Category Archives: Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

How My Tennessee Walking Horse Learned Spanish Walk

How my Tennessee Walking Horse learned the Spanish Walk

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.

Tennessee Walking Horse Jambette with a rider.
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.
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.

jambette and the naturally gaited horse

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
jambette
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 in liberty
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.
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 for the gaited horse
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.

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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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Research Proves Chest Muscles Key for Balance & Collection

Research proves importance of developing the chest muscles for balance and collection

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.

Seili first recognized show

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.

second thoughts about long and low
shoulder in

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 and Lisa Maxwell's DVD
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.

counted walk

shoulder in on a circle with a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
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.

Long and low on the forehand
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.

2024 Lady pelham shoulder-in on a circle

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.

Rein back
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.

2021 Lady's smooth gait with contact
Lady’s smooth gait today has more balance and lightness.

Learn more about Dressage for the Gaited Horse

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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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits

Does your gaited horse have a smooth gait but short strides? Or does your gaited horse have a rough ride? In either case, I have experienced both and here are tips on developing longer strides and smoother gaits.

tips to a longer stride and smoother gaits

Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits

by Jennifer Klitzke

Like many of us gaited horse riders, I couldn’t wait to experience that comfortable smooth gait. In 2007, when I began my journey with Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, I quickly realized that the faster she moved, the shorter her strides became. Although this quick gait was smooth, I yearned for longer strides at the flat walk and running walk.

To achieve longer strides and smooth gaits, I learned that I had to begin by SLOWing down. By taking the time to develop a quality free walk, my horse learned to move in four evenly timed steps with longer strides. This groundwork transformed her flat walk and running walk from short quick steps to long smooth strides.

Video: Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits

How to develop longer strides at a free walk

What is a free walk

During a free walk, the horse takes slow, ground-covering steps while maintaining a relaxed and extended posture. The horse stretches its head and neck forward and out, making contact with a snaffle bit and an open throat latch.

The free walk is an even four beat footfall. It is not a pace. If your horse has trouble walking, don’t practice more pace if you desire a walk. There are tips in this post to help break up pace: Quality Step to Quality Steps | Naturally Gaited Horse

Riding with a snaffle bit and a light following contact

There are various approaches to training gaited horses, and my passion is French dressage to develop quality smooth gaits. In training, I use a mild snaffle bit to teach my horses how to relax their mouth, lower jaw, and poll, as well as how to accept and follow contact with the bit. As I ride, I maintain a light following contact with both hands to ensure a harmonious connection and communication with the horse.

Learn more: Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit

Why I don’t ride with low fixed hands

Relaxation of the mouth, the body and mind are keys to unlocking a quality, smooth gait with rhythm and long strides. This is why I teach my horses to accept and follow a snaffle bit contact, while I gently follow their natural head and neck motion with my hands.

When riding with low fixed hands, the bit can uncomfortably press into the horse’s tongue. This causes pain and leads to tension in the lower jaw and poll. In response, the horse may run off or over flex at the poll in an attempt to escape this tongue pressure. This tension not only affects the mouth, it also has a negative impact on the entire body, including a braced back which can result in more pacing, step pacing, and hard trotting.

Additionally, a noseband that prevents the horse from opening its mouth can contribute to the tension, and the horse may struggle to swallow, further exacerbating the issue. An indication of this is when saliva drips from the horse’s mouth.

For these reasons are why I believe it is best to ride with a light following contact using a snaffle bit and ensure the horse’s comfort and relaxation.

2023: Makana, my naturally gaited barefoot Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk (19 years old).
2023: Makana, my naturally gaited barefoot Tennessee walking horse
at a flat walk (19 years old).

Cues for the head and neck

To encourage my horse to stretch her head and neck forward and achieve a more extended posture, I position my arms at my sides and gradually lift my hands until I feel the bit touching the corners of her mouth. As she responds by lowering her head to a neck extension position, I follow her movement by guiding the reins down and out, until her poll is aligned with her withers. These asking and releasing cues are known as known as “Action/Reaction.”

