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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Do you have a tense, anxious and pacey gaited horse? You are not alone. I did too. Here’s what’s worked for me to find relaxation and break pace for a smooth gait. Find relaxation and break pace with long and low, plus these tips and videos.
Long and Low to Break Pace and Improve Smooth Gait
By Jennifer Klitzke
Have you ever asked, “How do I help my gaited horse break pace for a smooth gait?” You’re not alone. I asked this question back in 2007 when I bought my first Tennessee walking horse, Makana. She was just turning three years old with a few rides on her. I thought naturally gaited horses were born to be smooth. Yes, they are. However, I quickly learned that it was up to me to help my horse develop her smooth gaits with consistent training.
I set out to find resources for smooth gaited horse training. I purchased and studied gaited horse videos and books where I learned that many people ride their gaited horses using curb bits two handed with contact. This approach was new to me. As an avid dressage rider since 1988, I was familiar with riding two handed with contact using a gentle snaffle bit. A curb bit was only added to the snaffle bit (bradoon) at Third Level and beyond, but not used predominantly with contact.
I also attended naturally gaited horse clinics and took lessons with local instructors where I was taught to ride with low fixed hands. This was also a new concept for me. As a dressage rider, I had learned to follow the natural head and neck motion of the horse with the snaffle bit contact. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be the same for the head nodding gaited horse?”
It seems pace is a common theme among gaited horse owners—especially for those, like me, who own Tennessee walking horses.
Ingredients of pace
Pictured below, is me and my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, early in our training. As you can see, we struggled with pace. Does she look relaxed: her expression, her body, her mouth? Notice the spurs and riding two handed with low, fixed hands using a curb bit.
Relaxation leads to smooth gait, yes. Just where do you begin to unravel the elements of this quandary and begin the journey to a relaxed smooth gait?
How to Break Pace for a Smooth Gait
Makana has had a consistent smooth gait for years now. Helping her find relaxation in her body and mind is key to break pace. This begins even before I start riding long and low.
Steps to relaxation
First of all, I stopped using equipment that cause tension. No more spurs, snug nose bands, and riding with curb bits two handed with contact. I maintained regular hoof trims at natural angles, double checked my saddle fit for comfort, and had the vet out annually to check teeth and floated as needed.
Developing a language of communication
To relax my horse’s mind, I had to become aware of what created anxiety and worry to help my horse find relaxation. Here, we embarked on a journey to develop a dialogue of harmonious two-way communication using dressage for the gaited horse.
Watch: Introducing Contact In Hand and In Saddle
I began by teaching my horse how to acceptance and follow a mild snaffle bit contact starting with work in hand. Then the same exercises from the saddle at a halt, and then at a slow walk. We only progressed tempo as long as she was relaxed in her mind and body. If she became tense or worried, we would slow down or halt until she was relaxed again.
When we progressed in tempo to a free walk on a long rein. I had to learn how to follow her natural head and neck movement with relaxed arms shoulders and hip joints.
Becoming a relaxed and confident rider
Most important, I needed to face my fears and learn how to become a relaxed and confident rider in order to convey relaxation and confidence to my horse. If my horse is nervous and I react in nervousness, it only reinforces her worry. I need to become the relaxed leader of our relationship. This takes time. For me, this has been a work in progress. Because of intentionally working at it, I am a more relaxed and confident rider, and it has paid off in my relationship with Makana.
Long and low for relaxation
Gaited horse experts talk about the importance of lowering the horse’s head and neck to aid in relaxation. Why? Because relaxation is a key component for smooth gait.
In dressage terms, a long and low dog walk with contact is referred to a free walk on a long rein. This is a required movement in all dressage tests—Introductory through Olympic Levels. The free walk on a long rein shows the rider and horse in a posture of relaxation during the test. The riding team leaves the arena at a free walk on a loose rein.
Free walk on a long rein
Long and low or free walk on a long rein is only one of many positions a horse is trained at to develop full range of motion.
In a dressage test, the free walk is graded on a scale from 0 to 10. The latter score means a perfect free walk. In a quality free walk on a long rein, the horse is shown in a state of relaxation. The horse is ridden in an approved snaffle bit and stretches forward, down, and out while taking equally timed steps with over track. This means the hind leg hoofprint steps over the fore hoofprint as it leaves the ground. The more over track the horse offers is considered a quality walk. For maximum stride length, it is important to move the horse forward without rushing in a regular rhythm and tempo.
This quality position allows the horse to stretch through the back and neck to a seeking contact with the bit. The horse’s nose is ahead of the vertical. The back is in a neutral position, and the horse’s chest is up and not collapsed. Most dressage tests show the free walk on a long rein along a straight line across the diagonal. This challenges how well the horse remains between the rider’s leg and rein aids. This symmetry is also scored.
