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Gaited Horse Training

Next Chapter of Quality Smooth Gaits

I was beginning to wonder if I would be retiring with my smooth gaited horses, Lady and Makana when a few unexpected blessings showed up just in the nick of time. Meet the next chapter of quality smooth gaits.

Here’s my story…

Next Chapter of Quality Smooth Gaits

By Jennifer Klitzke

It’s hard to believe that nearly 15 years have gone by in my smooth gaited dressage journey with Makana, my first naturally gaited horse. She arrived as a three-year-old into the first chapters of Naturally Gaited. Then a few years later came Lady, my grade fox trotting mare. Together we explored that “Dressage is more than Trot” in developing quality smooth gaits.

Why dressage for the gaited horse?

Previous to smooth gaited horses, I had 20 years experience as an avid dressage rider with non-gaited horses that trot. I learned how to develop a balanced riding position and communicate through effective use and timing of leg, rein, weight, and seat aids to lead a horse into relaxation, balance, forward movement without rushing, rhythm, connection, straightness, and collection over time. This process improves the horse’s quality of movement and the full range of motion.

If this is true for non-gaited horses that trot, I believed that dressage would also develop the full range of motion and quality smooth gaits as flat walk, fox trot, and saddle rack. For the naturally gaited horse, this means smoother gaits; longer, deeper strides; and a sounder horse for longer.

The first fifteen years of Naturally Gaited proves this hypothesis: Dressage is more than Trot in developing quality smooth gaits.

While still sound and rideable, Makana and Lady have reached their retirement years. I have enjoyed a remarkable dressage journey with both smooth gaited horses, unique in their own way.

bareback flat walk
Makana, Tennessee walking horse, at 17, ridden bareback and barefoot at a flat walk.
Lady, grade fox trotting mare, 18-20, ridden barefoot.

So what’s next for Naturally Gaited, I thought?

I began pleading with my husband to purchase another gaited horse. He kept saying, “No.” The thought of downsizing and retiring were all to compelling to him.

Retiring?

I’m thinking…I’m too young to retire. I’m too young to retire from training horses. I’m too young to retire from Naturally Gaited. I’ve got another quality smooth gaited generation to raise!

Meanwhile, I check out gaited horses for sale. For my first 30 years of equestrianism, finding a good registered training prospect for under $2,500 was common. Today’s prices are astonishing! Grade gaited horses are priced at double that. Registered gaited horses for sale are triple or more!

At the same time, auctions are full of gaited horses. Many are priced under $1,000. If not sold, they join the tens of thousands placed on trailers to Mexico for slaughter. It breaks my heart.

I seriously looked into saving one of these auction horses, but after the cost of the horse, vetting, 4-6 weeks quarantine, and transportation, I’d be looking at thousands to save a horse I never met. A horse of unknown handling, unknown breeding, unknown temperament, unknown age, unknown health, unknown soundness. Too much risk at too high a cost.

Next step, I applied for adoption with a few reputable rescues who take in gaited horses. I was approved, yet so were many others. The young gaited horses were snapped up as soon as they arrived.

Then a dear friend, fellow horse lover, and a follower of Naturally Gaited, contacted me and desired to contribute towards the adoption of a new horse.

I was beginning to wonder if there would be a horse to adopt?

The riding season was quickly coming to a close. The days growing colder and darker. Would there be a next chapter of quality smooth gaits? Would I be forced into retiring with my gaited horses after all?

Then last week my heart stopped. (In a good way.) I saw an ad for an unbroke Tennessee walking horse gelding. I immediately texted for more information.

After a few text exchanges, I went for a visit the next day. His name is Mellum’s Midnight Marvel, and his price was EXACTLY the amount my friend had on her mind to contribute.

Marvel is a friendly fellow, a curious character, and has striking beauty. I like his balance, his uphill build, how he uses himself, and how he moves.

Meeting Marvel.

