses into positions that are not natural? Or is my naturally gaited horse just enjoying a break from the longer stride I had been working her in?
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
A great way to introduce the leg yield is along the fence or wall of the arena.
The leg yield is a great exercise for pacey gaited horses. The diagonal footfall of the leg yield break ups the lateral sequence of the pace for smooth gait.
In 1988, I was riding an off-the-track thoroughbred who knew nothing about dressage. Same as me. It was my first dressage lesson. Green rider, green horse is not usually the best combination. At least I was committed to regular dressage lessons.
Anyhow, during this first dressage lesson is when I was introduced to the leg yield. It is a great introductory exercise for horses and riders. It teaches the use and timing of the rein, leg, and seat aids of the rider to direct the horse in a forward, slightly angled direction in a rather straight position. For a green horse, it is an introduction to what the rider aids mean.
Introducing the leg yield along the fence
The leg yield is not a sideways movement, but a forward angled movement. A great way to introduce the leg yield is along the fence or wall of the arena at a slow walk. In a leg yield, the horse moves away from the leg cue and steps its hind leg under its belly towards the opposite front leg. Once the horse understands moving away from the rider’s lower leg alongside the fence, the leg yield can be introduced from the quarter line to the fence.
Rider cues to leg yield
Start by positioning the horse along the quarter line between your rein, seat and leg aids; encourage the horse to walk straight a few steps
Then apply and release the lower leg along the girth just as the horse’s hind leg is about to step forward. The timing of the rider’s leg cue is important to urge the horse’s hind leg to step forward under the belly toward the opposite forefoot.
Since horses tend to over bend the neck or lead with their shoulders as they learn the leg yield. Help the horse remain fairly straight from the bridle, shoulders and hips. Maintain contact with the outside rein to keep the head, neck and shoulder straight. If the horse gets stiff in the jaw, use your inside fingers and massage the rein to encourage a soft contact.
After the horse understands leg yield at a walk along the fence and from the quarter line to the fence with relaxation, rhythm, and balance, then introduce leg yield at a flat walk. Begin with a couple steps of leg yield at a flat walk and then proceed in a straight line. Increase the number of leg yield steps until the horse is able to travel gradually from the quarter line to the fence (or arena wall).
The next progression of the leg yield is from the quarter line to the fence and then the centerline to the fence.
Video: Leg Yield at a Walk
Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse performing the leg yield at a walk.
Video: Leg Yield at a Flat Walk
After my horse understands the leg yield at a walk, then I increase the tempo to a slow smooth gait.
Video: Zig Zag Leg Yield at a Flat Walk
Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse performing the leg yield at a flat walk.
Once your horse understands the leg yield in both directions, the next progression is the zig zag at a walk and then a flat walk. The horse leg yields one direction and then changes to the other direction.
Lady (naturally grade gaited horse) shown at a fox trot, Makana (naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse) shown at a flat walk and Marvel (naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse) shown at a dog walk.
From me and my furry friends to you and yours, have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
—Jennifer Klitkze
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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