The rider maintains a light contact with the snaffle bit and follows the horse’s natural head and neck motion with relaxed shoulders and arms. The rider also follows the horse’s side to side belly sway with relaxed hip joints and a balanced and aligned (ear, hip and heel) riding position. The rider’s relaxation aids the horse’s relaxation.
Video: Free Walk on a Long Rein
The free walk on a long rein is a terrific way to begin and end every ride, as well as reward your horse throughout a training session.
Long and Low to Steps of Smooth Gait
As my horse develops a consistent free walk on a long rein, then I begin asking her for a few steps of flat walk or smooth gait. I stop and reward my horse before my horse begins to pace or trot or feel like a rough ride. Then we return to a relaxed walk and ask for the smooth gait again.
After a few smooth steps of gait, I halt and reward my horse. Over time, a few good steps of smooth gait lead to a circle and then a few minutes of smooth gait.
Why lower is not better
I used to believe that the lower the horse’s head and neck are stretched to the ground the better. Many gaited horse experts claim this is true in order to develop a smooth gait. I gave this a try for a couple years. It helped my horse become smoother; however, my horse developed the habit of traveling on the forehand. This became a new habit that has been hard to break. Plus, being on the forehand compounded the tripping.
In hindsight, why train long and low as low as you can go when long and low at a neutral position also breaks pace?
Consider balance when training long and low to break pace
Balance is an important concept in dressage. I began to study the science of biomechanics and balance, and the importance of engaging the thoracic sling (chest and shoulder muscles) from Dr. Hilary Clayton’s research and French dressage master Philippe Karl’s book: Misconceptions of Modern Dressage.
Clayton and Karl are dressage and biomechanics experts. Their writings helped me realize the struggles I was having with my gaited horse being on the forehand and when my Trakehner/Thoroughbred were moving into Second Level. Prolonged long and low trains the horse to travel on the forehand.
Moments of long and low are good, not miles. Long and low stretching is good, but lower is not better.
Here’s why. The horse’s head and neck weigh up to one tenth of its body weight and when propelled ahead of the horse’s legs naturally places the horse on the forehand.
Adding to this, when the horse’s poll (between the ears) is lower than the height of the wither, the horse collapses the shoulder and chest muscles. Training a horse in this unbalanced position means conditioning the horse on the forehand with undeveloped chest and shoulder muscles. Then when you want to teach collection, you have to retrain your horse to develop the chest and shoulder muscles and break the habit of leaning on the bit and traveling onto the forehand.
Long and low to riding in balance is like breaking the habit of slouching with good posture. Not easy to do.
Long and low out of balance
Pictured above is my naturally gaited fox-trotting horse, Lady, in a long and low position. Notice that she is disengaged from behind (not stepping under the rider’s position with her hind leg). Notice that her chest muscles are collapsed, and her abdominal muscles are not lifting her back to a neutral position. She may be relaxed, but she is not effectively developing her top line muscles in this position. She is traveling on the forehand, and behind the bit.
Long and low in balance
Pictured above is my naturally gaited horse, Lady, in a neutral balanced position on a long rein. This is called a neck extension. She is traveling in a relaxed smooth gait and stepping more under her body than disengaging behind her tail. Can you see the difference in balanced compared with the other photo?
Watch: Action Reaction to Neck Extension
Steps to cue the neck extension
Benefits of a free walk on a long rein from a balanced position
A free walk on a long rein from a balanced position produces many terrific benefits for the gaited horse including rhythm, relaxation, forward movement without rushing, and depth of stride to increase stride length, stretching the spine, and building the top line muscles.
Most importantly, a free walk on a long rein from a balanced position puts the gaited horse into a relaxed position that helps break up the foot falls of pace into four individual steps—the sequence of a four-beat smooth gait at a slower tempo. From this quality walk, ask for a few steps of smooth gait. Stop and reward your horse. Then repeat.
How to teach the horse to lower its head
If your horse is just beginning to learn the basics with a snaffle bit and needs to start by lower its head and neck, here’s an exercise I learned from naturally gaited clinician, Bucky Sparks, which he calls “Stretch the Bit.” This exercise teaches a horse to discover relaxation by lowering its head and neck on cue at a halt. Once a horse discovers relaxation, they are more likely to seek it the next time you cue for it.
1. Begin this exercise at a halt. If the horse’s head is too high, lift your hands up and out to each side. This position touches the less sensitive corners of the horse’s lips. As I draw my arms out to the side, I feel a pull in my triceps which helps me to remember not to pull back.