Returning home, I couldn’t get Marvel out of my mind. I envisioned him at my place running with my smooth gaited mares, Lady and Makana. I saw him as the next chapters of Naturally Gaited and of quality smooth gaits made possible through dressage.

I pleaded with my husband ONE MORE TIME, and he finally said, “yes” to one more horse.

Sharing the good news with my friend, she said, “God works in mysterious ways.”

Picking Marvel up the next week, the previous owner said, “This was just meant to be.”

Introducing the next chapter of quality smooth gaits: Marvel

Marvel is a curious character and a friendly fellow.

Don’t panic if your gaited horse trots at liberty. Many do and trot does not ruin their natural smooth gait.
Marvel at his new home.

I am humbled with gratitude and thanks for the generous gift from my dear friend that has allowed my naturally gaited journey to continue and for her passion for horses to continue.

Stay tuned as the next chapter of quality smooth gaits unfolds.

What are your thoughts? Please reach out and send me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

How Dressage Improves Smooth Gaits

Naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk
Naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse flat walk.

Did you buy a naturally gaited horse and expect a smooth gait? You’re not alone. A lot of gaited horse owners think this, including me. There are a few lucky people who have one, but it wasn’t me. Here’s my story about how dressage improves quality smooth gaits.

After 20 years of dressage study with non-gaited horses and sitting a jarring trot, I learned about naturally gaited horses. Riding a smooth gaited horse that didn’t trot sounded good to my aging body. So, in 2007 I fell in love with a just turning three-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse filly named Makana.

seili first recognized show
Previous to beginning my gaited dressage journey, I had been a dedicated dressage student of trotting horses since 1988 and showed my Trakehner/thoroughbred gelding successfully through Second level dressage.

Smooth did not come easy

It didn’t take long to realize smooth didn’t come easy. Yes, my three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse was bred for smooth gaits, but it was up to me to help her develop each gait on cue. Just how would I do this when dressage is the only training I knew?

We’d give dressage a try and find out.

Watch: How dressage improves smooth gaits for naturally gaited horses

In this video, I show the progress of how dressage improves smooth gaits with my Tennessee Walking Horse. Over time dressage has improved her full range of motion and quality smooth gaits on cue, in and out of the arena.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

I’ll never forget what it was like in the beginning. When I would cue my gaited horse for the flat walk, she would take a few steps of stepping pace, flat walk, fox trot and rack, and I had to figure out which smooth gait was the one I had asked for.

Using dressage as our training method, it would take us time to unravel this mish mash of gaits. Dressage became a consistent communication with my horse through my rein, leg, seat, and weight aids as I put cues to each gait.

Over time, dressage helps develop:

  • More relaxation (less mental anxiety and body tension)
  • Better balance (less pre-dominance on the forehand and more evenly on all four legs)
  • Steady rhythm
  • Even tempo and stride length
  • Forward movement without rushing
  • Stretch and strengthen my horse’s top line muscles
  • Depth of stride under the body mass
  • Connection between me and my horse through my rein, leg and seat aids
  • Greater symmetry and flexibility traveling left and right
  • Pushing power and carrying strength

A Head Nodding Horse?

In addition to forming consistent communication and putting cues to smooth gaits, I had to figure out how to ride a head nodding flat walk with a light even snaffle bit contact.

Dressage requires riding with even, steady contact using a snaffle bit. I knew I would need to earn my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse’s trust with her mouth and my hands in order for her to accept contact with the bit.

What about Bit Acceptance?

Bit acceptance is a lot easier riding a trotting horse whose head and neck remain stationary. Following a head nodding horse is not so easy at the flat walk, running walk, and fox trot. How would I maintain a steady, even rein contact while my Tennessee Walking Horse nodded her head and neck with each step? This was a big question I wrestled with as we began our training using dressage.

Where do you learn dressage for the gaited horse?