During the free walk, I aim for an open throat latch, ensuring that my horse’s nose is slightly ahead of the vertical position. 

steps to a longer stride
2023: A free walk on a long rein. The horse extends its head and neck forward and out with an open throat latch. The horse takes maximum slow walk steps with over track where the hind hoof steps over the fore hoof print.

Maintaining a neck extension position during the free walk not only enhances the stretching and relaxing benefits for my horse but also ensures better balance. It is important to avoid a head and neck position that is too low, as this can shift too much weight onto the forehand, causing the horse to be out of balance and more prone to tripping. As a responsible trainer, I always strive to keep my horse in balance and avoid any training that may compromise their stability.

Cues for the length of stride

As I tune into my horse’s movement, I notice the side-to-side sway of her belly with each hind leg step. Then I notice my riding position. There is a balance between core tone and a relaxed lower back and hip joints that follow her natural motion. It is essential to maintain relaxation in my hips and lower back, as tension in these areas could lead my horse to shorter her strides. I strive to follow her movements with relaxation and core tone. Yet I avoid driving her forward with my pelvis as this can irritate the horse and actually cause them to slow down. Instead, I coordinate the motion of each hip joint with the corresponding hind leg step, almost as if my own hip joints are walking alongside hers. The belly sway also helps me with the timing of leg cues to encourage the horse to take a deeper step under the belly.

Leg cue

When riding a free walk on a 20-meter circle going clockwise, my right calf will be on the inside of the circle. As my horse’s belly sways down and to the outside of the circle, that’s when her inside hind leg is stepping under her belly and is the ideal time to cue for a deeper step by pressing and releasing with my inside calf. It is important to stop the cue as soon as I feel a response, otherwise my horse will begin to ignore the cue. If my horse doesn’t respond to my leg cue, I follow up with a tap of the dressage whip on the same side at the same time as the press and release of my calf. Another thing I do is make a “cluck” sound at the timing of the leg aid, and/or tap of the whip.

Noticing uneven strides

Asymmetry is common in horses which can be apparent in uneven strides, with one leg taking longer steps than the other. While lameness can sometimes be the cause, it is often a sign of weakness or stiffness. Just like humans, most horses are born with a dominant side, whether it be right or left-handed. As a result, one side of their body may stretch easier than the other. This can affect their stride length and overall movement.

Also, when riding on a circle, the inside of the circle is a smaller circle than the outside of the circle. If a horse is stiff on the outside, it can be harder for them to take a longer stride on the outside of the circle. I make a point to notice which direction my horse is stiffer so I can help my horse become more flexible. Over time, this work helps my horse become more ambidextrous with more even hind leg steps.

Noticing rider unevenness

The other observation I’ve made is that I have an easier riding direction since I am right-handed. This means if I’m always traveling my easiest direction, I’ll be compromising my horse’s development as well as mine as a rider.

Full length of stride

Developing full length of stride is more than just encouraging my horse to take a deeper step under her belly. This is only one half of the length of stride. The other half is the leg that extends back and pushes forward. Together the pushing leg and the carrying leg make the full length of stride. I have found that the best way to develop length of stride is to SLOW the walk down taking relaxed and deliberate big steps.

The full length of stride includes the hind leg step reaching under the belly which can be influenced by the proper timing of the rider's leg cue and the hind leg step behind the tail as it pushes the horse forward.
2023: The full length of stride (green line) includes the hind leg step reaching under the belly (red line) which can be influenced by the proper timing of the rider’s leg cue and the hind leg step behind the tail (yellow line) as it pushes the horse forward.

Slow walk to smooth gait

Why is it important to have a SLOW, big walk? A quality walk is composed of four evenly timed steps— the same sequence in the flat-footed walk, flat walk, and running walk. For horses that are naturally offer pace or step pace, the free walk can be beneficial in developing more evenly timed steps for muscle memory and smooth gaits.

