All horses can do dressage, even gaited horses that don’t trot. The principles of dressage produce mental and physical relaxation, balance, impulsion, rhythm, connection, symmetry, and engagement. These principles develop full range of motion, quality natural gaits, and long-term soundness over time with consistent application.
Trot is not the purpose of dressage. Non-gaited horses naturally walk, trot, and canter. Gaited horses naturally walk, canter, and offer one or more smooth gaits. Dressage improves the quality of a horse’s natural gaits whether they trot, tolt, fox trot, flat walk or saddle rack.
Dressage is more than trot!
Why Dressage is More than Trot
By Jennifer Klitzke
Coming from decades of dressage riding non-gaited horses, much of my focus was a quality trot. Before buying my German warmblood in 1988, I looked at 50 prospects for the loftiest trot I could afford. The trot defined competition dressage for good scores.
In 2007 I searched for my first naturally gaited horse. This time I wasn’t searching for a lofty but the smoothest gaited horse I could afford. I fell in love with a naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse filly named Makana.
Since dressage had been the only riding method I knew, that’s how Makana was trained. I applied dressage principles to develop my naturally gaited horse’s smooth gaits like flat walk and running walk, as well as the free walk and canter.
Trot is a natural gait for non-gaited horses like warmbloods and thoroughbreds. Flat walk is a natural gait for gaited horses like Tennessee Walking Horses. Understandably there are non-gaited horse shows where walk, trot, and canter are required, just as there are naturally gaited horse shows where flat walk, running walk, and canter are required.
Showing dressage with a gaited horse
Many dressage associations, breed associations, and schooling dressage shows accommodate gaited horse entries. There are many dressage tests for gaited horses that reflect their natural smooth gaits. Trot is not a requirement.
My first dressage show on a horse that doesn’t trot. (Six years old).
In 2010 I learned of a schooling dressage show open to gaited horse entries.
Although we were the only gaited horse entry riding with non-gaited horses, we replaced flat walk for trot. I was curious what feedback my Tennessee Walking Horse would receive from a dressage judge.
The judge’s feedback affirmed the dressage principles of harmony, rhythm, connection, riding position, and the use and timing of aids. We also received great pointers to help us improve.
Thrilled my Tennessee Walking Horse and I were on the right path, I continued to bring her to more schooling dressage shows. Showing dressage with your gaited horse isn’t a requirement to learn dressage. Yet, showing dressage provides great feedback from a professional judge.
Showing my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in flat walk at a dressage show. (Eight years old).
The purpose of dressage is not trot
Ironically, by taking my gaited horse to dressage shows is when I realized the purpose of dressage. Most of the judges we rode for had never seen flat walk before, yet this was not a stumbling block. The judges focused on the test requirements. They commented on rhythm, relaxation, balance, impulsion, connection, straightness, engagement, harmony, rider position, use and timing of aids, and the required movements and gaits of the test. Trot is not a dressage test requirement in the gaited horse dressage tests! Trot is not the purpose of dressage.
That’s when I realized Dressage is More than Trot!
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. Pictured is the same Tennessee Walking Horse at the age of 19.
What is the purpose of dressage?
Dressage is the training of the horse and rider to develop the horse’s full range of motion for quality gaits, long-term soundness, and a partnership of harmony. Learn more: How dressage benefits the gaited horse
Dressage teaches rider balance over the horse’s center of gravity and a set of tools to communicate with the horse. The rider learns effective use and timing of the hands, legs, seat, and weight aids to lead the horse into relaxation, balance, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, connection, flexibility and symmetry to develop straightness, and collection. Learn more: How dressage benefits the rider
When I realized I could teach my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse dressage, I dusted off my dressage books and videos and became a student all over again. Together we are developing Makana’s full range of smooth gaits on cue: free walk, medium walk, flat walk, running walk, fox trot, saddle rack, canter, counted walk and even piaffe!
That’s not all! Dressage is the language that travels beyond the arena. I bring the same communication using my hands, legs, seat and weight aids wherever we go and whatever we do: sort cows, trail obstacles, trail riding, endurance races, snow riding, and gymnastic jumping.
The same dressage I use in the arena is the same dressage I use on the trail.
Dressage has made my naturally gaited horse more maneuverable around obstacles, jumps, and sneaky cows, and she is more reliable on the trail. Plus, my naturally gaited horse has been easier on a grandma body like mine!
