gaited dressage clinic | Naturally Gaited Horse

It’s interesting how experiences prepare us for what’s next. I never imagined I’d be showing dressage after a 16-year break on a horse that doesn’t trot!

Preparation for What’s Next with My Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

I never got into this “gaited dressage thing” to show. In fact, I only wanted a smooth horse to ride that would be gentler on my aging body.

In 2007 when I bought my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana, dressage is how I trained her. It’s all I knew. Yet riding dressage on a Walking Horse is so different than on a trotting horse.

Tennessee walking horses do unusual things I had not encountered with trotting horses. The faster they travel the smoother they get, their head and neck nods with each step, their ears flop, and their teeth sometimes click.

That’s when I joined a local Walking horse association to learn more about riding this unique breed.

BLESS Clinic with Bucky Sparks — Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at a Gaited Dressage Clinic with Bucky Sparks

Shortly thereafter, I took my Makana to a gaited dressage clinic with Bucky Sparks. Later that year, I rode at a Larry Whitesell gaited dressage clinic.

Jennifer Klitzke riding at a Larry Whitesell gaited horsemanship clinic — Larry Whitesell demonstrating and explaining shoulder-in in-hand with a rider.

Indeed, my worlds were colliding.

In 2008 the Walking horse association pleaded for more entries at the Washington County Fair. They were worried the Tennessee walking horse classes would be eliminated unless more people entered.

“Well, okay, we’ll give rail class shows a try,” I said.

TWH 3-gait Trail Pleasure Rail Class — Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at a TWH breed show in the 3-gait Trail Pleasure Rail Class

It wasn’t ribbons that kept us returning to Walking horse shows. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse came alive in the show ring. She seemed to enjoy the people and other horses, so we’ve kept it up.

Gaited Dressage: Training Level — Our first gaited dressage show in 2010.

Now that I was officially riding dressage on a gaited horse and showing in rail classes, I entered my Tennessee walking horse at a local schooling dressage show the fall of 2010. We were the only gaited entry, and because of this it drew the attention of two women who owned gaited horses. We exchanged phone numbers and began to trail riding at state parks. Makana seemed to enjoy the fresh air, arresting scenery, and varied terrain as much as I did.

encountering the moose obstacle — *Encountering the moose obstacle* at a Gaited Trail Trial.

Trail riding prepared us for the next step. If it weren’t for the dozens of trail rides we had been on with the women I had met at the schooling dressage show, I would have never considered riding the 2011 Gaited Trail Trials which proved to be the most fun I’ve ever had on horseback!

So what’s next? I’m tinkering with the notion of eventing my gaited horse now that we have started gymnastic jumping.