Video: Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk

Circles over straight lines

I incorporate 20-meter circles into our training sessions for several reasons. Not only does the bend a circle produces help develop strength in the inside hind leg as the horse steps under its belly, but the horse develops flexibility when stretching the outside body muscles. The latter benefit cannot be achieved riding a straight line.

Also, circles are particularly helpful for horses that tend to have a lateral pacey gait. For horses that are more square moving or tend to have a diagonal trotty gait, I ride my circles with a slight counter bend position to maintain an even four-step sequence.

Myth buster: There is a time for longer strides, but not always

Now having focused this entire post about developing longer strides. It is important to realize that the higher levels of collection require more carrying power vs pushing power. This carrying power shortens the stride length. Not permanently, though, only for as long as you are performing the carrying steps of collection. As soon as you release your gaited horse back to the pushing power, the length of stride returns. Examples of carrying power movements and gaits include: counted walk, half steps, piaffe, and collected walk. Examples of pushing power gaits are flat walk and running walk.

I mention this because for many years, I had been expecting my Tennessee walking horse to maintain the same length of stride in collection. This is not realistic nor biomechanically possible. Just look at the photo below.

stride length: pushing power vs carrying power
Stride length: pushing power vs carrying power.
Learn more: Collection and its Effect on Stride Length

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

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Quality Step to Quality Steps

Are naturally gaited horses supposed to be smooth? Why do gaited horse fall in and out of a smooth gait or not at all? How can a naturally gaited horse develop quality smooth gaits?

Developing Quality Smooth Gaits One Step at a Time

By Jennifer Klitzke

Lots of people buy a naturally gaited horse believing they automatically offer a smooth gait all the time. Some gaited horses are all born with this ability, but most need training to develop a consistent smooth gait.

Dressage is one form of training for the naturally gaited horse to develop quality smooth gaits. Through exercises that develop relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, symmetry and engagement, a gaited horse can develop quality smooth gaits on cue.

How? With three important keys.

1. Know the difference between a quality smooth step and a step that is unbalanced, rushed, hollow, tense, or disengaged.

2. Practice quality smooth steps.

3. Stop and reward the horse before the steps get pacey, out of balance, tense or hurried.

In the beginning it might be one or two steps. Then it leads to a few quality steps. Over time the few steps become a few minutes of quality smooth steps.

Avoid practicing poor quality steps, because that’s the muscle memory you’ll create. Practice consistent quality smooth steps to deliver clear communication to your horse.

When my horse becomes unbalanced, loses rhythm and rushes, hollows or becomes disengaged, that’s a great clue to simply slow down to a relaxed and balanced walk and re-establish quality smooth steps.

When I’ve re-established a quality walk, then I transition to the smooth gait a quality step to quality steps.

Over time, a few quality steps turn into circles of quality steps. Seconds into minutes for longer durations of quality smooth gait over time.

How can you tell the difference between a quality smooth step from a smooth step that is unbalanced, rushed, hollow, tense, or disengaged?

I’ve been perusing my equestrian education since 1988 and there is always more to learn. Taking lessons, attending clinics, studying DVDs, reading books, and recording rides are great ways to learn. All of this helps me become a more effective rider and better communicator with my naturally gaited horses.

Good dressage lessons are important to gain timely feedback. This feedback helps the rider develop the feeling of right and the feeling of the horse falling out of balance, rushing, hollowing, tensing, or disengaging and knowing what to do to regain the feeling of right.

What if my naturally gaited horse paces instead of walks?

Again, a good dressage instructor can help you determine why your horse is pacing.

There are many reasons why a naturally gaited horse paces:

Sometimes the horse has developed the habit of pacing.

A dressage instructor can help you learn exercises like shoulder in, shoulder out, haunches in at a slow walk that help to break up the pace into a four-step walk.

Sometimes the horse paces because it is tense in the mouth and back.