There weren’t many dressage instructors in my area and no one in my state who taught dressage for the gaited horse. I read books, watched videos, and attended clinics whenever gaited horse experts traveled to my area.

Jennie Jackson dressage for the gaited horse clinic
Attending a Dressage for the Gaited Horse Clinic with Jennie Jackson.

Combining 20 years of dressage lessons with non-gaited horses and the few gaited dressage clinics I rode at; I began to ride my gaited horse with greater awareness of cause and effect. This helped me develop a greater feel for when it felt right and when I needed to make a correction. I listened for the regularity of foot falls and watched the head and neck motion.

Then I began to capture video of our rides. I’d slow down the video frames which confirmed whether or not what I felt while riding my gaited horse and heard from the saddle was aligned with the instruction I had been receiving. Video became a helpful tool.

Showing Dressage on a Horse that Doesn’t Trot?

In 2010, I learned of a schooling dressage show not far from my home. I thought it would be a cool way to get feedback from a trained dressage professional about our dressage training. I longed for feedback about our balance, relaxation, connection, engagement, harmony, my riding position, and use of rein, leg, seat and weight aids as we navigated the test requirements at each letter.

I contacted the show manager and asked if I could ride my Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk instead of a trot. The show manager agreed. I never imaged that I’d be back showing dressage on a horse that didn’t trot.

dressage improves smooth gaits showing gaited dressage Training Level
2010: My first dressage show riding a horse that didn’t trot.


Sharing How Dressage Improves Smooth Gaits

Then in 2010, I launched NaturallyGaited.com and began to share how dressage improves smooth gait with others. I have been thrilled to meet others online around the world who are also searching for information about dressage for the gaited horse.

Dressage Improves Quality Smooth Gaits

Over the years, it is clear that dressage improves the quality of smooth gaits on cue with my Tennessee walking horse. Her medium walk, free walk, flat walk, running walk, collected walk, and canter are well established now.

dressage with gaited horse
Showing dressage with a horse that doesn’t trot.
Learn more: Tips on Riding a Gaited Dressage Test

Dressage is an On-the-Go Versatile Language

My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and I have met many people since we began this gaited dressage journey. These fun-loving people have broadened our versatility and dressage has been the consistent language that travels with us wherever we go and whatever we do together. Whether we are moving cows in team penning events and cow sorting leagues: enjoying the beauty of our State Parks by horseback; endurance rides; orientation events; trail challenges; riding in the snow; stadium jumping; or bareback riding, the same rein, leg, seat and weight aids are used to communicate with my naturally gaited horse to bring about relaxation, balance, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, connection, symmetry, engagement, and a partnership of trust and harmony.

My naturally gaited horse enjoys moving cows more than anything!
Learn more: Gaited Horses and Cows
Riding endurance with a gaited horse.
Learn more: Sisu on the Border Endurance Ride
I began gymnastic jumping with my naturally gaited horse, a Tennessee walking horse, to improve her canter. It was just the ticket and lots of fun, too!
Learn more: Starting a Gaited Horse over Jumps
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk riding bareback and on a loose rein.
Learn more: Gaited Horse Bareback Riding
Trail riding on gaited horse
Enjoying the autumn color on a smooth gaited horse.
Tennessee walking horse flat walk in snow
Riding a smooth gaited horse in the snow is my favorite winter sport!

Dressage has been the common language through the versatility of experiences we are enjoying together!

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Balance for Gaited Horses

Flat walk: Head nod up or nod down?

When the naturally gaited horse is in flat walk, does the head nod up-down or down-up? Does it matter?

Here’s my story and a video to go with it.

Flat Walk: Does the Naturally Gaited Horse Head Nod Up-Down or Nod Down-Up?

By Jennifer Klitzke

As I have explored relaxation, rhythm and balance with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, I have wondered, does the head nod up-down down-up? Is there a difference?

In the video below, I share my thoughts on this question with examples of both.

