Tag Archives: dressage for gaited horses

Rider Position and its Effect on Forwardness

By Jennifer Klitzke

While auditing a gaited dressage clinic with Larry Whitesell, demonstrated three ways how rider position can effect the horse. The position of the rider’s hands, head, and arms can encourage the horse onto the forehand. And of coarse, I’m mortified that I’ve been guilty on all counts.

In Larry’s first demonstration, a woman volunteered to be the horse. She closed her eyes and held the bit in her hands while Larry held the reins. Larry repositioned his hand position from thumbs on top to a horizontal position (aka, puppy paws, piano hands). Without pulling on the reins, he asked her if she noticed a change and if so, what did it feel like.

The volunteer said, “It feels heavy.”

I was amazed how just turning the wrists from vertical to horizontal without pulling back on the reins could actually be felt as heavy through the reins! Larry said if hand position feels heavy to the horse, it can put the horse on the forehand.

In Larry’s second demonstration he changed his head position from looking ahead to looking down at the horse’s head. The volunteer had her eyes closed as she held the reins. Larry asked her if she noticed a difference and she said, “It feels heavy.” Again, I was amazed that the position of one’s head makes a difference to the horse through a loose rein contact.

Larry added that if you ride with straight arms, it also feels heavy to a horse and places them on the forehand. Wow, I’m guilty on all accounts and all at the same time! It’s no wonder my horse travels on the forehand.

Now that I’ve become aware of riding positions that are counterproductive to what I aim to achieve, I can become more intentional about riding with my thumbs up, arms at my sides with a bend at the elbow, and my head positioned up and looking ahead of where we are going.

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

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For more about Larry Whitesell and his gaited dressage training methods, visit: whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com.

Gaited Horse Stories

Following Open Doors

May 2, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

It is not easy to discern whether I should persevere through adversity or if am I fighting to keep a closed door open. Trials have a way of shaping me into who I am today and who I believe God is preparing me to becoming. Where I am today is not meant to be my final destination, but a means to it.

When I bought my Tennessee walking horse mare Gift of Freedom as a three year old, I had no intention of showing. I just wanted a smooth horse to ride. However, following the open doors have led me back to the dressage ring after a 15-year absence—ironically on a horse that doesn’t trot!

A month after purchasing my mare, I joined the Minnesota Walking Horse Association (MWHA), and a year later the association pleaded for more show participants. That open door led us to give it a try. Since then many MWHA experiences have shaped us: gaited dressage clinics with Bucky Spark that have helped me learn how to ride a head-shaking horse on-the-bit; Walking Horse rail classes that have led us to the State Fair and Minnesota Horse Expo—two life-long dreams come true; the gaited trail trials that have inspired me to tinker with the thought of eventing a gaited horse; and new friendships that have been kindled along the way.

No doubt we’ve grown during the last five years, but we’ve reached a cross-roads. Do I continue to persevere at Walking Horse shows that my horse doesn’t seem to want to be at? Am I just fighting to keep a closed door open? It’s not easy to discern.

Dressage schooling shows seem to be where this odd-duck gaited dressage duo is being welcomed, and it’s where my mare seems to excel. Doors have been opening in the schooling dressage circuit, the Western Dressage Association, and gaited dressage demonstrations among mainstream western and traditional dressage groups. These opportunities would not have been possible had I not followed the open doors leading up to them. For this I am grateful for the MWHA experiences that have prepared us.

Do I know what open doors are awaiting us next? Not really, but I’ll keep you posted along the way.

Gaited Horse Stories, Overcoming Riding Fear

Facing Fear, the Sequel

May 1, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

Riding at the MN Horse Expo last year inspired a story I titled “Facing Fear.” This year’s return to the Expo inspired “The Sequel.” Horses have a way of catching me off guard. I think God uses this to keep me humble and remind me to draw my strength from Him.

Gift of Freedom (Makana) and I arrived early Thursday morning to familiarize ourselves with the Coliseum. Our warm up rides were terrific, and it seemed that she remembered being there the last two years riding at the MN State Fair and last year’s Horse Expo. “Piece of cake,” I thought. So I wasn’t worried about how she’d be the next few days.

Friday morning we warmed up relaxed and forward in the practice arena with about 30 other horses. Then our group was called to the Coliseum. As soon as we approached the Coliseum gate, the announcer’s animated voice escalations and expectant crowd clapping panicked Makana. I felt like I was riding on a stiff plank caught by a swirling cyclone. The relaxation, softness and suppleness we had achieved just seconds before entering the Coliseum, quickly vanished. It was all I could do just to stay on. It seemed that nothing had prepared me for “Facing Fear, the Sequel.”

Returning to the barn, discouragement came over me like an ominous thundercloud. I thought about all of the preparation just to be there and the years of dressage study, lessons, clinics, shows, and experiences Makana and I have had together. How could we have been more prepared for this? It was daunting to think of facing four more demonstration rides. I wondered how I could regain control to show Makana’s true talent? Most importantly, how would I manage my anxiety knowing how explosive she had been? Certainly it would be easier to just to pack up and go home.