Lateral exercises also break up tension and help to soften, supple and strengthen the naturally gaited horse.

Sometimes the horse paces because the equipment causes pain.

A good dressage instructor can help you find an english or western saddle that fits you and your horse without pinching or hollowing the back. An instructor can help you learn how to develop a balanced riding position (ear, hip, heal) over the horse’s center of balance. This helps to be an easier load to carry and not throw the horse out of balance.

A good dressage instructor can also teach you how to help the naturally gaited horse accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact. This relaxes the mouth, lower jaw, and poll and has an effect on the entire horse.

Sometimes a horse paces because the rider throws the rhythm off

The horse’s footfall rhythm can been disrupted when the rider cues at the wrong time. A good dressage instructor with teach you effective timing of aids.

Another reason the horse paces is when the rider doesn’t follow the natural movement of the horse’s head and neck, lower back, hip joints and leg with the belly sway. A good dressage instructor can teach you how to follow the horse’s natural movement without disrupting the timing of steps and without creating tension in the horse.

Sometimes a horse paces because it was born to pace

Is there hope for a naturally horse who was bred to pace? Yes, a good dressage instructor can help you learn all the above and your horse can learn a smoother gait.

Will it be easy? No, but with patience, joy, and perseverance, breaking free from a hard pace is possible.

Video: Quality Step to Quality Steps

In this video I share what I’ve learned from good dressage instructors
about developing quality smooth gaits — one step at a time.

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

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Benefits of Teaching the Smooth Gaited Horse a Quality Trot on Cue

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Lady trot

Have you heard people say, “Never trot a gaited horse, because trot will ruin the smooth gait?” I bought a gaited horse for a smooth ride. Yet I discovered how a quality trot on cue can improve the quality of the smooth gait.

Here’s my story.

Benefits of Teaching the Smooth Gaited Horse a Quality Trot on Cue

By Jennifer Klitzke

Walk-trot-canter are my roots. I began dressage with non-gaited horse breeds in 1988. Twenty-nine years later, my youthful mind grew into a grandma body. Dressage with smooth gaited horses launched my new destiny. I thought my posting days were behind me. Then I discovered a quality trot on cue offers great benefits for the naturally gaited horse.

Whoever panicked gaited horse riders by saying trot ruins smooth gait, missed two important facts.

First, the difference between letting a gaited horse trot versus the rider directing the horse into a quality trot on cue. The former lets the horse train the rider. The latter is the rider training the gaited horse.

Secondly, not all trot is the same. Just as not all gait is the same. There are quality smooth gaits that have relaxation, even strides, regular rhythm and tempo. Just as there are poor-quality gaits with short and uneven strides, a hollow frame, irregular rhythm, and a rushed tempo that fall in and out of pace and a smooth gait.

Trotting the naturally gaited horse isn’t for every rider and every horse. If you ask an educated dressage rider, teaching a gaited horse a quality trot on cue has many benefits.

Video: Benefits of Trotting the Gaited Horse on Cue

Benefits of a quality trot on cue for the smooth gaited horse:

  • Helps develop relaxation
  • Develops the top line muscles when ridden in a neutral position
  • Develops rhythm
  • Improves engagement and forward movement without rushing
  • Strengthens the hind quarters for deeper strides reaching under the body
  • The diagonalized motion of trot breaks up a lateral moving pace
Balanced trot on cue with gaited horse
Teaching the naturally gaited horse a quality trot on cue improves rhythm and engagement that can improve these qualities of the smooth natural gaits. Plus, the diagonalized foot fall of the trot can help break up a lateral pace.

Transforming a hard trotting gaited horse with dressage

Lady was purchased from a sale barn. My friend was told she was a six-year-old unregistered gaited horse. Yet the only gaits Lady had were a walk and a hard trot. After a couple years of trail riding on a long floppy rein with Lady, my friend brought her to my place. She wanted to know if Lady had a smooth gait after all.