For me, the important distinction between head nod up-down or head nod down-up is whether my horse’s body mass is in balance over all four legs and lifting her chest and wither.

Balanced Flat Walk & Head Nod Up-Down

When my horse is performing a balanced flat walk, the head nod is up-down. It feels like my horse is stepping from behind and under my seat and lifting up through the wither.

The photo above shows a head up-down in a balanced flat walk. The naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is stepping under the rider’s seat with the hind leg and far more under the body mass than trailing behind and the horse is lifting the chest and wither.

Unbalanced Flat Walk with Head Nod Down-Up

If my horse is collapsing her chest and traveling with more weight on the forehand, she performs a head nod down-up. It feel like my horse is pulling me downhill or feeling heavy in my hands.

Above shows the same naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse out of balance in the head nod down-up. The hind legs are disengaged and not stepping under the body mass or under the rider and the chest is collapsed and the horse in on the forehand.

Demi-Arret to Regain Balance

I ride with a snaffle bit and whenever my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse leans on the bit, I apply a demi-arret. I raise my hands higher with a squeeze of my hands as soon as the nod comes up and quickly release. The timing of the demi-arret is important so that it is in rhythm with the nod and the hind leg steps. As soon as my horse lightens and I feel the balance return, I cease the demi-arret.

Sometimes the demi-arret doesn’t seem to be helping my horse lighten if my horse is traveling at a faster tempo out of balance. In this case, I will slow the tempo down to a walk or halt and rebalance my horse. Then from a balanced halt or slow walk, I will transition to a faster tempo like a flat walk or canter.

I hope this is helpful. What are your thoughts? Please reach out and send me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

Forwardness without Rushing, Rider Position for Gaited Horses

Forward Movement without Leg Aids

Forward movement without leg aids
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in forward movement, relaxation, rhythm, balance and contact in the flat walk. Horse is ridden bareback and barefoot.

Do you have a gaited horse that is lazy? I’ve discovered the key to forward movement with my smooth gaited Tennessee walking horse: Stop using my leg aids.

Here’s my story…

Forward Movement without Leg Aids

By Jennifer Klitzke

Forward movement without rushing is a requirement in dressage. Other requirements are relaxation (of mind and body), rhythm (consistent tempo and strides), contact (acceptance of the bit), straightness (developing evenness in both directions), and collection (balance) as you move through the training process with the horse.

Coming from decades of German dressage, I learned to ride my horse forward from the hind quarters, through the body and into a snaffle bit contact. I developed an unconscious habit of driving my horse forward with my legs and seat, clucking and squeezing my calves against the sides of my horse to move forward with each step and into the contact. If that didn’t prompt forward movement, I would add the tap-tap-tap of a dressage whip.

I couldn’t figure out why my horse had less and less forward movement.

I explored saddle fit, my horse’s physical condition, and I even changed horse’s diet. Nothing seemed to get my horse to move forward without my continued prodding. I figured I just had a lazy horse.

The same thing began to happen when I began training my Tennessee walking horse until I stumbled upon a new training approach which helped me realize my error.

Separate the “go” from the “stop” for forward movement

At a classical French dressage clinic, I was introduced to the book Another Horsemanship by the late Jean Claude Racinet, a classical French dressage master who followed the work of Baucher’s second training method. Racinet’s book opened my eyes to a new idea: separating my leg “go” aids from my hand “stop” aids.

By combining my riding aids: driving my horse forward with my legs and seat into a snaffle bit contact, two things happened:

  1. My horse became confused, “Do you mean ‘go’ or ‘stop’? I cannot do both simultaneously.”
  2. When my horse chose to slow down, I developed the habit of becoming the engine that drove my horse forward with each step.

Lightness to the Leg for Forward Movement

From French dressage, I learned that forward movement is the horse’s responsibility not the rider’s. The rider needs to train the horse this responsibility. The rider needs to teach the horse to move forward with ONE squeeze and release of the calves and maintain this forward movement without continued squeezing.