IMPORTANT: Don’t pulling back or apply low fixed hands that press the bit into the horse’s tongue and causes pain. Pain causes tension in the mouth and lower jaw.
When your horse’s head is too high, position your reins up and out to each side without pulling back. Begin this exercise at a halt.
2. Release to reward: As soon as your horse begins dropping the head and neck, release the reins.
3. Repeat the exercise: Don’t get discouraged if it takes a couple minutes before the horse lowers its head or if the horse lowers and then pops its head back up. This is a common reaction when introducing something new to the horse as well as for horses who are tense or resistant. After a few tries, most horses discover relaxation and prefer it over tension and hollowness because it is more comfortable. Eventually the horse learns to remain in a lowered headset for longer periods of time.
4. Stretch and release at a walk: When the horse gets consistent with this exercise at a halt, you can begin stretching the bit at a walk on a large 20-meter circle. My horse found relaxation quicker on an arc of a circle than traveling on a straight line.
5. Add transitions and changes of direction: After a few circles, repeat the exercise traveling in the opposite direction. Switch directions every 3 or 4 circles. Then add some walk-halt-walk transitions to keep it interesting and “stretch the bit” and “release to reward” at a halt before transitioning to a walk. The transitions also help to improve the horse’s balance.
Watch: Stretch the Bit and Release and Reward
Notice that when the horse lowers, its head and neck are at the wither height.
Neck extension or free walk on a long rein is only a portion of my riding sessions as a warmup, break time and cool down.
As my horse advances in its training, I like to replace the “stretch the bit” with a more traditional dressage application I call “squeeze and release.”
How to Squeeze and Release to Lower the Head and Neck
1. Squeeze and release with the rein: On a 20-meter circle at a walk, I gently squeeze the inside rein with my fingers and hold my fingers closed until my horse gives. Then I immediately release the inside rein by opening my middle, ring and pinky fingers to reward the horse. I don’t drop the rein. I maintain a light contact with my thumb and index fingers. Each time the horse’s head pops up, I’ll repeat the “squeeze and release.”
2. Application of the inside calf after the squeeze and release: Once the horse is relaxed and understands this concept, I will touch and release my inside calf at the girth as my horse steps its inside hind leg forward. This encourages my horse to step deeper under its body with its inside hind leg. The timing of this cue is important.
Also, it is important to separate the timing of my hand and leg aids. I like to apply the leg aid after I release my hand aid. Combining my hand and leg aids is like driving a car with my foot on the break and gas pedal at the same time. This is confusing to the horse. Separating the timing of my hand and leg aids (even by milliseconds) produce clarity for my horse and leads to lightness of aids.
4. Inside leg to outside rein: Then I capture the forward energy into an ounce of contact with the outside indirect rein which I place lightly against my horse’s neck. The inside leg to outside indirect rein combined with the softening inside rein helps keep my horse in a consistent long and low frame on a 20-meter circle.
Watch: Squeeze and Release to Lower the Head and Neck
When my horse is consistent in the neutral frame (poll no lower than the height of the wither), I ask for a few deeper, more ground covering steps and more forwardness without rushing from the hind quarters to begin the free walk on a long rein.
How to improve long and low or free walk on a long rein
1. Awareness: Improving the free walk on a long rein begins by becoming aware of how the free walk feels and looks when it is moving well and when it needs improvement. Finding a riding coach who can provide timely feedback is a great way to learn this “feel.” This takes time, patience and consistent training, but the free walk offers such wonderful benefits to the horse. A balanced and engaged free walk teaches the horse to maintain a consistent relaxed tempo, maximum length and stride depth, even four-beat rhythm, and an extended head and neck position: all of which helps to develop the top line muscles.
2. Cueing deeper and longer strides: While traveling at a relaxed land neutral walk, the timing of my cue is critical. I press and release my right calf at the girth as the horse steps forward with its right hind leg (or as I feel the horse’s belly dip down on the right side). Then I apply and release my left calf as the horse steps forward with its left hind leg (or as I feel the horse’s belly dip down on the left). The application of my calf should encourage a deeper step beneath the body.
IMPORTANT: Don’t cue every step or the horse will begin to ignore the cues. I stop cueing as soon as my horse increases its depth of stride. Then I follow the motion of the belly sway with each relaxed hip joint. I don’t push my pelvis forward to drive my horse. I only follow the horse’s motion. To lengthen the stride, it is important not to use both leg aids at the same time since this shortens the stride.
If the horse ignores my calf aid, I will follow up a calf aid with a tap of a dressage whip applied to the same side I applied my calf to activate that hind leg while it is stepping forward. Timing is key.