My naturally gaited horse enjoys moving cows more than anything!
Dressage has made all the difference in developing quality smooth gaits, and it hasn’t made my naturally gaited horse TROT.
German dressage vs. French dressage: Is dressage a sport or is dressage an art form? Is there a right way and a wrong way to “do” dressage? Is dressage only for trotting horses?
Can best practices of these differing approaches be combined for humane training and improving gaits whether horses naturally trot or flat walk?
Can German Dressage and French Dressage Co-Exist?
By Jennifer Klitzke
Years of German dressage with non-gaited horses and my ambitious competition goals collided the day I was introduced to French dressage. I had experienced the sport of dressage and now had become acquainted with the art form of dressage. They are so different. Do you have to choose one over the other or can German dressage and French dressage co-exist?
Years later I acquired a naturally smooth gaited horse. I applied dressage with a horse that doesn’t trot and began to wonder, “What is the purpose of dressage?“ Is it to produce trot? Is it to win in competitions? Is it to create art? Really?
Isn’t dressage meant to develop the rider’s skill, awareness, and feel in order to communicate with the horse through effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat and rein aids. Through this communication the rider leads the horse to produce relaxation, balance, impulsion (forward movement without rushing), rhythm, connection, symmetry, and collection?Over time and consistent communication, isn’t the purpose of dressage to develop the horse’s full range of motion and quality gaits for long term soundness? Shouldn’t dressage improve quality of gaits whether the horse naturally trots, tolts, fox trots, or flat walks? Let’s take a look.
In its essence, dressage is a French term meaning “train” as it relates to the horse and rider. Over the centuries, dressage has developed into two distinct forms: German dressage in competition for talented trotting horses and French dressage as an art form that preserves centuries-old classical training philosophies.
What about dressage for the gaited horse?
Historically German dressage and French dressage have been applied to horses that trot. United States Dressage Federation competition dressage tests require walk, trot and canter. As a whole, the institutions of German dressage and French dressage have been silent on the matter of training gaited horses in their natural smooth gaits as flat walk, fox trot, tolt, and rack.
Dressage for the gaited horse improves the full range of motion and quality naturally smooth gaits for long-term soundness. Pictured is a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at the age of 19.
Does this mean dressage brings no benefit to smooth gaited horses?
Thankfully, no. Since 1988, I’ve been riding, training, and competing non-gaited horses with German dressage. Then in 2010, I began successfully training and competing my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in dressage. We rode flat walk and running walk in place of trot (Intro, Training and First Levels).
Then in 2013, I began to explore French dressage with my smooth gaited and non-gaited horses.
Both German dressage and French dressage methods benefit horses whether they trot or have natural smooth gaits. Why? Because dressage teaches the rider how to lead the horse into relaxation, balance, impulsion (forward movement without rushing), rhythm, connection, symmetry, and collection. These training elements improve the quality of movement and full range of motion in any horse whether the horse trots or has a natural smooth gait.
Dressage helps smooth gaited horses develop:
Greater mental and physical relaxation that can reduce pacing, cross cantering, and lateral canter
Smoother gaits by learning diagonalized exercises such as shoulder-in that breakup lateral gaits like the pace and step pace
Evenly timing smooth gaits with rhythm and tempo
Full range of motion to produce longer strides and engaged steps placed more under the horse’s body mass
Symmetry producing even flexibility and even stride length by both hind leg steps
Greater head and neck nod in timing with the hind leg steps in flat walk and running walk for breeds such as the Tennessee walking horse
Better balance and connection from the hindquarters, through a neutral back to the bit, and raising the wither by engaging the chest, shoulder, and abdominal muscles
What are the similarities and differences between German and French dressage?
German and French dressage have similarities. Both teach riders a way to communicate with horses through a balanced riding position and effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat, and weight aids. This communication leads the horse into developing its full range of motion and quality natural gaits through relaxation, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, connection, symmetry, and balance.
While there are similarities, German and French dressage differ in the application and timing of rider aids, training methodology, and the philosophy of purpose. Why do I ride dressage? What is the purpose for riding dressage? How is dressage applied through the rider aids?
