Category Archives: Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Each Thanksgiving my husband and I join my family around a delicious turkey dinner, and we share what we are thankful for over the last year.

Thanksgiving

By Jennifer Klitzke

Among family, friends, good health, and living-wage jobs during this economy, the last year provided a whirlwind of gratitude for the experiences we’ve had and the people we’ve met along the way.

Starting off with the MN Horse Expo, thanks to the Minnesota Walking Horse Association for selecting my barefoot Tennessee walking horse, Makana and I as a demonstration horse/rider team. Not only was it a thrill to ride in the Coliseum, we were a demo team for Gary Lane.

Among the other MWHA-sponsored events, I am thankful for are the Early Bird Tennessee walking horse breed show that endorses humane horse training, learning events as the B.L.E.S.S. Your Walking Horse Clinic with Bucky Sparks, and fun events as the Gaited Trail Trials.

I am thankful Walker’s Triple R and Rocking R Farms for hosting wonderfully organized schooling dressage shows open to gaited horses.

I am thankful to Judy Conger who holds women’s horse gatherings at her farm.

I am thankful to the Northwoods Dressage Association for inviting Makana and I to perform a gaited dressage demonstration at their “Ride A Test” Clinic.

More specifically, I’m thankful for the people who have inspired me this last year and helped me gain a greater awareness to riding this marvelous breed.

Special thanks to:

Gary Lane who confirmed what we are doing well and for ways to improve expression in the show ring going forward.

Bucky Sparks who helped me see what connection from the hindquarters to the bit looks and feels like using a snaffle bit with a head-shaking gaited horse.

Judy Walker who rides with finesse by sewing transitions together as one seamless movement and taught me the feeling of straightness.

Judy Conger who shares from her heart a lifetime of rich experiences with me and gathers women together at her farm to learn about the importance of working in hand, tweaking our riding position, and proper saddle fit. Judy introduced me to the work of Pat Parelli when he came to my area to demonstrate his natural horsemanship method. I was humbled to see the possibilities of partnership with a horse.

Hannah Rivard who raised and trained my naturally gaited horse, Makana from birth until I bought her as a three-year-old. Hannah has gone on to riding bridleless and bareback on her PRE Andalusian mare. Utterly inspiring!

Judy who introduced me to trail riding which gave me the courage to ride the Gaited Trail Trials.

Linda Harris and The Happy Hoof Channel whose video instruction has helped me understand hoof anatomy and function and the powerful healing function of going barefoot.

Mary Wanless whose riding paradigm has introduced a fresh perspective on riding. Through her books, videos, and clinics, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come from the days of paralyzing riding fear beginning with her book “The Natural Rider.”

Most importantly, I am thankful for my saintly husband who supports my passion for riding and my faith that holds my life together.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Preparation for What’s Next with My Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse

November 18, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

It’s interesting how experiences prepare us for what’s next. I never imagined I’d be showing dressage after a 16-year break on a horse that doesn’t trot!

Preparation for What’s Next with My Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

I never got into this “gaited dressage thing” to show. In fact, I only wanted a smooth horse to ride that would be gentler on my aging body.

In 2007 when I bought my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana, dressage is how I trained her. It’s all I knew. Yet riding dressage on a Walking Horse is so different than on a trotting horse.

Tennessee walking horses do unusual things I had not encountered with trotting horses. The faster they travel the smoother they get, their head and neck nods with each step, their ears flop, and their teeth sometimes click.

That’s when I joined a local Walking horse association to learn more about riding this unique breed.

BLESS Clinic with Bucky Sparks — Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at a Gaited Dressage Clinic with Bucky Sparks

Shortly thereafter, I took my Makana to a gaited dressage clinic with Bucky Sparks. Later that year, I rode at a Larry Whitesell gaited dressage clinic.

Jennifer Klitzke riding at a Larry Whitesell gaited horsemanship clinic — Larry Whitesell demonstrating and explaining shoulder-in in-hand with a rider.

Indeed, my worlds were colliding.

In 2008 the Walking horse association pleaded for more entries at the Washington County Fair. They were worried the Tennessee walking horse classes would be eliminated unless more people entered.

“Well, okay, we’ll give rail class shows a try,” I said.

TWH 3-gait Trail Pleasure Rail Class — Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at a TWH breed show in the 3-gait Trail Pleasure Rail Class

It wasn’t ribbons that kept us returning to Walking horse shows. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse came alive in the show ring. She seemed to enjoy the people and other horses, so we’ve kept it up.

Gaited Dressage: Training Level — Our first gaited dressage show in 2010.

Now that I was officially riding dressage on a gaited horse and showing in rail classes, I entered my Tennessee walking horse at a local schooling dressage show the fall of 2010. We were the only gaited entry, and because of this it drew the attention of two women who owned gaited horses. We exchanged phone numbers and began to trail riding at state parks. Makana seemed to enjoy the fresh air, arresting scenery, and varied terrain as much as I did.

encountering the moose obstacle — *Encountering the moose obstacle* at a Gaited Trail Trial.

Trail riding prepared us for the next step. If it weren’t for the dozens of trail rides we had been on with the women I had met at the schooling dressage show, I would have never considered riding the 2011 Gaited Trail Trials which proved to be the most fun I’ve ever had on horseback!