Another way to encourage more energy and deeper strides in the free walk is to make a cluck sound as the hind leg steps forward. As soon as the horse increases the energy and depth of stride, stop the sound. If you show gaited dressage, using voice as a training aid will not be an option since the use of voice is not allowed during a test.
3. Following the movement with the seat: After cueing my horse for deeper strides, I follow my horse’s forward movement with each hip joint as each hind leg steps beneath under the belly. I become aware of the feeling of the horse’s rib cage lift on one side and lower on the other. I keep my body still from the core but not stiff, tense or locked in the joints.
IMPORTANT: Follow not drive: There is a difference between following the motion a horse produces with relaxed hip joints and driving the horse forward with the pelvis. I have found that driving a horse forward with the pelvis is annoying to the horse. It tends to create extra noise and irritation to the horse’s back. I like to teach the horse to be light to the leg and hand instead of driving the horse forward with my pelvis.
4. Circles and straight lines: I like to teach my horses the free walk on a large circle versus a straight line along the rail. This way the horse learns to listen to my aids instead of following along the rail.
Once the horse is consistent on a 20-meter circle in both directions, I will add serpentines, figure eights, and moments of straight lines. If the horse’s head pops up, gets tense, hollow and pacey, I’ll return to the arc of a circle. Over time, the horse will learn to travel in straight lines across the diagonal in a free walk on a long rein. This is a required movement in all dressage tests.
Developing straightness for symmetry
Another benefit of riding circles versus straight lines is the outer muscles are stretching, and the horse extends the outside legs more because the outside legs are traveling on a larger circle than the inside legs. All horses tend to be stiffer on one side more than the other. Circles help the horse become more evenly flexible. This symmetry is referred to as straightness. Straightness in dressage does not mean riding in straight lines, rather developing the horse to become ambidextrous which is best done in a curved position.
Remember, after the horse is in balance at a walk, then lengthen the reins and release the horse to a neutral position. Keep the horse’s poll no lower than the wither height to help preserve the horse’s balance. And ride your horse like playing an accordion with lots of transitions to develop the full range of motion for quality smooth gaits.
2021: My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana. We are riding bareback in her smooth gait, an even four-beat flat walk riding in balance and relaxation.
Dressage for the gaited horse breaks pace and teaches relaxation and balance
Today I train my gaited horses in a position of balance and relaxation from the start using dressage.
Dressage for the gaited horse develops the horse’s full range of motion and quality smooth gaits on cue for long-term soundness.
2022: Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, at 18 years old.
Dressage benefits the gaited horse:
Relaxation of the mind allows for a more teachable horse. Relaxation of the mind means less anxiety and tension. Relaxation of the mind helps build a partnership of harmony between the horse and rider to promote trust. A relaxed horse is more attentive to the rider and less focused on distractions. This reduces the risk of spooking.
Relaxation of the body allows for a more trainable horse. Relaxation of the body transforms tense muscles, a hollow posture, and pace into more flexible and maneuverable movement and smoother gaits. Relaxation of the body includes expression of the mouth, flexibility of the lower jaw and poll, stretching and flexibility of body muscles, a maneuverable posture, and lifting the chest and back. Relaxation of the body promotes smoother gaits—less pace, step pace, hard trot, and lateral canter.
Stretching the spine and building the top line muscles increase the depth of stride and the length of stride.
Developing symmetry through gymnastic exercises to help the horse become ambidextrous. These exercises promote balance, strength and flexibility traveling clockwise or counterclockwise for evenness of stride, length of stride, and depth of stride.
Lateral exercises break up the pace and step pace for more even smooth, four beat gaits.
Dressage develops the full range of motion, quality smooth gaits on cue and long-term soundness.
Our dressage program
I help my horses find balance at a halt and relaxation in the mouth, lower jaw and poll. Then instead of long and low (as low as I can go), I release to the neck extension to stretch the spine and top line muscles and flexions side to side. This stretches the neck muscles of the horse.
I do not ride my gaited horse in a free walk or neck extension the entire session. I ride my gaited horses like playing an accordion. The accordion stretches out and shortens to make high and low notes for a song. Similarly, I like to develop my horse’s full range of motion with big strides to develop the lengthening muscles and small collected steps to develop the carrying muscles.
We begin riding a free walk on a long rein to warm up and stretch the muscles. Next, we transition between lateral exercises at a slow deliberate walk with small steps (balance, strength and suppling) to a forward without rushing neck extension at a flat walk (lengthening muscles) for a couple minutes.
Our balancing exercises include the shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out, renver, rein back, counter bend turns, counted walk, and half steps. Then we enjoy flat walk, fox trot, and/or canter exercises, and end with free walk on a loose rein as a cool down. This method makes transitions from Intro Level to Training Level to First Level to Second Level much more seamless.
