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French Dressage for Gaited Horses

Hand Position & its Effect on Smooth Gaits

hand position and its effect on the naturally gaited horse

Does hand position make a difference with how well the naturally gaited horse accepts a snaffle bit contact? Can hand position help or hinder relaxation in the naturally gaited horse? How does hand position impact smooth gaits?

Hand Position & Its Effect on Smooth Gaits

Studying Classical French Dressage has opened my eyes to new concepts in my riding. Not only have these concepts impacted the quality of smooth gaits, but they have also brought joy and harmony to my rides with my naturally gaited horses.

A few years ago, I audited and rode at a few Susan Norman clinics who teaches riding with lightness. She studied under, not one, but two French Classical Dressage Masters: Philippe Karl and the late Jean-Claude Racinet. Susan’s clinics introduced me books and DVDs produced by her protégés. These resources have opened my eyes and awareness to new ways of interacting with my horses that have greatly improved their smooth gaits.

philippe-karl-dvds-video-camera
French Classical Dressage Master Philippe Karl’s DVDs Classical vs. Classique and Classical Dressage, volumes 1-4 are excellent resources.
Jean Claude Racinet's book and Lisa Maxwell's DVD
Other favorites are ean 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.

While Norman, Karl, and Racinet apply dressage with horses that trot, I have found that the French Classical Dressage principles they teach apply well with the naturally gaited horses as well. What I have learned has produced lightness, balance, mental and physical relaxation, rhythm, engagement, straightness, collection, harmony, and joy. In turn, this humane method has developed full range of motion and quality natural smooth gaits.

The difference hand position makes

Among the differences is hand position. Karl’s teachings opened my eyes to how hand position impacts movement―for the better and the worse. Did you know that where the bit makes contact with the horse’s mouth is the difference between tension or pain and relaxation? Did you know that a tense horse moves differently than a relaxed horse? I didn’t have this awareness until I began to study Karl’s dressage application and begin to understand his philosophy.

For years I had been instructed to maintain a low hand position. Raising my hands to cue my horse was frowned upon. According to Karl, riding with low fixed hands applies tongue pressure. The horse’s response to this pressure is pain or tension and resistance. This leads to avoiding contact by going behind the bit and over flexing; going above the bit and becoming hollow; or getting tense in the jaw leading to a braced back. For the naturally gaited horse, a braced back leads to pacing, step pacing, a hard hollow trot, or stiff movement―certainly not the smooth gaits I am aiming for!

There is a big difference between riding my horse with low fixed hands and riding my horse with higher hands for cueing. A low fixed hand position presses the bit into my horse’s tongue which produces pain, tension and resistance. Cueing with higher hands makes contact with the less sensitive corners of my horse’s lips. Once my horse responds to the cue, I lower my hands to a neutral position with a light following contact. This means I gently follow the natural head and neck motion. If my hands remain in a low fixed position, it accentuates the bracing, pacing and rough gaits.

Watch: Rider Position and Effect on Smooth Gaits

The purpose of nosebands

Another eye-opener for me was the use of nose bands and flash attachments. For years, I showed my horses at dressage competitions. A quiet mouth was prized, so we rode with nose bands and flash attachments to keep the horse’s mouth closed.

Karl rides with a loose nose band or no nose band at all. Why? This permits the horse to freely open its mouth, taste the bit, salivate, and swallow to encourage relaxation. When a horse is ridden in a snug fitting noseband with or without a flash attachment, it can prevent the horse from swallowing. When you see excessive foam dripping from the horse’s mouth, it is likely that the horse isn’t swallowing. A little salivation is good, as long as the horse is able to swallow. When the horse is unable to swallow, this can lead to mental and physical tension which leads to a braced back. For naturally gaited horses, a braced back leads to pacing, step pacing, a hard hollow trot, or stiff movement―definitely not the smooth gaits I seek.

While educating the horse to the rider’s hands, the rider will have higher hands in training until the horse finds its balanced. Once the horse finds balance, the rider’s hands can be lowered to a neutral position.