Dressage rider meets a trail ridden gaited horse

Riding with a light snaffle bit contact was as new to Lady as riding on a long floppy rein to me. I did my best to keep arena riding interesting for Lady. I mixed up our rides with lots of transitions, circles, serpentines, changes of direction along the diagonal, and lateral exercises.

My strategy with Lady: We began with a relaxed state of mind and body beginning at a walk. Then I would increase the tempo before she began trotting. Over time, Lady developed three smooth gaits on cue: a dog walk, a fox walk, and fox trot.

Lady’s smooth gaits aren’t showy, but they are fun to ride, especially on the trail. We see a lot of the forest in a short amount of time and my grandma body doesn’t pay for it later! Plus, I took the dressage to the trail, and it made both Lady and I happy. Dressage made more sense to Lady on the trail than the arena.

I also learned that Lady enjoyed our time together best when I met her halfway. I asked for a smooth gait on cue with a light snaffle bit contact. Then I would release the contact to a long floppy rein as long as she maintained her smooth gait in self-carriage. This was Lady’s reward, and this dressage rider enjoyed another way of riding.

Gaited Dressage for the Trail Horse
Who says dressage needs to be in an arena?

Lady’s first dressage show as a smooth gaited horse

In July 2016, I entered Lady in her first dressage show. It was a North American Western Dressage Virtual Show open to smooth gaited horses. Even unregistered grade horses, like Lady, were welcome to enter!

Lady and I rode a Western Gaited Dressage Intro Test. It included walk, free walk, and a smooth gait which replaced the jog trot. Also, the dressage test required a snaffle bit contact with no floppy reins during the test.

Turns out, Lady was the only smooth gaited horse competing at our level. In her first show, she placed 5th of 9 horses with a score of 60.357%. I was thrilled!

Western Gaited Dressage Intro Test
Lady in her smooth gait while showing her first Western Gaited Dressage Intro Test

The ah-hah moment: Feedback from the dressage judge

The dressage judge provided wonderful written feedback on our dressage test. While I was happy with Lady’s smooth gait, the judge noted where Lady seemed tense and lacked engagement. She also pointed out where Lady moved more relaxed and engaged to work towards that.

The feedback provided helpful insights in our training and what needed improvement. Since our dressage test was recorded, I could watch where the judge made these comments!

The ah-hah moment was realizing the difference between a smooth gait and a QUALITY smooth gait!

Up to this point, developing a smooth gait was my goal. Now I had a new goal: developing quality smooth gait. I began focusing on a relaxed state of mind and body, engagement from behind, and a softer connection with the bridle.

Lady’s response to engagement wasn’t rainbows and unicorns. She resisted by rushing off with tense, short steps until she blasted into a hard, hollow trot. Ooh, my grandma body felt those jolts! Then I had a flash back to my trotting horse days and had an epiphany.

Epiphany: Drawing insights from dressage with non-gaited horses…a quality trot on cue!

The jarring trot jolted my memory back to the days I posted 20-meter circles developing a quality trot on cue. A quality trot helps develop the horse’s top line muscles with a relaxed mind and body, as well as rhythm, connection, and engagement from behind.

Did you know that not all trot is the same?

When a trotting horse is tense and hollow, the trot is a rough ride. When the horse learns to relax its back, engage from behind, and step deeper under its belly, the trot becomes smoother. I learned this to develop a manageable sitting trot. Plus, a relaxed back is beneficial for the horse.

Recalling these benefits of a quality trot on cue became my strategy for Lady. Any time she resisted a quality smooth gait on cue by blasting into a hard trot, I redirected her into a QUALITY trot on cue.

quality trot on cue
While teaching the gaited horse a quality trot on cue, it is important to allow moments for the horse to stretch out and down to stretch the topline muscles and spine. The rider lightens their posting in a two-point position to allow the horse’s back to round. Avoid too many consecutive steps in this position as it drives the horse onto the forehand.

Huh!? Why would I teach trot to the hard trotting gaited horse I just taught a smooth gait?!