Dressage with my naturally gaited horses is not only fun, but it has also created a great bond with each horse. Best of all, this method of training breaks pace and hard trot. I enjoy quality smooth gaits with all three of my naturally gaited horses.
Here’s how to build the top line muscles of your naturally gaited horse while also developing balanced, quality smooth gait.
Did you know that developing the top line muscles of your naturally gaited horse is more than lowering the horse’s head and neck? Did you know that not all long and low produces the same result? Did you know that too low is not necessarily beneficial to the horse? Find out why…
Building your horse’s top line muscles is a full body activity.
How to Build the Top Line Muscles of Your Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
There is more than one humane way to train your naturally gaited horse and develop smooth gaits. Dressage is one of those ways. One of the purposes of dressage is to develop the horse’s full range of motion (lengthened and collected) for quality gaits and long-term soundness.
As an avid dressage rider since 1988, I’ve learned the importance of developing the top line muscles of the horse. It’s one of the first things I learned as a dressage student riding and training my then five-year-old Trakehner/thoroughbred gelding, Seili. As a result, Seili had a well-developed top line until he passed away at 34. I rode him until he was 29.
My Trakehner/thoroughbred, Seili in 2013 at 29 years old.
Benefits of building the top line muscles of the horse:
1) Soundness: Developing the top line muscles and stretching the spine can prolong your horse’s soundness for a longer riding career. 2) Relaxation: A lowered head and neck position can help the horse relax. 3)Longer strides: Teaching the horse to reach deeper under the belly with the hind leg steps will help develop length of stride. 4) Quality gaits: Teaching the horse to relax its back and stretch the top line muscles can help develop quality gaits. This is true for both the non-gaited and naturally gaited horses. A non-gaited horse’s trot will be smoother to sit, and the naturally gaited horse tending to pace or hard trot, can relax into a natural smooth gait.
As an amateur dressage rider-trainer in the 1990s, I had aspirations of moving up a level each summer like the professionals did, but my work schedule and the long midwest winter season limited our training time. As a five-year-old green horse, I rode Seili on a 20-meter circle for miles and miles in a stretched and forward-moving long and low position for more than a year. Because of my busy schedule, it took several years before we move from Training level to First level and then to Second level—when collection is introduced and balance is required.
My horse’s impeccable top line collided with a new concept: balance. Miles of long and low had conditioned Seili to travel on the forehand.
Too much long and low had developed my gelding’s top line muscles beautifully, but it didn’t prepare him for balance. Unknowingly, I had taught him to slouch. That’s why it took a couple years of retraining Seili in a posture of balance.
Hindsight is 20/20. Now I’ve learned ways of training non-gaited and naturally gaited horses that develop the top line muscles and develop balance.
I wish I knew then what I know now.
Lowering the head and neck
In 2007, I purchased my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, and later, my naturally gaited fox-trotting mare, Lady. In my quest for learning, I traveled to a variety of clinics. These gaited experts encouraged us to lower the horse’s head and neck for relaxation and it would help us establish a natural smooth gait. Many believed the lower the horse’s head is to the ground the better.
I knew that relaxation of mind and body are dressage elements, and I have come to realize the importance relaxation has in developing smooth gait. A tense back leads to pace, hard trot or a short, rushed gait. A relaxed back leads to quality smooth gaits.
Lowering the head and neck is one way to help the naturally gaited horse relax. There are other effective ways to aid in relaxation. Did you know that lowering the head and neck alone, doesn’t strengthen the top line muscles of the horse? Plus, prolonged long and low teaches the horse to travel on the forehand. I wish I knew this back then. It would have saved me years of retraining my horses into a posture of relaxed balance.
I learned a more effective way to train my horses in a posture of relaxed balance while also building the top line muscles.
Why lower isn’t better
Did you know that the horse’s head and neck weigh up to a tenth of the horse’s body weight? When the head and neck are projected ahead of the body mass in a long and low position nodding up and down with each step, think about how this affects balance of the naturally gaited horse.
Long and low, especially as low as you can go, conditions the horse to travel on the forehand. This leads to tripping. Plus, the low neck position collapses the chest muscles. In this position the horse is unable to lift the shoulders and wither. Instead, the horse develops a habit of slouching. Watch the video below for a good demonstration of this point.
Watch: Too Low and on the Forehand
Check out this video of my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana in a position that is too long and low in a free walk: The head and neck are too low for developing the top line muscles. She collapses her chest, hollows her back, and isn’t stepping deep under her belly with her hind leg steps. She is clearly on the forehand, the wither drops as she collapses her chest.
