Looking back over the year, there were many firsts for me and my eight-year-old Tennessee walking horse Gift of Freedom (Makana). From learning how to jump to Western gaited dressage to trail obstacles to riding at a Larry Whitesell 5-day gaited dressage clinic to introducing over a dozen people to riding a gaited horse, 2012 was a year to remember!

In January, Makana and I began jumping lessons to see if training a gaited horse how to jump would improve the quality of her canter.
Story: The Trick to Jumping is to Never Scare Them

In March Makana and I gave a Western gaited dressage demonstration at a Western dressage clinic.
Story: Gaited Dressage Featured at Western Dressage Clinic

In May Makana and I showed Gaited Dressage: Intro A, B, and C for the first time at the Three Ring Circus schooling dressage show—our largest schooling dressage show yet with over 200 horses entered and only one of them gaited.
Story: Gaited Dressage: From First Level to Intro?

In June me and my gaited dressage horse took a stab at jumping over a cross-country course of ground rails at the Rocking R schooling dressage and jumping show.
Story: Gaited Dressage and Jumping at Rocking R Farm Schooling Show

In July and August, Makana and I showed at two schooling dressage shows that offered Western gaited dressage, and we took home our first scores over 70%!
Story: Western Gaited Dressage at Rocking R

Then in August, Makana and I traveled to Wisconsin for a five-day gaited dressage clinic with Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer.
Story: Gaited Dressage Clinic with Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer

Also in August was our first lesson through trail obstacles at Judy Conger’s farm.
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In 2012 many people were introduced to riding a gaited horse for the first time. Some of my favorite quotes were: “I feel like I’m not going any where but the ground is moving.” and “How do you know what gait you’re in when they are all smooth?”

In September Hannah Rivard of Cambria Horsemanship introduced me to a unique training method called “Feel and Release” which has helped Makana be more forward with less prodding on my part.
Story: Gaited Dressage: Feel and Release

In October we showed Gaited Dressage: First Level Test Three for the first time at the Rocking R Farm schooling dressage show.
Story: Gaited Dressage: 88 Entries and Only One of them Gaited

What will 2013 bring? Hopefully many more opportunities to ride my gaited horse at schooling dressage shows and inspire other gaited riders to give it a try.