The book, Academic Equitation by General DeCarpentry offers historical insights between the German and French school differences. Another resource is the DVD: Classical versus Classique offers a great side-by-side comparison between modern-day German and French dressage masters: German Equestrian Federation Trainer Christoph Hess and French Dressage Master Philippe Karl of the Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness). Whether you are a German dressage or French dressage rider, or are interested in learning more about dressage, this DVD illuminates solid points worth considering.
Classical versus Classique This DVD features German Equestrian Federation Trainer Christoph Hess and French Dressage Master Philippe Karl of the Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness). Hess and Karl respectfully discuss and demonstrate dressage from their unique philosophical viewpoints in this in-depth DVD.
Six differences between German dressage and French dressage
1. Is dressage a sport or is dressage an art form?
This is one of the biggest differences between the modern-day German dressage and French dressage schools of thought.
German Dressage
Today’s competition dressage uses a pyramid of training through the progression of levels—Introductory (beginner) through Grand Prix (Olympic level). The rider develops the horse through the stages of the dressage training pyramid as they advance through the levels.
The 2019 pyramid of training:
RHYTHM (Regularity and Tempo)
SUPPLENESS (Elasticity and Freedom from Anxiety)
CONTACT (Connection and Acceptance of the Bit through Acceptance of the Aids)
IMPULSION (Engagement and the Desire to Go Forward)
STRAIGHTNESS (Improved Alignment and Equal, Lateral Suppleness on Both Reins; Symmetry)
COLLECTION (Balance and Lightness of the Forehand from Increased Engagement)
At each level of competition, the rider and horse perform one or more dressage tests before a professional judge or judges. The horse and rider team are evaluated on how well they execute the test requirements at each letter, reflect the qualities of the dressage training pyramid, and other required test elements.
These elements include:
Submission and the horse’s willing cooperation
Harmony, attention, and confidence
Acceptance of bit and aids
Lightness of the forehand and ease of movements
The rider’s position and seat, alignment, posture, stability, weight placement, and following mechanics of the gaits
The rider’s correct and effective use of aids, clarity, subtlety, and independence
Riding a dressage test in competition has many on-the-spot performance pressures. There is even greater pressure for the horse and rider as they reach Grand Prix levels: the test must be memorized, the rider is not allowed to carry a whip or use voice, there are high levels of difficulty shown in the trot and canter including piaffe, passage, canter pirouettes, tempe changes, and extended gaits. Plus, there are many judges placed around the arena evaluating the rider and horse.
French Dressage
Preserving a centuries-old, classical dressage philosophy, French dressage is more of an art form of beauty with respect for the horse.
Without the performance pressures of competition, each riding session is a dance where the rider leads the horse into:
Harmony
Relaxation (in mind and body)
Balance
Lightness (to the hand and leg)
Forwardness
Straightness
Collection
The rider progresses the horse’s training only as the horse is ready and able.
2. Application of leg, seat, and rein aids
How do you use your leg, seat, and rein aids to communicate with your horse? The application of leg, seat, and rein aids is another big difference between German dressage and French dressage.
German dressage teaches the rider to drive the horse forward from the hindquarters using the seat and leg aids and over the back into the hands through the neck to the bit to form a back-to-front connection with the horse.
To French dressage, this is like saying, “Go forward with the legs and seat, and stop with the hands at the same time.” It’s like driving a car with one foot on the break and the other on the gas pedal. This sends a mixed message to the horse.
In contrast, French dressage separates the “go” aids (leg and seat) from the “stop” aids (the hands). “Hands without legs and legs without hands.” Coined by the late Francois Baucher in his second manner. The horse is taught to be light to the leg and light to the hand. This means leg aid on and off means “go,” not a continually driving the horse forward with seat and legs.
To be light to the hand means the rider teaches the horse to carry the weight of its head and neck instead of leaning on the rider’s hands. Any time the horse leans on the contact, the rider applies an upward motion with the hands (demi arret). This makes contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips to remind the horse to rebalance himself.
To German dressage, the French method doesn’t teach the horse connection from the hindquarters through the back to the bit. It seems like too much fussing with the hands.
3. The use of the walk or trot in training
In the German school, horses are ridden extensively at a trot on a circle with some canter and a few walk breaks. According to Hess, the trot and canter improve the quality of the walk.
To Karl there is no need to ride kilometers at the trot when training issues are best discovered and addressed at the walk. Karl begins his training at walk using exercises as shoulder-in and renvers on a small circle. Then transitions from a balanced position to a neck extension to allow the horse to stretch the top line muscles and spine.