For years I fixated on how low my naturally gaited horse could drop her head and neck while encouraging her to step deep under her body with each hind leg step. In error, I believed as long as my horse was over tracking with the hind leg steps that she was balanced. I had no awareness that my horse was on the forehand and had collapsed her chest posture.
How about teaching your naturally gaited horse relaxation that builds the top line muscles, helps develop smooth gaits while being mindful of balance? That means less tripping, less pacing and more quality smooth gaits.
Let’s take a look.
Building the top line muscles of your naturally gaited horse is a full body activity
Lowering the head and neck helps the naturally gaited horse relax, yet did you know your gaited horse can still hollow its back, collapse its chest and shoulder muscles, drop its wither, and disengage its hind legs (travel more behind the tail than under the belly)? It’s true. Building the top line muscles is a full body activity.
Lowering the head and neck alone
The photo below shows my naturally gaited fox-trotting horse, Lady, in an unbalanced long and low position. While she is relaxed, her hind legs are disengaged and are not stepping deep under her belly. She has a hollow back and collapsed chest muscles. She is behind the bit and her poll (between her ears) is not aligned with her wither.
Long and low out of balance.
Can you see how this long and low position naturally places her on the forehand? She is not able to effectively develop her top line muscles in this position.
Developing the top line is a full body activity
The photo below shows my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in a balanced neutral position. Notice she is stepping deeper under her belly more than extending behind her tail. Her back is lifted to a neutral position. Her neck extends out, but not too low. Her poll (between the ears) is even with the wither. Her nose is slightly ahead of the vertical and her chest muscles are engaged to lift the wither up.
Balanced neutral position.
Can you see how this position helps the naturally gaited horse develop the top line muscles in relaxation, rhythm, and better balance? Can you see how this positions the full body to produce quality smooth gaits?
Three keys to developing the top line muscles for quality smooth gaits:
1) Step deeper under the belly with each hind leg step. The hindquarters of the naturally gaited horse should under its belly and under the weight of the rider. The hind leg step should be MORE under the belly than trailing behind its tail. Encourage your horse to take relaxed, forward steps without rushing. Ideally, the hind leg footprint should over track the fore footprint.
Here’s my naturally gaited and barefoot Tennessee walking horse performing a smooth evenly timed, four beat flat walk with a head nod. The hind leg steps beneath me.
2) Teach your horse to extend its head and neck out while maintaining chest posture. While building the top line muscles, allow your horse to stretch forward, out and down, but no lower than the poll at wither height. If your horse’s head and neck position get too low, the pectoral muscles collapse, the horse drops the wither, and the horse travels on the forehand out of balance and will trip more often. This is why, lower in motion isn’t better.
This is a great example of a neck extension at a flat walk. My horse is engaged, lifting her back, stretching out, forward, and down at chest level with an even snaffle bit contact.
3) Warm up and cool down with a quality stretch. Beginning and ending a riding session with a big, stretchy, relaxed walk that encourages the horse to engage the hindquarter and step deeper under its belly; activate its abdominal muscles to lift its back to a neutral position, and extend its head and neck out and down, but no lower than the poll at the height of the wither, with many moments of stretch throughout a riding session, are a great practice. This is especially helpful for older horses and horses that are stiff or out of shape.
4) Ride your horse through lots of transitions between a balanced position into moments of a stretched position. In dressage, riding lots of transitions within a state of relaxation is most beneficial, because transitions help the horse develop balance. This includes transitions between gait, transitions between exercises, transitions of direction, and transitions of frame within a gait, such as from a neutral posture to a top line stretch for a moment and back. Think of riding your naturally gaited horse like playing an accordion.
IMPORTANT: Don’t stay in a stretched position for long periods of time or you’ll condition your horse’s muscle memory to travel on the forehand. Instead give your horse lots of stretch breaks throughout your ride. Instead of 30-40 minutes of stretching at a time, take 30-40 short stretch breaks during your riding session. A stretch is a great way to reward your horse and help your horse relax while developing the top line muscles. If you would like to let your horse stretch to the ground, do this at a halt instead of in motion. In fact, there are many in-hand exercises you can do with your horse at a halt to help your horse develop its top line.
Most importantly, ride your horse in a posture of balance predominantly through your session with lots of transitions to a relaxed stretch. This builds the top line muscles while rewarding and relaxing the horse. The duration of this stretching can be as long as riding the long side of the arena.
Riding lots and lots of transitions between a balanced posture and a stretch posture, without getting too low, and only for short durations, builds your horse’s full range of motion.