The difference between evading through hard trot and teaching a quality trot on cue

There is a big difference between an evasive hard trot the horse chooses and the rider teaching the horse a quality trot on cue.

Lady’s hard trot was an evasion to avoid a quality smooth gait on cue. The hard trot is not quality, nor was it on cue. She would grab the bit and run away in a tense, high headed hollow trot. Left unchecked, Lady was training me.

Instead, I need to teach Lady a new way to trot. I needed to guide her trot into relaxed state of mind and body, moving forward from behind into a light contact with the snaffle bit on a 20-meter circle, and develop an even rhythm and tempo without rushing.

Teaching the gaited horse a quality trot on cue has many benefits:

  • Breaks up lateral pacey movement since trot is a diagonal gait
  • Develops the abdominal muscles to lift the back to a neutral to round position instead of an unhealthy hollow positionStretches the top line muscles and spine, when trotting in a neutral position, which is beneficial to the gaited horse
  • Stretches the outside muscles when performed on a 20-meter circle and promotes symmetry when both directions are stretched
  • Develops the topline muscles of the neck and back instead of the underside neck muscles
  • Encourages engagement which teaches the gaited horse to step deeper under the body with each hind leg step and lift the back to a neutral to round position producing depth of stride to improve the quality of the smooth gait
  • Develops rhythm that improves quality in all gaits
  • Teaches the gaited horse gaits on cue, teaches rider and horse proper roles in the relationship
quality trot
Teaching a smooth gaited horse a quality trot (or soft trot as shown) on cue has many benefits: engagement, rhythm, balance, strengthening the top line muscles, and breaking up pace. This type of trot produces depth of stride which improves the quality of the smooth gait.

After a few circles of quality trot, I cue for the smooth gait. I am amazed how much better the smooth gait has improved after a few circles of quality trot on cue.

Balance gaited horse fox trot
Lady’s easy gait improves in engagement, rhythm, and balance after a few 20-meter circles of quality trot on cue.

My strategy has been to ask Lady for an engaged smooth gait on cue first. If her response is resistance or a lack of engagement, then I cue for a quality trot. It doesn’t take Lady long to prefer an engaged smooth gait over a quality trot on cue.

Second dressage show as a smooth gaited horse

In September 2016, we put our strategy to the test. I entered Lady as a smooth gaited horse in her second Western Gaited Dressage Intro Test with the NAWD Virtual Show.

Not only did Lady’s smooth gait improve with more relaxation and engagement, but she placed 2nd of 11 horses with a score of 64.821%. Lady was the only smooth gaited horse in the class!

Video: Western Gaited Dressage Intro Test

Teaching the smooth gaited horse a quality trot on cue isn’t for every rider or every horse. It has helped my gaited horse, Lady establish more engagement in her smooth gait. Now that she is working in a quality smooth gait with connection, rhythm, relaxation and engagement, I haven’t had to ask for the quality trot on cue.

Will trotting a gaited horse on cue ruin the smooth gait?

Whoever began the myth, “Never trot a gaited horse, because trot will ruin the smooth gait,” maybe didn’t know the difference between letting the gaited horse hard trot versus training the gaited horse a quality trot on cue.

A quality trot on cue teaches the gaited horse rhythm, relaxation, balance, and forward movement without rushing to develop engagement, a softer connection, a deeper stride beneath the body with each hind leg, and it breaks up a lateral moving pace.

Lady fox trot
My naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady in a quality, balanced fox trot with contact.

That’s where years of dressage on trotting horses have paid off for me. I never imagined that I would be trotting a smooth gaited horse on purpose, since I got a gaited horse for a SMOOTH ride. Yet I discovered that teaching the gaited horse a quality trot on cue can improve the quality of the smooth gait.

In the end Lady prefers an engaged smooth gait over a quality trot on cue any day, and that makes us both happy!

More Exercises for Gaited Horses to improve quality smooth gaits.

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