A bit maker’s perspective

I recently watched a YouTube video: Dale Myler Bitting Series: #1 Understanding Bit Resistance (below) that reinforces Karl’s belief about tongue pressure. Mylar believes that riding the horse with tongue pressure cuts off the horse’s ability to salivate and swallow which distresses the horse. When the bit presses into the tongue by low fixed hands, the tongue begins to affect the horse’s ability to breathe. Adding to this, tension in the jaw encourages the horse to travel on the forehand and shortens the horse’s depth of stride.

Now, I certainly don’t want these qualities for my naturally gaited horses. Do you?

Thinking this through, as I ride my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horses and fox trotting mare, I apply a higher hand position for cueing, then a light neutral position that gently follow the natural head and neck motion. This helps keep my gaited horses relaxed in the jaw, accepting the snaffle bit contact, and has improved our 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

Piaffe for the Naturally Gaited Horse

Naturally gaited horses can learn piaffe too

By Jennifer Klitzke

Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl believes that the upper level dressage movements like piaffe are not just for the talented horses. Average horses can learn them, too. (And so can naturally gaited horses!)

Piaffe for the Naturally Gaited Horse

Is it possible for the naturally gaited horse, particularily the naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse to learn advanced dressage movements like piaffe? Why not.

For the last few years I’ve been studying the work of Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl who believes that upper level dressage movements aren’t just for the talented horses. Average horses can learn them, too.

In addition, I have studied the book Another Horsemanship by the late Classical French Dressage Master Jean-Claude Racinet and the DVD Riding in Lightness created by his student Lisa Maxwell who is doing a fine job carrying on his legacy.

Together these teachings taught me the benefits of the counted walk and its impact on balance, softness, and engagement and empowered me to apply them to the naturally gaited horses I ride.

The photo above is me and Makana, my 14-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse who I ride barefoot and in a mild fulmer snaffle bit. We began exploring the counted walk a couple years ago and are now learning steps of piaffe coming from relaxed  engagement. It’s a dream come true to be learning piaffe and I never imaged that I’d be learning it on a horse that’s naturally gaited!

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse, French Dressage for Gaited Horses

Collection and its Effect on Stride Length

collection and stride length

Dressage helps the naturally gaited horse develop long striding pushing gaits and engaged carrying gaits that improve the former to form full range of motion.

Collection and its Effect on Stride Length

By Jennifer Klitzke

If you are like me, training your naturally gaited horse using humane methods appeal to you. No mechanical devices. No artificial enhancements. No pads or heavy shoes. No harsh bits. No tight nosebands. No dominating methods. You like training your horse in a kinder way from a relaxed state to bring about harmony, balance, rhythm, connection, symmetry, engagement, and smoother gaits.

If you are like me, training your naturally gaited horse using humane methods appeal to you. No mechanical devices. No artificial enhancements. No pads or heavy shoes. No harsh bits. No tight nosebands. No dominating methods. You like training your horse in a kinder way from a relaxed state to bring about harmony, balance, rhythm, connection, symmetry, engagement, and smoother gaits.

My epiphany

For me, that’s why dressage has been my choice for my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana. However, I hit a wall when we began to explore collection and introduce lateral exercises like shoulder in and haunches in. I had been expecting my horse to move with the long strides and head nod of flat walk while in collection.

Then I traveled to a dressage clinic with my naturally gaited horse. We worked in a posture of collection as we introduced the lateral exercises. The collected walk felt too slow. My horse’s stride length shortened. She didn’t have a head nod. After a few steps of shoulder in and haunches in, we released my horse into an extended posture with longer strides and a head nod.

The wall came tumbling down when I realized the carrying gaits of collection and pushing gaits of extension are two distinctly different postures of training. Both serve a role in developing the full range of motion. One does not replace the other, nor are they meant to be merged into one. This was an epiphany for me and a relief to my horse. I stopped expecting what is biomechanically impossible and embraced the carrying posture of collection to develop strength and balance with my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse.