Neck extension to develop top line muscles
As you can see, developing the top line muscles of the naturally gaited horse is more than just lowering the head and neck. Developing the top line muscles is a full body activity. It includes stepping under the rider with the hind leg steps, activating the abdominal muscles to lift the back, and maintaining chest posture through the stretch by not letting the horse’s head and neck get too low.
Watch: Cues to Neck Extension
Teach your horse a neck extension using these easy steps.
Chest posture is key
Now that I am aware of balance, and the importance of chest posture through the stretch in motion, I position the horse’s head and neck where the poll (place between its ears) is no lower than the wither height. This helps the horse extend and stretch the top line muscles (and spine), while helping to maintain posture in the chest, shoulder, and wither without collapsing.
Why a balanced position?
If dressage training is meant to help the horse become more balanced, why would you develop your horse’s muscle memory on the forehand by riding in a long and low frame for prolonged periods of time?
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk in a balanced position.
It’s like changing posture after you’ve developed the habit of slouching. It is not easy to retrain a horse to be in balance if it has learned to traveling on the forehand.
When the horse learns to carry its head and neck more over its body mass, the lighter it is for the horse to carry, and the easier it is for the horse to be in balance. That is why it is so important to teach the horse balance using in hand exercises. The horse learns to carry its own head and neck (not lean on the rider’s hands).
There is a HUGE difference between the horse learning to carry its head and neck in balance position and accept a light contact with a snaffle bit versus a rider PULLING the horse’s head and neck back into a headset with fixed hands, especially when riding with a shank bit and sitting in a chair seat.
The former teaches balance and self-carriage, and latter forces the horse into a ewe neck and hollow back, and the horse learns bit resistance instead of bit acceptance.
Helping the rider teach top line muscle development to the gaited horse
IMPORTANT: The steps below are meant to help the rider develop the aids and application of a top line stretch, not to convey that the full duration and every riding session is exclusive ridden in a stretched posture that builds the top line muscles.
Instead, train your horse predominantly in a posture of balance with lots of transitions between balance and moments of top line stretches after balance is achieved. Instead of riding 30-40 minutes in a stretched position, ride 30-40 minutes with 30-40 transitions from a balanced position to a stretched position and back. If you ride predominantly in a top line stretching position, you’ll condition your horse’s muscle memory to travel on the forehand.
1) Position. Start at a walk and encourage your horse to move forward and extend its head and neck out so that the poll (place between the horse’s ears) is no lower than the wither (the bump in front of the saddle) height. I prefer to do this on a 20-meter circle for the purpose of stretching the outside muscles and strengthening the inside hind leg as it steps under the body.
2) Develop feeling and awareness. Begin to notice and feel the belly sway with each hind leg step; this will help you become aware of the timing of your aids. Begin to follow (not drive) this belly sway with each hip joint and gently follow with a relaxed lower back and relaxed arms and hands as the horse’s head and neck nod.
3) Engaged and forward without rushing. Encourage the horse to step under its belly with each hind leg in a forward without rushing tempo. Try to feel where that hind leg is placed under its body. Can you feel the hind leg step under your seat? or does it feel like the horse is pulling itself along by the shoulders more that stepping under with the hind leg steps?
If the horse needs to step deeper with the hind leg steps, you can cluck the moment you feel the belly sway down on the inside of the circle. This encourages that hind leg to step deeper at the opportune time. If the horse doesn’t respond with a deeper step under the body, then you can cluck and press and release your calf into the side of the girth the next moment the belly sway goes down. Timing is key.
If the horse is still not responding with a deeper step (and you know that it is able to do more) then apply a tap of a dressage whip to that side as you apply your calf press and release and cluck the next moment the belly sway goes down. Again, timing is key.
4) Most important, stop cueing as soon as your horse responds. If you cue repeatedly the horse will begin to ignore your aids instead of listening to them. The goal is to help your horse learn to respond to the first and lightest cue.
5) Reverse directions and do the same. If the horse seems to struggle in one direction more than the other, it is likely that the outside muscles are stiffer. Make sure you travel in the more difficult direction twice as much as the easy direction in order to produce an equally flexible horse. This is why circles are used so much in dressage versus straight lines. Circles create straightness (symmetry) in the horse, because it helps the horse become more ambidextrous.
6) Start slow and increase tempo gradually. After your horse has developed relaxation, balance, rhythm, and engagement in a free walk, then you can help your horse build its top line muscles in a smooth gait or a trot on cue.
My naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady in a quality, balanced fox trot with contact.
7) Trot on cue has benefits for the hard pacing horse. If the horse tends to pace or lacks engagement from behind, it is helpful to encourage trotting on cue in a stretched frame to build the top line. Naturally gaited horses can learntrot on cue, and it can improve the quality of the natural smooth gait.