Karl says, “The walk is the Mother of all gaits.” This certainly is true for the naturally gaited horse like Tennessee walking horses. Developing a quality four-beat walk can help develop the four-beat flat walk and running walk.
4. Upper level movements
Another contrast between modern German and French dressage schools are the piaffe and passage. German dressage believes only talented horses are able to learn piaffe and passage. These exercises are not implemented in a horse’s dressage program until the horse reaches the FEI levels.
French Dressage Master Philippe Karl believes if the dressage philosophy is good, any horse can learn piaffe and passage—not just the talented ones. Karl proves this point well in the DVD: Classical versus Classique working with an ordinary horse. Within one year of Karl’s instruction, the rider developed her draft cross to perform the piaffe, passage, Spanish walk, canter pirouettes, and tempe changes. French dressage applies suppling and strength-building exercises to develop the horse as the horse is ready.
The German system progresses in training through the dressage training pyramid and the levels of competition. When a rider reaches scores of 60% or better they are confirmed to move to the next level. This can take eight-plus years for a horse to begin canter pirouettes, tempe changes, piaffe, and passage.
French dressage offers great news for the majority of dressage riders. If you’ve ever dreamed of learning Spanish walk, piaffe, passage, canter pirouettes and tempi changes, you don’t need to buy an expensive horse. Just learn a good dressage philosophy with your horse. Watch the DVD: Classical versus Classique for an excellent demonstration of this point.
Differences between German vs French Dressage Piaffe
In the DVD: Classical versus Classique, Hess showcased a talented German demonstration rider who rode an exceptionally gifted Grand Prix dressage horse (above left). The French dressage rider rode her draft cross that had been previously used as a plow horse (above right). With Karl’s coaching, she trained her horse through Grand Prix movements in one year.
While a talented horse is able to produce stunning, Olympic quality movement, an average horse learn these movements, too. They may not be as impressive to watch, however, the exercises offer great benefits to develop the horse’s quality of movement to be the best they can be. The DVD: Classical versus Classique demonstrates this point with astonishing results.
5. Correct position of “on the bit” and why it matters
Another contrast between German dressage and French dressage is the position of “on the bit.” German dressage views “on the bit” as a vertical frame (above left). While schooling, Hess permits the horse to be ridden slightly behind the vertical to allow the horse to stretch through the back. Karl questioned why one would school a horse one way and show it another.
French dressage believes a horse is “on the bit” when the poll (between the ears) remains the highest point of the horse (above right) with the nose positioned slightly ahead of the vertical. Horses ridden behind the bit tend to overweight the shoulders and out of balance.
6. A quiet mouth or an expressive mouth
German dressage prizes a quiet mouth. Crank and flash nose bands are commonly used to keep the horse’s mouth shut. Often you will see horses with foam dripping from their mouths. German dressage considers this a sign of flexing at the poll.
French dressage permits the horse to freely express its mouth. Karl says the mobility of the lower jaw is the best judge of relaxation in the horse. French dressage believes that some foam around the horse’s lips is a sign that the horse is tasting the bit. However, when foam drips from a closed mouth, it is a sign that the horse is unable to swallow.
Eight ways German dressage and French dressage can co-exist for the training of your smooth gaited horse
1. School dressage for the art and show dressage for growth
Many riders train dressage without showing. However, schooling dressage shows offer you and your horse many benefits. They are a more relaxed opportunity to introduce your horse to the show ring. The best reason is getting feedback from a professional judge about your riding and training. Many schooling dressage shows accommodate western and gaited horse entries. Schooling shows are more affordable, and you don’t have to wear formal attire or braid your horse’s mane.
In 2010, I entered my barefoot and naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at our first dressage schooling show. We replaced trot with flat walk.
If you enjoy showing dressage, many breed shows offer gaited dressage tests at their recognized shows. Some dressage associations offer gaited dressage categories at their recognized shows. Many virtual shows offer a gaited dressage category so you can receive feedback from a professional without even leaving home!
Showing dressage can propel continued learning for you and your gaited horse
Dressage tests are designed to confirm the horse’s training. Movements are ridden to the left and right to show that the horse is developing symmetry.