Just as the naturally gaited horse can learn to develop maximum stride length and head nod at the flat walk and running walk, the horse can learn the collected walk.

The collected walk doesn’t permanently shorten the stride, as if my horse is unable to perform long strides again. The stride length is temporarily shorter while in the posture of collection. Collection doesn’t replace long strides. Collection improves the quality of long strides. Pushing gaits and carrying gaits are two different postures that benefit the naturally gaited horse to develop the full range of motion and quality smooth gaits.

Here’s why.

stride length decreases as collection increases
Pushing vs carrying: Notice the difference between flat walk (pushing gait) and collected walk and half steps (carrying gaits). The pink line shows how much the horse uses the hind leg to push forward for stride length or carry for engagement. Collection and increasing engagement shorten the stride length. Dressage helps the naturally gaited horse develop long striding pushing gaits and engaged carrying gaits that improve the former to form full range of motion.

The collected walk

A collected walk is a carrying gait that develops strength. During a collected walk, the hind leg doesn’t push from behind the tail. Rather the hind quarters carry more weight. Without the hind leg pushing from behind the tail, the stride length becomes shorter because the horse’s four legs carry the body mass upward and forward. In the collected walk the horse bends its hindquarter joints and engages its abdominal muscles to lift its back. The horse also engages the chest muscles to lift the shoulders, wither, head and neck. The horse moves with more balance, poise and elegance. The collected walk also has a much slower tempo than the flat walk with little to no head and neck nod.

Training through the levels of dressage doesn’t mean that the collected gaits replace the big, long striding gaits. Rather, the horse develops a full range of motion: the long striding, scopey ground covering pushing gaits as well as the balanced, light, engaged and elegant carrying gaits of collection. Switching from one posture to the other is as simple as applying the cues.

Lateral exercises at a collected walk

The carrying gaits of collection along with lateral exercises produces balance, suppleness, and strength which in turn improve the quality of the pushing gaits as the flat walk and running walk.

I own and train my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana and have shown her successfully at rail class breed shows. Developing big strides with a head nod is highly prized. Dressage and rail class are different in the way dressage introduces the collected walk and lateral movements to develop and improve the full range of motion.

While natural smooth gaits like the running walk “push” from the hind legs to create big strides, collected gaits “carry” from the hindquarters to produce balance and engagement which in turn improve the quality of the pushing gaits.

For the rail class competitor, the thought of slower, shorter strides, with little to no head nod may seem pointless. Yet teaching the naturally gaited horse the collected walk and lateral exercises like shoulder in and haunches in, counted walk, half steps and piaffe improve balance and engagement, which in turn improve the quality of the flat walk and running walk. These collected exercises use different muscles than the long striding pushing gaits.

As a dressage rider, I’ve labored to develop a big striding, head nodding flat walk and running walk for rail class events. Then I began schooling Second Level lateral exercises like the shoulder in and haunches in. I tried REAL hard to maintain the same length of stride and head nod when introducing collection and lateral exercises. Then I realized the flat walk and the collected walk are not the same posture. Lateral exercises are developed best at a collected walk.

The collected walk means SLOWING down and encouraging the horse to carry its body mass instead of pushing it from behind. This shortens the stride length for lateral exercises to improve balance, engagement, softness, and strength to further develop the horse’s symmetry, strength and flexibility.

While applying dressage with my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, I realized the demand for maximum length of stride in the collected walk isn’t realistic. Dressage lessons have confirmed this. Carrying gaits and pushing gaits produce different results. Working in the slower, engaged collected gaits with shorter stride and no head nod builds balance and strength which then improve the quality of the pushing gaits of flat walk and running walk with maximum length of stride and head nod.

Engagement and disengagement

The late Jean-Claude Racinet, a classical French dressage master of Baucher’s theories describes engagement and disengagement in a horse’s stride. He described engagement as the amount of stride under the horse’s body mass and disengagement as the amount of stride length behind the horse’s tail that pushes. In addition, the horse’s head and neck become still in the “collected” four-beat gait of walk.