Why? The trot is a diagonal foot fall sequence, and the pace is a lateral foot fall sequence. The trot can help the horse break up the pace. A quality trot on cue can also help the horse engage more from behind and that engagement can improve the quality of smooth gait on cue.
Here is my naturally gaited fox-trotting mare, Lady in a quality trot on cue to help her engage her hindquarter and abdominal muscles to step deeper under her body.
8) Free lunging. You can also help your horse build its top line by free lunging in a round pen or lunging on a long line. It is common for a naturally gaited horse to trot without the weight of a rider. Many do in the pasture, also. Do not worry, trot will not ruin their natural smooth gaits. Horses are smart enough to learn multiple gaits on cue. It is important that you are the one directing the gait and not the horse. That is the key.
Here is my naturally gaited fox-trotting mare, Lady in a quality trot on cue while free lunging in a round pen.
Free walk on a long rein
If dressage is in your wheelhouse, then developing the top line will improve your free walk on a long rein. This is a required movement in gaited dressage tests. The rider must maintain a light, even and steady contact with the snaffle bit and follow the natural motion of the head and neck.
Free walk on a long rein with following hands and a light contact with a snaffle bit.
Natural Smooth Gait on a Loose Rein
For those of you trail riders who prefer to ride on a floppy rein, these exercises also help to improve self-carriage in gait. It is important that your horse is relaxed and balanced before releasing the horse to a long rein. If the horse loses balance, collect the reins, re-establish balance and release again.
Here’s my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana on a loose rein in running walk. Before I release the contact, I make sure she is in balance. The release is the reward to self-carriage. If she falls out of balance, I re-collect the contact to establish balance and release to a loose rein again.
Remember that building the top line muscles of the naturally gaited horse is a full body activity. It is more than just lowering the head and neck. While many of us may be focused on smooth, think about quality smooth, less tripping, and the longevity of your riding partner by riding your horse in balance by training your naturally gaited horse in balance with lots and lots of transitions to a top line stretch.
In an unexpected turn of events, Gift of Freedom (Makana) found her way to the Three Ring Circus schooling show held at Carriage House Farm in Hugo, MN on May 28, 2012 and sponsored by St. Croix Saddlery.
And how’s that, you ask? Well, I woke up at 5am to give Indy, my six-year-old Spanish Mustang a bath before his second schooling dressage show, when I noticed a gash under his chin where the bridle would fasten. “Oh, crap!” I thought as I cleaned up his wound. Then I wondered if the show manager would let me switch horses as long as we rode the tests we had entered. Being 5:30am and our first class at 7:58am with an hour drive time, I took the gamble and cleaned up the other horse I have a current coggins on: Gift of Freedom. The only problem is that Makana doesn’t trot and this is a large trotting horse show.
“Oh, well,” I thought, “we’ll go for the experience.” So I quickly got Makana ready, and we were on our way to the largest show I’ve ever been to—over 200 horses entered. Makana rode in place of Indy in Intro A, B, and C dressage tests with 24 horse/rider teams in each category. We drew a lot of attention as the only horse that didn’t trot, and as a result, I had several great conversations with people about gaited horses and dressage training.
I even met one family who’s daughter shows their Tennessee walking horse at a trot and has done very well at recognized shows. She said her horse’s trot is super smooth. Now that would be ideal, a smooth trotting horse. Compare that to my warmblood who practically sends me to the chiropractor every time I ride him! So if you have a Walker that trots, maybe traditional dressage shows are in your future. Gaited dressage clinician Bucky Sparks says his Walking horse stallion can trot on cue without it disrupting the flat walk and running walk, so I know it is possible to train a horse to trot and gait. As for me, I bought a gaited horse to gait and a trotting horse to trot.
We had terrific weather for the show. The Carriage House Farm facility is top-class with dust-free rubberized footing in the indoor and well-drained ag-lime footing outdoors. The show was extremely well organized for the number of trailers transporting over 200 horses and hundreds of cars filled with spectators. Amazing!
Makana seemed to enjoy being there as much as I did. I giggle because we had skipped Intro level when we began showing at dressage schooling shows a couple years ago. Now we are schooling second level and here we were showing Intro level. Makana did the best she could. After the first ride, the judge commented, “I have no idea how to judge your tests because you didn’t show a trot.” After our last ride she commented, “Nicely ridden. That’s a very nice, obedient, supple gaited horse.”
We finished all tests in the 53-56%-range and about middle of the score board—not bad for a horse that doesn’t trot!
Gift of Freedom and Jennifer Klitzke were the only gaiting gaited duo among a hundred entries at the Three Ring Circus Schooling Show held Sunday, May 28, 2012.
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.
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