Saturday afternoon I watched Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer’s gaited dressage demonstration. Larry explained the importance of relaxation, rhythm and balance beginning with the apex (poll). Larry said that if a horse is tense in the poll, it will brace through the whole body which will make bending impossible. I certainly understood what that felt like. Larry also said that a relaxed horse is a happy and safer horse to ride. If the horse is panicked, it’s the rider’s job to help the horse find relaxation and balance. In Larry’s words, “Teach the horse what TO do instead of punishing him for what NOT to do.” A horse’s fight and flight instincts need to be met with relaxation, balance and rhythm, not punishment. Punishing a horse for panicking only makes a horse distrust the rider’s leadership more.

Sunday morning I spent an hour teaching Makana how to relax at the poll from the ground and then while in the saddle. We faced our fear empowered with Larry’s helpful tools of relaxation, rhythm, and balance (and yes, lots and lots of prayer).

Gift of Freedom ridden by Jennifer Klitzke — At the 2012 Minnesota Horse Expo, Larry Whitesell explained the importance of teaching a nervous horse relaxation and balance which makes it safer to ride and improves a horse’s trust in the handler.

Story: Facing Fear>

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Videos, Western Gaited Dressage

Record-Breaking March Heat

April 3, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

Lawn mowers, mosquitoes, flowering trees, song birds in chorus, and the return of hay fever—in March!

Midwest March heat melted previous high-temperature records. Perhaps the March heat is what inspired my mare’s record-breaking heat that showed up the day before our western gaited dressage demonstration this season.

Up until last year when she turned seven, Makana had been a saint 95% of the time. That’s when I began to notice a change in her behavior. Saint one day and erratic the next. It was nearly impossible to get her moving forward.

At first I thought it was my riding position, then I explored saddle fitting issues, tried some supplements, and changed her diet. The one thing I hadn’t considered was a change in her hormones, mainly because I can never tell when she’s in heat. She shows no physical outward signs.

Makana and I had a terrific time riding through the mild winter temperatures, until March, the day before our gaited dressage demonstration at the Western Dressage Clinic. The day before the clinic I had my record-breaking worst ride ever! Explosive, distracted, spooky, unwilling to turn or bend to the right, I couldn’t believe this was the same horse I had been riding all winter! Getting after her only made her behavior worse, so I asked for my saintly husband’s help.

Dan grabbed his helmet and said, “How about if I get on? I’ve never experienced what you’re describing.” He calmly climbed on and walked her around singing, “Rawhide.” Makana mellowed out within a few verses. Was it the song? Not likely, but my husband’s approach made a profound difference, and he taught me an important lesson. He patiently wooed Makana out of her frenzy by inviting her into relaxation. My approach of reacting to her behavior by getting after her only stirred her up more. Ding-dong!

So, at the Western Dressage Clinic, I didn’t sing “Rawhide,” but I did apply Dan’s approach as I dealt with Makana’s marishness and it worked. No explosions; no erratic behavior. My mare could have been more forward and paid a little more attention to me over that handsome demonstration gelding, but I didn’t react to her marishness by getting after her. I kept redirecting her to relaxation through long and low stretching, leg yields, shoulder-in, hauches-in, rein back, transitions between the working walk, flat walk, running walk, free walk and canter. In fact, we even rode through first level, test one!

The success of Dan’s approach really doesn’t surprise me. After all, he knows how to gently love me out of a rather marish day and turn it into smiles and sunshine.

Video: Western Dressage Demonstration: NWHA First Level, Test One

As a “thank you” gift from the clinic organizers, Makana received her first bag of “Mare Magic.” I’ve heard good reports and will keep you posted.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Clinics

Gaited Dressage featured at Western Dressage Clinic

March 28, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke 1 Comment

By Jennifer Klitzke

Driving to the Western Dressage Clinic on Saturday, May 24, reminded me of our Annual B.L.E.S.S. Your Horse Clinics in Proctor, MN because the dense fog gave me a viewing distance of two car lengths. Thankfully I had a passenger who knew where we were headed, otherwise I think my GPS would have made me more lost than ever!

Over fifty fun and friendly horse people came together for a wonderful clinic hosted by Enchanted Hollow Farm in Buffalo, MN and organized by Judy Conger and Gene Hacket which focused on the up-and-coming equine sport of Western Dressage.

Speakers included AnnMarie Brockhouse with the Western Dressage Association of Minnesota and Western Dressage Association of America, Judy Conger, Jan Halter and me.

After a morning of lively conversations, education, an informational overview about the WDAA, door prizes and lunch, we headed to the barn for an afternoon of riding demonstrations. Jan Halter showed her Second Level dressage gelding and how dressage has improved their partnership. I rode my TWH mare, Gift of Freedom through the NWHA First Level, Test One gaited dressage test after demonstrating first level gaits, lateral exercises, the power of “long and low,” and relaxation in bringing a gaited horse into a frame to begin four-beat gaited movements.

Afterwards, Jan rode her quarter horse through a western dressage test, and then dressage instructor Judy Conger coached two brave volunteers through the basics of western dressage on their horses. The “before’s” and “after’s” were inspiring. Both horses were jogging in a relaxed and round frame.

Photo Gallery>

NWHA First Level, Test One gaits
httpv://youtu.be/k5EPaqEsgRo

NWHA First Level, Test One
httpv://youtu.be/gE7i4QSFTOk