So what’s next? I’m tinkering with the notion of eventing my gaited horse now that we have started gymnastic jumping.

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows

Gaited Dressage at Rocking R

October 4, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

It was a perfect autumn day, 75-degrees and sunny, and made for a wonderful schooling show at Rocking R Farm in Foley, MN. Forty-nine horses were entered in dressage, cross-country, and stadium jumping. Many horse/rider teams rode all three disciplines. Next year I hope we’ll be one of them!

Gift of Freedom, my seven-year-old Tennessee walking horse mare and I placed first and second in our Gaited First Level, Tests 1 & 2 (the only team showing in the gaited division). Our scores were 65.52% and 61.62%. Not bad considering I had a senior moment and forgot where I was in the first test. Had I continued off course, I would have completed my final halt and salute facing the wrong way! As soon as I realized my blunder, I asked if I could resume where I wandered off course. I took a deduction, but the grace offered was well received.

During our second test, Makana ran out of gas. I think I shed five pounds during my calisthenic workout in efforts to squeeze her forward. Even though the show ran two hours behind schedule, I was home before midnight (a little state fair humor).

The best news of all is that I spared my husband from watching another Viking’s loss.

Among Judge Jane Linville’s comments were “Great pair. Pleasant to watch. Continue to work for more uphill balance throughout. Horse has a sweet face and is trying very hard.” She concluded, “Lovely, harmonious test.”

Photos: Gaited Dressage at Rocking R>

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows, Gaited Dressage Videos

Gaited Dressage: Showing Solo

September 26, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

I’ve never had so much fun getting lost as I did yesterday at Sand Dunes State Forest (North) with my husband riding on a beautiful fall day. However, yesterday’s limited daylight ate up his golf time, so he opted out of the Walker’s Triple R show to play a couple rounds before cold and darkness envelop us.

So I squeezed into my “big girl pants,” as my friend so often says, and loaded and trailered Makana to the show by myself, rode two tests without a reader, as the solo gaited dressage rider, and even managed to record video! (I set the camera on a post that recorded our second ride winning ride.) This year’s horse adventures have prepped me well for showing solo.

Judy and Mike Walker organized another well run schooling dressage show. They must have divine connections, because this year’s record rain held off during all three shows. We had perfect weather, no bugs, and the same friendly crowd. In fact, a couple people from the Western Dressage Association of Minnesota even volunteered to record my first winning ride on video. (Thank you Laura and AnnMarie. I will never forget your kindness!)

The two lessons I had last month really paid off. Makana stepped deeper under her body without rushing, we maintained a leg yield at a flat walk without breaking, my position and hands were quieter, my fingers followed her head nod, and we placed first in both classes as the only gaited dressage team riding among warmbloods, Friesians, and Arabians.

Now if I can figure out a way to increase Makana’s energy at a canter, we’ll be set for next week’s dressage show at Rocking R. Only next week, I may be the only gaited dressage rider, but I won’t be showing solo!

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Gaited Western Dressage?

September 13, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

If gaited dressage isn’t enough of a paradigm shift for many traditional dressage riders, what about gaited western dressage? Being a good sport, I rode my naturally gaited Walking horse mare in her western outfit at the last horse women’s gathering at Judy Conger’s farm. Our special guest was Karen Meyers who is the president of the newly formed Western Dressage Association of Minnesota. Turns out, Karen grew up with Tennessee walking horses and showed them in the 1970s when the classes were the main draw at the Minnesota State Fair horse show.

Knowing this, I couldn’t help asking Karen for feedback on how to establish contact with a western curb, improve the head nod, and develop the flat walk (western dressage style). Karen suggested that I take up the slack and shorten my reins to have a light contact with the curb bit, hold my arms at my sides with a 90-degree angle from my shoulder to my hand, and keep my arms and hands still without being stiff. My hands are positioned as if I’m holding two ice-cream cones and my fingers slightly open and close with the head-nod motion. Make sure the curb chain has 3-4 fingers between the chin and chain so that it encourages the horse to move without feeling punished or stopped by the bit or chain.

Instructor Judy Conger helped me establish a more correct western dressage position. It kind of feels like if someone punched me in the gut to fill out the arch in my lower back, and then the feeling of pushing my inside anatomy down into the saddle while sitting tall, and stretching my thighs down and back. (Now if I can remember to breath, stay relaxed, and for goodness sake, SMILE!)

Putting together tips I learned from last week’s lesson with this week’s feedback from Judy and Karen looks something like this:

Begin with long and low on a loose rein to get the horse stretching and stepping deep under its body.
After 10-15 minutes, then gradually begin taking up contact and transition to a flat walk without losing the deep steps.
Return to long and low if the horse begins to rush with scampering, small steps.
Mix in transitions from flat walk to halt and rein-back to an immediate forward and engaged flat walk.
Throw in some canter both directions with transitions to walk or halt.

Good luck if you keep your body in that contorted position (and extra bonus points if you remember to breath and smile)!

Who knows, maybe I’ll be riding Makana gaited Western Dressage style at the next Walker’s Triple R schooling dressage show held Sunday, September 25. Entries will be taken through Wednesday, September 21. See you there!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5oX0WSTXE4?rel=0&w=560&h=315

Photos: Gaited western dressage>