This is how to obtain lightness to the leg for forward movement:
  • First, teach horse what the leg aid means.
  • Important: do not combine the leg aid with rein action.
  • Second, immediately cease using leg aids when the horse moves forward.
  • Third, be consistent in the application to train the horse to maintain lightness to the leg without prodding the horse along with each step.

Looking back, I realize that I didn’t have lazy horses. I had either confused my horses by combining my “stop” and “go” aids or dulled my horses to my leg aids with my continued squeezing with each step.

Riding with awareness to develop forward movement

Combining my stop and go aids had become an unconscious habit, so did driving my horse forward with each step.

As soon as I changed my training method to be responsive to the first leg cue without combining my go and stop aids, my horse maintained forward movement without continued leg aids with each step.

The concept of obtaining forwardness without leg aids works for someone like me who has gotten into the habit of squeezing with each step. Now I am riding with more intentionality and awareness of cause and effect, which I believe will replace those unconscious bad habits over time.

Forward movement is possible without leg aids. The calves have a place, just not with EVERY step the horse takes.

flat walk bareback loose rein
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse moving in forwardness, relaxation, and rhythm in the flat walk. Horse is ridden bareback, barefoot, and on a loose rein.

Let me know your thoughts by sending me a message. Stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

The Versatile Gaited Horse

Bareback Riding on a Gaited Horse

Does bareback riding offer benefits for the naturally gaited horse?

Here’s my story…

Bareback Riding on a Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

With the exception of a couple summers of riding lessons, my early riding years were as a trail guide at a local ranch. Paying riders rode with the few saddles on hand while the guides rode the horses bareback. Us guides also introduced the horses fresh from auction to the trail system. Would they be string keepers or return to auction? I hoped for a lucky draw and learned riding balance out of self-preservation.

Five years later, I purchased my first horse (and a saddle). Where I rode, there were two riding styles: dressage and hunter jumper. More people fell off hunter jumper style, so I picked the safer alternative.

Years later, remembering my fond experiences leading groups through the winding woods including white wintery wonderlands, I gave bareback a try with my then third horse, a Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding. In a split second I met the frozen ground in an ouch. That’s when I learned some horses are cold backed. Bareback riding is not an option for all horses.

So, I returned to the security of my saddle and tucked away those fond youthful bareback memories.

Bareback riding on my gaited horse

Fast forward 20 years when gaited horses entered my life. The idea of riding bareback drew flashbacks of airtime to a bone-crunch landing. Until one white wintery morning when hoar frost sparkled like a crystal forest in the sunshine. Memories of my youthful trail guide days grew stronger. Would my now grandma body be willing to give bareback riding a try? My smooth gaited horse Lady was a safe choice. That’s how my friend rode her before Lady became mine.

Wibble. Wobble. At first, I felt unsteady. No stirrups for support. It was like my first-time kayaking. I just needed to take a deep breath, relax and find my balance. Then take in the surrounding beauty. With each smooth step Lady took, I became more confident, and I felt youthful again, if only for a moment. Without the saddle, Lady’s body warmed me as we rode through the white winter wonderland.

Watch: Riding bareback on a gaited horse

Riding a gaited horse bareback through a frosty winter wonderland.

After that frosty bareback ride, I gained enough confidence to try riding my smooth gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana, bareback, too. Thankfully neither of my naturally gaited horses were cold backed like my Trakehner/Thoroughbred was.

Bareback dressage?

Spring sprung, and I couldn’t wait to begin our dressage now that the ice and snow had melted. After a couple months of bareback riding, I wondered if dressage would be possible without a saddle. We gave it a try and sure enough, we were able to do every exercise bareback: Counter bend turns, flechi droit, shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out, renver, half pass, and more. Plus, we rode the full range of walks, smooth gaits, canter, and even piaffe bareback!

bareback riding a naturally gaited horse at a running walk

Eight ways bareback riding benefits naturally gaited horses.