Dressage tests encourage a rider and horse to work through all of the requirements of the level, such as developing both canter leads and correcting a cross canter.
The rider also learns coordination and timing of rein, leg, seat, and weight aids as they teach their horse lateral exercises, such as shoulder-in, haunches in, shoulder out, and renver. These lateral exercises are terrific for developing a gaited horse’s balance, flexibility, connection, and symmetry. Plus, lateral exercises break up a pace and help develop a smoother gait.
Dressage shows provide feedback from a professional dressage judge
For each dressage test ridden, you will receive written feedback from a dressage judge on how well you and your horse performed the test requirements, as well as rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection, rider position, and use and timing of leg, hand, seat, and weight aids.
My barefoot and naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse is showing running walk across the diagonal in a First Level gaited dressage test.
The rider can bring a mindset of harmony that French dressage teaches into the showing dressage. This can build a greater partnership of trust between horse and rider.
2. Choose equipment that encourages relaxation
Relaxation is a paramount factor in dressage training. Why inhibit relaxation with uncomfortable tack?
“The mobility of the lower jaw is the best judge of relaxation,” says French Dressage Master Philippe Karl.
Choosing a comfortable bit and loose-fitting noseband can help with relaxation. Learning how to communicate with your hands is even more important in teaching a horse how to relax the mouth and lower jaw. This is especially important for the naturally gaited horse. When the horse is relaxed in the lower jaw, the horse will be more relaxed in its back. This can result in less pacing and lead to quality smooth gaits.
Equipment such as crank nose bands, tightly fitting drop nose bands, and flash attachments can lead to tension in the lower jaw.
Symptoms of tension include:
Grinding teeth
Pinning ears
A swishing tail
Rushing tempo
Braced gaits or pacing
Traveling on the forehand with collapsed chest and shoulder muscles
If you notice your horse exhibiting signs of tension, check your yourself for tension, especially your hands. Then check your equipment. An easy place to start is to loosen the nose band.
3. Separating the “stop” and “go” aids
For the naturally gaited horse, separating the leg and seat “go” aids from the rein “stop” aids are important.
Driving a gaited horse forward with the seat and leg aids into a low fixed hand can cause:
Confusion for the horse whether to move forward or stop
Reluctance to move forward
Unresponsiveness to the leg aids over time which lead to continued leg and seat aids to move the horse forward
Evading contact with the rider’s hands by dropping behind the bit or inverting above the bit
Tension in the jaw and back which can produce pacing
Following the natural head and neck motion
Just as a rider follows the natural head and neck motion of the horse at an ordinary walk, the rider needs to maintain relaxed shoulders, arms, elbows, and hands to gently follow the natural head and neck motion of the head nod at flat walk, running walk, and fox trot. In this way the naturally gaited horse remains more relaxed in the jaw and back to maintain quality smooth gaits. Riding your gaited horse two handed with contact and low fixed hands is like keeping your foot on the break while expecting your horse to move forward. It adds to the confusion, as well as produces tension.
Did you know that low, fixed hands and hands that pull back on the reins, are painful to the horse? Why? The bit presses on the horse’s tongue. Pain leads to tension and resistance through the body which can lead to more pacing. This can also cause the horse to avoid contact with the bit by tucking behind the bit.
Separating the stop and go aids and gently following the natural head and neck motion provides clearer communication to your gaited horse. Go means go and stop means stop. This leads to a horse that is lighter to the hand and lighter to the leg, and a relaxed horse that able to produce quality smooth gaits.
4. How to ride the naturally gaited horse “on-the-bit”
Both German dressage and French dressage agree that riding the horse on-the-bit isn’t a head set or pulling the horse into a frame with the reins. Riding on-the-bit is a back to front concept. It begins with forward energy from the hindquarters. That forward energy flows through horse’s body, through the rider’s following position, and to the bit.
Cue with upward motions not backward motions
Instead of pulling back on the reins which press on the horse’s tongue and cause pain, bend at the elbow and raise your hand or hands upward momentarily. This makes contact with the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips. When the horse responds, then return to a neutral position above the wither.
Relaxation is key for the naturally gaited horse. Contact made with the corners of the lips encourage the gaited horse to relax its lower jaw, flex at the poll, and taste the bit. Relaxation of the jaw has a direct effect on the relaxation of the horse’s back. A relaxed back can promote smooth gaits.
On-the-bit position
Where the horse’s nose is positioned makes a difference. The position of the naturally gaited horse’s nose needs to be slightly ahead of the vertical through the top of the nod in order for the nose to be vertical at the downside of the nod. In doing so, the poll will remain the highest point of the horse.
Riding dressage with a smooth gaited horse requires that you ride with even steady light contact using a snaffle bit. The correct position of on-the-bit places the poll (between horse’s ears) at the highest point.
5. Develop balance before increasing tempo
French Dressage Master Philippe Karl says, “The walk is the mother of all gaits.” This is especially true for gaited horse with a natural, even four-beat gait such as the flat walk or fox trot.
The DVD: Classical versus Classique offers wonderful balancing exercises at a S-L-O-W walk and work well in the training of naturally gaited horses. Dressage develops the full range of motion. This means smaller collected steps and longer extended steps to develop quality smooth gaits. These exercises include eight-meter collected walk circles, shoulder-in, shoulder-out, haunches-in, haunches-out. These lateral exercises performed in both directions help the gaited horse develop symmetry. This will help develop evenness in stride length of both hind legs. Lateral exercises also help stretch the outside muscles for flexibility.
For the naturally gaited horse, I break up the slow balanced walk exercises with transitions to a balanced neck extension at a walk or smooth gait along the arena to stretch the top line muscles and freshen up my horse. I also take the balance of the lateral exercises into the smooth gait. I do a lot of transitions between exercises, changes of direction, changes of frames and gaits within a training session. Sometimes we are in the arena. Sometimes we are on the trail.
Most importantly, I listen to my horse and meet my horse where my horse is at.
Shoulder in
Begin with balance
By riding a naturally gaited horse in slow, yet engaged steps of shoulder-in on a circle, you allow the horse to bend its hindquarter joints, step deeper under the body, activate the abdominal muscles to lift the back to a neutral position, and engage the chest and shoulder muscles to lift the wither. This brings the naturally gaited horse into balance.
This is a great example of a neck extension at a flat walk. My smooth gaited Tennessee Walking Horse is moving forward in flat walk, lifting her back, stretching the top line with an even snaffle bit contact.
From a balanced, lateral position, the naturally gaited horse can be transitioned to a straight line with a forward tempo to extend its head and neck out (keeping the horse’s poll at the height of the wither, so that the horse maintains balance).
Think of riding your gaited horse like playing an accordion to develop its full range of motion both laterally and longitudinally.
Transitions between collected shoulder-in on a circle and neck extensions along a straight line, can help the gaited horse develop its full range of motion both laterally and longitudinally and improve the quality of natural gaits.
6. Seek to understand and meet your horse’s needs
A rider’s goals should never be at the expense of the horse. The DVD: Classical versus Classique illustrates this point well.
Rider goals and ambitions are great, as long as the horse’s needs are met. In doing so, the rider can develop a partnership of harmony with the horse that will be noticed in and out of the show ring.
7. Dressage is for all horses, not just the talented ones
Dressage does not need to be about being the best there is. Dressage can be about becoming the best you and your horse can be. Dressage improves the quality of gaits whether the horse naturally trots, tolts, fox trots, or flat walks.
Dressage won’t make an average horse a Grand Prix mover, but dressage can develop full range of motion and the best quality natural gaits a horse is able to do for long term soundness.
Philippe Karl says, if the dressage is good, it will work for all horses, not just the talented ones.
A naturally gaited horse can piaffe, too! In fact, the piaffe is a collected diagonal movement that can improve canter quality for horses with a lateral canter.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at 20 years old at a piaffe.
8. Become an educated and discerning dressage student
Not all dressage is the same
Learn German dressage and French dressage philosophies for yourself.
DVD: Classical versus Classique
Here’s an easy way to begin. Study the DVD: Classical versus Classique. This video offers in-depth discussion and application from two top dressage trainers: German Equestrian Federation Trainer Christoph Hess and French Dressage Master of Ecole de Legerete Philippe Karl. You’ll witness for yourself the contrasting philosophies of dressage so that you can make educated decisions for you and your horse.
Dressage with your gaited horse can improve your partnership by developing harmony and trust. Your gaited horse can live a sounder and happier life and produce the quality, natural smooth gaits you desire whether you show or ride as art.
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.
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I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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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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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