For the Tennessee Walking Horse, the flat walk and running walk both seek to reach a maximum length of stride. This stride length consists of the distance from the foot beneath the body mass (engagement) and the foot pushing behind the tail (disengagement) along with the head and neck nod with each step.

The biomechanics of a collected walk produce a different effect than the flat walk. Both are needed to develop full range of motion and quality smooth gaits.

Yes, I want a maximum stride length and a pronounced head nod while riding the flat walk and running walk. Yet it is not realistic to expect these qualities from a collected walk. For me, this was a light bulb moment. I realized that I needed to change my expectations about stride length and head nod at a collected walk.

Shoulder in

Working in a slow, collected walk through shoulder in, haunches in, and half pass doesn’t mean replacing the flat walk and running walk. It just means I don’t combine the expectation of big strides and a head nod to the collected walk. The collected walk is just one more posture I develop to help my naturally gaited horse more balanced and athletic.

The collected walk has helped my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse find balance. The tempo is slow and deliberate enough for her to learn lateral exercises. These exercises develop balance, strength, flexibility, and suppleness. After we apply moments of shoulder in and haunches in at a collected walk, we transition to a deep striding, head shaking flat walk in a neck extension and WOW! These transitions between strength training and stretching have improved her range of motion and quality of flat walk and running walk!

Neck extension at a flat walk
Neck extension at a flat walk allows the horse in a maximum stretch from nose to tail.

If you’ve ever seen the DVD of classical French dressage master Philippe Karl training High Noon, you’ll see how he trains his horse like he would play an accordion. He works his horse in a long and low frame for a few strides and then gathers the horse up for more collection and engagement in lateral exercises and then releases the horse to more strides of a long and low frame. This is what is known as gymnasticizing the horse to develop its full range of motion: pushing and carrying gaits.

I believe our naturally gaited horses benefit by developing full range of motion: From maximum length of stride and stretching at a flat walk and running walk to slower, engaged, balanced steps in a strengthening posture like a collected walk, and to lateral exercises to improve flexibility, suppleness, and symmetry. Dressage improves the quality of natural smooth gaits.

Applying transitions between the collected walk and moments of an expressive flat walk have been the perfect recipe for me and my naturally gaited walking horse Makana.

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk
Dressage improves quality smooth gait over time.
Makana at the age of 19.

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

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Six reasons why two whips are better than one to improve your gaited dressage

6 reasons why two whips are better than one

By Jennifer Klitzke

If you show gaited dressage, you know that you’re only permitted to ride your test with one dressage whip. But, did you know that there are benefits to riding with two dressage whips while schooling your naturally gaited horse between shows?

If you’re like me, you might be thinking, “You can’t show that way, so why would you want to do that?”

Well, that was my reaction when Dominique Barbier presented the idea to me in a 1995 French dressage clinic. So I gave it a try.

Ultimately you’re training your horse to be light and responsive to your hand, seat and leg aids and each use of the whip is purely reinforcement for when the leg aid is ignored.

Recently at the last French dressage clinic I rode at with Fred Kappler, he encouraged schooling my horse with two whips as well as recent lessons with my gaited dressage mentor Jennie Jackson.

Here’s why…

Six reasons why riding with a dressage whip in each hand can improve your gaited dressage training:

  1. Switching the whip from side-to-side each time you change rein can get cumbersome. If you ride with a whip in each hand, there is no switching back and forth.
  2. When switching the whip from side-to-side with each change of rein, you can miss timely cueing moments.
  3. By carrying a whip in both hands, you can cue the right side and the left side of the horse at the same time.
  4. Riding with a whip in each hand helps the horse and rider learn straightness. One whip can be used on the inside of the bend to activate the inside hind leg in order to step deeper under the body, while the other can be used on the outside of the bend to keep the outside shoulder from popping out like a jack-knifed semi and help the horse stay straighter. This was one of my take-a-ways from Jennie Jackson at my last lesson. Teaching the horse straightness helps the rider establish a “feeling” of straightness more quickly. If you get accustomed to riding a crooked horse, crooked becomes the feeling of normal and it becomes more difficult to discern the feeling of straight.
  5. Another reason for carrying a dressage whip in each hand, is that the horse can’t evade or learn to anticipate the whip when there is a whip that may be applied at any moment from either side. By training your horse with two whips, you’re teaching him muscle memory of a correct way of moving its body that when you’re in the show ring, that training can lead to greater chances for success.
  6.  Riding with a dressage whip in each hand is not meant to replace your leg aids. They are meant to reinforce them if needed. Ultimately you’re training your horse to be light and responsive to your hand, seat and leg aids and each whip is purely reinforcement for when a leg aid is ignored. If you’re schooling your horse well at home using two whips, your horse is learning to listen to your aids more and more so that your whip aids are needed less and less. This means that when you get to the show, the second whip won’t be missed.

I hope you found this helpful. Feel free to contact me with your gaited dressage questions by completing the contact form.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse, French Dressage for Gaited Horses

Twenty-two Years Later Still Applies

22 years later still applies

By Jennifer Klitkze

Twenty-two years ago Dominique Barbier traveled to Minnesota for a clinic and introduced me and my German warmblood, SeilTanzer, to the French dressage method of riding with lightness and harmony. Not only did I become acquainted with Barbier’s dressage methods, I came to know a fun-loving fellow and clinic participant named Fred Kappler, who traveled from Michigan with his American warmblood, Aden.

I never imagined that our paths would cross again. And when they did, Fred helped me see that Barbier’s methods still apply—even to a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse. 

1995 Dominique Barbier Clinic
Jennifer Klitzke and her German warmblood SeilTanzer at the 1995 Dominique Barbier Clinic held at Jacqurei Oaks in Minnesota.

In 1995, I felt like a traitor attending Barbier’s clinic. You see, Seili and I had invested several years studying the German dressage system. That’s all that what was offered in my area. Yet my heart yearned for lightness, partnership, and harmony with my horse. I got a taste of this at the Barbier clinic.

The last few years I began studying the French dressage work of Philippe Karl and Jean Claude Racinet, and I have ridden at a few French dressage clinics with traveling clinician Susan Norman who has been a long-time student of both Karl and Racinet. I also rode with Nicole Walters at Cadbury Farm who has passed her first leg of certification in Philippe Karl’s School of Légèreté.

Flash forward 22 years after the Barbier clinic. (Yes, Seili is still alive at 33!) A Facebook friend informed me about a French dressage clinician coming to Minnesota named Fred Kappler. French dressage isn’t common around here, so I looked into it. Fred has studied Philippe Karl and Jean Claude Racinet’s teachings, has ridden with Dominique Barbier, and is familiar with gaited horses.

The clinic had filled quickly, but thankfully they made room for me and my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana. This would be the first non-gaited dressage clinic I have taken a gaited horse to. Turns out there were two other Tennessee walking horses riding at the clinic. (It’s a good thing Fred has had some knowledge with Walkers!)

During my first lesson, Fred mentioned that he rode with Dominique Barbier at Jacqurei Oaks. That’s the moment I realized Fred and I had ridden together at this clinic. Now 22 years later Fred is coaching me in Barbier’s methods of lunging and working in hand. Yes, 22 years later still applies—even with a gaited horse. What a moment!

Fred Kappler and Aden 1996 Dominique Barbier Clinic Jacqurei Oaks
Fred Kappler and Aden at the 1995 Dominique Barbier Clinic held at Jacqurei Oaks, MN. At that clinic, I knew Fred as a fellow student and a personable guy. I had no idea he had a training facility and was a traveling clinician!

I must confess that Barbier’s methods of lunging and working in hand are two things I haven’t continued with the gaited horses I work with. I tend to saddle up and ride. Fred helped me see the benefits of lunging and working the horse in hand before riding.

Lunging equipment:

  • One side rein attached to the snaffle ring and girth at the inside of the circle; allow the side rein to be long enough for the horse to stretch forward without bringing the nose behind the vertical and short enough to keep the horse from getting strung out
  • A lunge line looped through the snaffle ring and attached to the girth buckle on the inside of the circle
  • A lunge whip to encourage the horse forward with a “snap” if the horse ignores your “cluck”

We lunged long enough to loosen up the horse (about 3-5 minutes each direction) at a walk, trot (yes, quality trot on cue) and canter with lots of transitions between gaits. Our circle size was about 15 meters. A relaxed and forward rhythm is the goal.

Teaching the gaited horse how to trot on cue, in a quality way of going, on a lunge line and in saddle, will not ruin the gait. Trot on cue will improve rhythm, balance,  engagement, and strengthen the top line muscles. The benefits a quality trot on cue offers will break pace and improve the natural four-beat gaits and canter.

June 2017 Fred Kappler Clinic
Teaching the gaited horse how to trot on cue in a quality way of going on a lunge line and in saddle will not ruin the gait. Trot on cue will improve rhythm, balance, engagement, and strengthen the top line muscles. All of these benefits will improve the gaits.

shoulder in in hand
Shoulder in while working in hand.

The in-hand exercises are done in both directions. The exercises are shoulder in on a square; turn on the forehand where the horse pivots around me; halt along the wall, rein back, walk forward and repeat three times; and bring the horse to a square and balanced halt.

shoulder in
Shoulder in at a SLOW collected walk with no head nod.

The riding exercises we did are all exercises Philippe Karl uses in his training which I need to focus on more. After watching all of the riders (gaited and trotting) I realize that beautiful gaits come after working the horse through lateral exercises which supple the horse, bring the horse into balance, engagement, and into a round and connected frame onto the bit.

flatwalk
A smooth flowing flat walk after lateral exercises.

I tend to focus so much on depth of stride and head nod that lateral exercises have taken a back seat. After experiencing this clinc, my approach has been backwards! Fred’s clinic clearly demonstrated that the lateral exercises done in a SLOW collected walk improve the gait quality (whether it be trot or gait). This is a game changer for me!

Fred guided Makana and I through a course of fun and interesting exercises:

  • Broken lines
  • Leg yields
  • Changes of rein through the half circle
  • Changes of direction through bends—shoulder in to haunches in to shoulder out
  • Shoulder in to half pass to walk pirouette to half pass to reverse half pirouette to half pass

After Makana found her balance, softness, engagement, and suppleness through these exercises at a collected walk, Fred released us along a straight line into a flat walk and WOW it felt terrific!

The two lessons I had with Fred Kappler have set me on a new course of training gaited dressage. Going forward, I will spend more time riding lateral exercises at a collected walk before releasing Makana into flat walk along a straight line. I will add more transitions between exercises, more transitions between directions of bend, and more transitions between gaits. All of these exercises improve balance, engagement, connection, roundness, strength, and quality of movement.

Adding to the education was the amazing feeling of community I felt with the people who attended this clinic. Fred is unique when compared with most clinicians. He enjoys sharing his wealth of experiences outside of lesson time and is an entertaining storyteller. Deb, the owner of Amity West Stables, is an inspiring rider and trainer with amazingly talented horses. I watched her lessons with Fred and was impressed with witnessing piaffe and passage, canter pirouettes, tempe changes, extended trot, half pass, and more. Not to forget that Deb is a lot of fun to hang around with, as well as the many boarders there.

It was great to meet Facebook friend, Louisa, for the first time in person. She organized a marvelous matching set of four black Tennessee walking horses on a beautiful trail ride along Lester River the day before the clinic. I enjoyed reconnecting with a Walking horse friend, Becky and an eventing friend, Amy, and met new friends Nikki, Michelle, Pam, and the barn staff at Amity West Stables.

I hope it will be the first of many re-connections with this fun-loving group of dressage riders—both gaited and non-gaited. (As for Fred, will he and I live another 22 years for a reunion? Awe, maybe. Hopefully I will get a chance to ride with him sooner than later!)

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