1. Bareback riding offers closeness and connection

Bareback riding provides greater awareness and feel of how my horse is moving beneath me. I enjoy the closeness and connection we have for more timely adjustments to my riding position and rein, leg, seat and weight aids.

2. Bareback riding allows for better alignment over my horse’s center of gravity

Since there is no saddle between me and my gaited horse, riding bareback makes it easier to stay aligned over my horse’s center of gravity. Saddles often slip forward, backward, or to the side which place the rider in an unbalanced position. Riding bareback is easier to feel whether my horse is balanced or too much on the forehand, as well as hollow or lifting the back and wither.


3. Bareback riding helps lead to a correct feeling of balance

The sense of balance I feel riding bareback raises new questions for when I ride in a saddle. If my saddle slips behind my horse’s center of gravity, then we are no longer in balanced alignment. What happens to my feeling of balance? It gives me a false feeling of my horse being on the forehand when it is actually me being out of balance with my horse.

This was a huge light bulb moment for me I didn’t realize until I began to ride my gaited horses bareback. It is so important that the rider is balanced over the horse’s center of gravity, so riders are getting the correct feeling of balance.

Cantering bareback on a gaited horse.

4. Bareback riding improves rider position

Riding bareback has helped me find a balanced position over my horse’s center of gravity. I feel so much more without the saddle. I feel her breathe. I feel her back lift or hollow. I feel the lift in the wither when the shoulders engage.

It is important that I don’t ride on my horse’s spine. This would be uncomfortable to my horse. Instead, I need to support my weight in my thighs. This doesn’t mean clamping my thighs together to stay on. This would communicate a half halt or halt to my horse. If I intended to go forward while in a clamped position with my thighs, I would be sending mixed messages to my horse and produce stiff and braced movement⚊likely pace or step pace.

Instead of gripping with my thighs, I hold my weight in my thighs and move my hip joints with each belly sway to encourage free forward movement. When I desire to halt, then I still my pelvis and lower back.

Tennessee walking horses can piaffe, too!

5. Bareback riding has no stirrups to press into

Riding bareback removes the stirrups to press my feet into. This is beneficial to the horse. Too much weight in the stirrups places more pressure on the horse’s spine. This encourages hollowness and can lead to pacing or hard trot.

6. Bareback riding makes smooth gaits possible, too!

I wondered if riding bareback would influence smooth gait. I haven’t noticed a difference. In fact, riding bareback, I am able to stay aligned with my gaited horse’s center of gravity better. It seems we are more consistent in our smooth gaits for longer periods of time.

The flechi droit is a great warm up exercise to stretch the outside neck muscles while keeping the shoulders and body straight.

7. Bareback riding improves rider confidence

Clearly my riding confidence has improved since facing my apprehension and giving bareback riding another chance. I actually prefer bareback riding over riding with a saddle now. Bareback riding has expanded my riding position and riding with awareness in so many ways.

Bareback riding has:

  • Improved my riding confidence
  • Improved my balanced riding position
  • Strengthened my core
  • Improved my connection and communication with my horse
  • Improved my sense of feel
  • Improved my riding awareness of cause and effect
  • Improved a partnership of trust and harmony with my horse
Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk (loose rein self carriage)
Flat Walk (self carriage)

8. No saddle-fit issues with bareback riding

By riding bareback, I don’t have saddle-fitting or saddle-slipping issues to deal with! This is a wonderful benefit for those of us who have had trouble finding a saddle that fits our gaited horse. When riding bareback, the shoulders aren’t pinched, the girth doesn’t get chaffed, additional weight isn’t added to the horse’s back. However, it is my responsibility to be an easy load for my horse to carry with a balanced riding position and distribute my weight in my thighs.

Now to find a saddle that fits and doesn’t slip. Awe, heck, just ride bareback!

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse