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Balance for Gaited Horses

Neck Extension vs Long & Low for the Naturally Gaited Horse

neck extension vs long and low for the naturally gaited horse

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:

  1. 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.
  2. In this long and low position, the horse’s chest muscles (pectoral and shoulder muscles) are collapsed and not lifting the horse in balance
  3. 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.

Philippe-Karl-Legerete-DVDs-video-camera
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 exercises that 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

Neck extension at a flat walk
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.
Balanced foxtrot
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.
Long and Low on the forehand
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.
My naturally gaited fox trotting horse Lady showing a neck extension
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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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Research Proves Chest Muscles Key for Balance & Collection

Research proves importance of developing the chest muscles for balance and collection

Research by Dr. Hilary Clayton proves the chest muscles are a key to balance and collection. What does this mean for the naturally gaited horse?

Research Proves the Importance of the Chest Muscles for Balance & Collection

By Jennifer Klitzke

The article: Equine Biomechanics Research the Significance of a Horses Chest Sling Muscles has opened my eyes of awareness! This research by highly credentialed veterinarian Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS spans over 40 years of collecting data on gait analysis for dressage horses, most recently in the McPhail Equine Performance Center at Michigan State University where she conducted studies to evaluate a horse’s body during collection.

Dr. Clayton is not only an accomplished research veterinarian. She knows the how’s and why’s of collection and balance from the inside out. Dr. Clayton is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist, which requires showing through the Grand Prix level.

“I’ve been studying equine biomechanics for over 40 years,” said Dr. Clayton. “And I am convinced that understanding the action of the horse’s sling muscles and the role of the forelimbs are crucial to understanding the mechanics of self-carriage in the dressage horse.”

Awakening to the Biomechanics of Balance

I dreamed of owning a horse from the time I was three. Then in 1988, when my career could support a horse, I became the proud owner of a five-year-old Trakehner/ thoroughbred gelding named Seili. Dressage became my passion and study. Seili’s lofty trot was far from smooth, yet I learned to ride and show him as an adult amateur dressage rider/trainer.

Seili first recognized show

Dressage taught me to stretch my horse’ top line, engage the hindquarters, and encourage my horse to step deeper under the belly at a trot as the energy carried through the body to the bit.

Seili and I did lots and lots of long and low trotting on a 20-meter circle to strengthen his top line muscles. As an adult amateur dressage rider/trainer, it took us several years to move from Training Level to First Level and then Second Level.

Several years of long and low didn’t prepare us for Second Level

Second Level dressage is when the horse demonstrates collection and balance through movements as the shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk pirouettes, and transitions between collected and medium gaits.

Several years of long and low didn’t teach us collection and balance. Several years of long and low taught us to travel on the forehand. Second Level was like starting our training all over again.

It took a couple more years of schooling Second Level before Seili and I were ready to show Second Level. The exercises of shoulder-in, haunches-in, walk pirouette, and transitions between gaits did their job to develop balance and collection. All along I had thought my horse become lighter and more balanced because I had engaged the hindquarters to step deeper under the belly with the hind legs, activate the abdominal muscles to lift the back and raise the wither. Then capture the energy through his body to the bit.

Yet it never occurred to me these balancing exercises activated the shoulder and pectoral muscles.

The chest muscles were never talked about: Not in my lessons, not in the clinics I attended, not in the books I read, not in the videos I watched.

My Trakehner/Thoroughbred and I began schooling Third Level dressage before his age took over, and we dropped out of competition. When Seili reached his mid 20s, I began searching for another horse.

Bumpy to Smooth Gaits

Seili’s bumpy trot made me long for a smoother ride. That’s when I began my search for a naturally smooth gaited horse.

On a cold February day, a just turning three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse named Makana met me at the fence and warmed my heart. She became my first smooth gaited horse on Valentine’s Day 2007.

I applied the dressage principles I had learned with my new gaited horse. We did lots of long and low on a 20-meter circle at a walk and flat walk to develop her top line muscles. I encouraged her to step deeper under her body to increase her depth of stride.

second thoughts about long and low
shoulder in

As Makana matured, I began balancing exercises as the shoulder-in, haunches-in, rein back, and transitions between the smooth gaits.

Then I learned of a DVD by Lisa Maxwell: Getting Started with Lightness: The French Classical Dressage of Francois Baucher as taught by Jean Claude Racinet presented by one of his students Lisa Maxwell. This DVD introduced the counted walk—something I had never heard of before.

Jean Claude Racinet's book and Lisa Maxwell's DVD
Jean 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.

When I began teaching the counted walk to my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is when I began to FEEL balance like I had never felt before. Balance feels like she is lowering behind, rounding her back beneath me, and lifting her wither, neck and head while lightening her forehand.

counted walk

shoulder in on a circle with a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
Lateral exercises at a slow collected walk help the naturally gaited horse develop balance.

Still, all along, I believed that lightening the forehand and raising the wither were due to the engaging the hindquarters. Yes, this is part of the equation, but Dr. Clayton’s research opened my eyes. The important role the shoulder and pectoral muscles play in collection and balance is as much of an epiphany to me as it must have been to people who learned that the world was round, not flat!

Over 30 years of dressage study never taught the importance of engaging the shoulder and pectoral muscles in order to raise the wither and lighten the forehand until Dr. Clayton’s research proves it.

Now I know WHY the shoulder-in, shoulder-out, rein back, and counted walk are so effective in developing balance and collection. Now I know why I FEEL balance and collection during these exercises, because they activate the very muscles that lift the wither and lighten the forehand. 

What does Dr. Clayton’s research mean for the naturally gaited horse?

Thanks to Dr. Clayton I have new eyes of awareness as I ride and train my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, and fox trotting horse, Lady.

Do you have a gaited horse that feels heavy on the forehand, like riding in a car with no suspension in front as your horse pounds the ground with their front feet? Does your horse lean heavy in your hands?

Well, I did. That’s my naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady.

Long and low on the forehand
Here is my naturally gaited fox trotting horse, Lady, in a long and low position. While she is relaxed, she is disengaged from behind (not stepping deep under the body), has a hollow back and collapsed pectoral muscles. She is not effectively developing the top line muscles in the position, she is traveling on the forehand, and behind the bit.

Bit problem or posture problem

I had been conditioned to think “back to front” in my dressage riding. Before learning about Dr. Clayton’s research, I had been trying to engage Lady from behind to lighten the forehand. Lady’s response: rush quicker and get heavier in my hands. Not the result I hoped for. So I tried all kinds of bits. Same result.

Dr. Clayton’s research helped me notice when Lady gets heavy in my hands, it is because she is heavy on the forehand. Why? Lady had slouching chest muscles. Lady didn’t have a bit problem. She had a posture problem. It’s like Lady had a flat tire in her chest. Once I began to inflate her flat tire with chest-engaging exercises, Lady became lighter in my hands and more balanced.

2024 Lady pelham shoulder-in on a circle

Dr. Clayton’s research proves to me the answer lies in chest-engaging exercises to help Lady find balance and collection. Anytime Lady feels heavy in my hands, I transition her to exercises like the shoulder-in on a small circle and shoulder-out, pivot the fore, counted walk, or rein back.

These exercises activate Lady’s shoulder and pectoral muscles while they also engage the hindquarters and abdominal muscles. The result of engaging Lady’s chest-engaging exercises: she becomes more balanced, lighter in my hand, and lighter on the forehand.

Rein back
The rein back engages the hindquarters and abdominal muscles to lift the back and engaging the chest muscles raises the wither.

Whether you ride a naturally smooth gaited horse or a non-gaited trotting horse, Dr. Clayton’s research about chest muscles for developing balance can help you no matter what stage of dressage training your horse is at.

2021 Lady's smooth gait with contact
Lady’s smooth gait today has more balance and lightness.

Learn more about Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Many thanks to Dr. Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, FRCVS for her equine research that can help us improve our horse’s quality of balanced movement.

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

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Gaited Horse Training

Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle

starting a gaited horse under saddle

Starting a gaited horse under saddle began with developing a relationship of relaxation and communication from the ground up!

Sixty rides later, it’s paying off!

Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle

By Jennifer Klitzke

My five main points to starting a young gaited horse:

  1. Mental and physical relaxation
  2. Breaking training down into short learning sessions
  3. Rewarding every good thing
  4. Developing a relationship of trust and respect
  5. Consistent communication: verbal cues, body cues, rewards, use of equipment

Mental and Physical Relaxation

With each horse I work with of any age, relaxation is the key. Relaxation of mind and body. A relaxed mind is a teachable mind. I help the horse focus on me and our training instead of being worried about distractions around us. A relaxed body is a trainable body and able to produce quality smooth gaits.

Most importantly, relaxation begins with me. I need to be relaxed in my mind and body in order to lead my horse into relaxation. This is helpful when working with a young untrained horse or whenever in the saddle.

Defining Relaxation and Why Relaxation is Important for the Gaited Horse

It is important to note that relaxation does not mean lazy, dull or shut down. Relaxation means the absence of tension and anxiety in both me and the horse. Horses learn best from a relaxed handler and in a relaxed state of mind. A horse’s best quality smooth gaits are produced in a posture of relaxation.

Noticing the signs of tension

Whenever the horse becomes tense, I redirect the horse’s focus, slow down or stop and regain relaxation. When a horse is tense, they often raise their head and neck, hollow their back, their whole body becomes tight, they hold their breath, they are tight lipped, their eyes grow worried, and their attention is fixed on what is causing the tension. In this state, the horse is not listening and not trainable. In a posture of tension, a gaited horse often paces, pace canters, or hard trots. These are the rough gaits we don’t want, right? That’s why relaxation of mind and body are key to training the naturally gaited horse.

pace riding two handed with curb contact
2009: Here’s my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, and me early in our training. We struggled with pace as shown above. Notice the spurs, riding two handed with low, fixed hands using a curb bit. Does my Tennessee walking horse look relaxed in the mouth, jaw and body? Tension leads to pace. Relaxation leads to smooth gait.

There are many ways I help a horse relax, such as teaching them to draw their attention back to me, lowering their head and neck to a neutral position, breathing, chewing and swallowing, and relaxing their mouth and lower jaw. Beginning this education from the ground from the lunge line or in hand builds a great foundation of relaxation with lots of rewards for every good thing.

flat walk
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time.
Pictured is the same horse at the age of 19.

Keeping Training Sessions Short

With a young horse, their attention span is short, and they are easily distracted. Knowing this, I break down training into small progressive steps with ongoing reminders to draw the horse’s attention back to me any time it drifts off.

I have been working with Marvel about 20 minutes, three days in a row with one day off. During our sessions, when Marvel responds to a cue, I will immediately praise with a voice aid like, “yes, good boy,” and stop and give him a treat. I reward him for every good thing. Then we repeat an exercise a couple times with a reward in between.

Developing an ambidextrous horse

If we are working an exercise in one direction, we switch directions and do the same exercise. This is super important. Most horses are like people in that they are born right-handed or left-handed. Horses can be trained to be ambidextrous over time. Ideally, work the less developed direction twice as much as the easy direction. This will help the gaited horse develop more even strides.

Rewarding Every Good Thing

Encouragement goes a long way with people, and it does the same with horses. A young, green horse has a lot to learn. Marvel is learning a new language, so it is my job to be clear and consistent day after day.

I used body cues by bringing my energy up and down, verbal cues, “Yes, good boy,” and rewards, treats, and breaks with moments of letting the horse rest in relaxation.

Later in training, I will introduce the snaffle bit to help the horse accept contact and follow a light contact. Then when we begin saddle training, I will add leg, seat and weight aids.

introducing the bridle
After the gaited horse is no longer leaning on the bit and is tasting the bit, I invite the horse forward and out to stretch the topline and spine. Then release and reward.
Learn More: Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit
Lunging a gaited horse
Learn More: Lunging a Gaited Horse
introducing the saddle and bridle
Introducing the gaited horse to the saddle and bridle.
April 2022 introducing weight
Introducing the mounting block.

I used the mounting block in our sessions together to get Marvel used to me being taller than him and hearing my voice above him. Then I began laying my arm around him and placing weight on his back.

Access Physical Development

After establishing a relationship of relaxation and a consistent communication system, the next priority before saddle training begins is to access whether Marvel is physically developed to carry a rider.

During the first six months Marvel was at our place, he has grown and put on a hundred pounds. He will be four years old in June. I decided to wait until the snow and ice melted before I started Marvel under saddle. I began his saddle training in May, just a month shy of his fourth birthday.

First time in saddle

First time in the saddle

Six months of groundwork and work in hand led to saddle training with my soon to be 4-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse. For our first time in the saddle, I wanted Marvel to get a sense of my voice and weight on his back before I got off.

I used a mild snaffle bit and a bareback pad. This made it easier for me to gradually get on by adding my weight over his wither, then move my knee onto his back, then my leg and foot to the other side slowly while watching how he handled it, and then I moved into position onto his back. It sure felt great to be on his back! I sat on his back a couple minutes and quietly dismounted.

Second time in saddle with first steps

Second time in the saddle

On my second time in the saddle, I repeated the same slow process of getting on using the bareback pad. Then I asked Marvel to take his first steps with me on his back. Wobble. Wobble. Good boy! It was a short ride, only a couple minutes.

Third time in saddle moving hindquarters and shoulders

Third time in the saddle

On our third time in the saddle, I again repeated the slow process of getting on using the bareback pad and then asked Marvel to move his hindquarters and his shoulders. We doubled our time in the saddle. What a good boy!

Fourth Ride, First Time with a Saddle

Fourth time in the saddle (in a saddle)

On our fourth ride, I added the saddle now that Marvel understands the concept of me being on his back. I don’t need to get on in steps like I did with the bareback pad. Since Marvel feels like I’m riding a water balloon, it is easier to maintain stability in a saddle with stirrups.

In this fourth ride, I asked Marvel to move forward. It is clear that I need to clearly separate my connection with the bridle when I ask for forward promptings of the leg. It is confusing if I combine a light contact of the bridle with the request to move forward. By separating the rein and leg aids helps Marvel move forward much easier.

Each ride we have increased our time in the saddle over the previous ride.

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Gallery: Starting a Gaited Horse under Saddle

First time in saddle
Second time in saddle
Second time in saddle
Third time in saddle
Third time in saddle
Fourth time in saddle
Fourth time in saddle
Fifth time in saddle
Sixth time in saddle
Sixth time in saddle
Seventh time in saddle
Ninth time in saddle
12th ride
12th time in saddle
starting a gaited horse under saddle 16th ride
Marvel and I riding in the large outdoor arena for the first time on our 16th ride.
What a good boy!
Video: 20th Ride: Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle
Relaxed Forwardness Between Hands & Legs

Marvel has had thirty-one rides in the last 10 weeks. Our last ride was our first time experiencing his smooth natural flat walk!

Video: 31st Ride: Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle
First Peek at Smooth Gait
Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle (Ride 42) Recap of Progress

A good trail ride is in order if I can find someone to be the lead.

Oh, horse whisperer?

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.

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.

Balance for Gaited Horses

Second Thoughts About Long And Low

Second Thoughts about Long and Low for the Naturally Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

A long and low free walk is a great way to break up pace for the gaited horse. Just make sure you begin with relaxation and balance to maximize your efforts.

Long and low or free walk on a long rein

Dressage is a form of training where the rider communicates with the horse using rein, leg, and seat aids to lead the horse into relaxation, balance, and forward movement without rushing, as well as symmetry and flexibility over time to develop the horse’s full range of motion and quality gaits for long term soundness.

In dressage there are many expressions within a gait. Long and low or free walk on a long rein is one of those expressions. The free walk is a required movement during all dressage tests—Introductory through Advanced.

A quality free walk shows the horse in a state of relaxation. The horse stretches forward, out and down with the head and neck into a light contact with the snaffle bit. The rider follows the natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms and follows the belly sway of the horse with relaxed hip joints. The horse walks with even rhythm, deep steps with each the hind leg under the belly for length of stride and over track.

Long and low or free walk on a long rein has many benefits for the naturally gaited horse:

  • The free walk is an evenly timed four beat gait that helps break up the laterally timed pace
  • The free walk stretches the spine and develops the top line muscles of the horse
  • The free walk develops rhythm and even strides which are foundational qualities in developing quality gaits
  • The free walk improves depth of stride and length of stride as the horse reaches beneath its belly with each hind leg step and over tracks the fore footprint
  • The lowered head and neck position of the free walk stimulates endorphins and relaxes the horse
  • Relaxation of the back reduces tension to aid in smoother gait
  • The free walk is a great way to begin and end every ride with a many stretch breaks within a riding session

A balanced riding position and horse balance

I’ve had the great privilege of auditing and riding with well-known clinicians who travel to my region. One of which is international riding bio-mechanics coach Mary Wanless. She challenges riders to become aware of their balanced riding position. While she teaches riders of trotting horses, the principles of rider position and balance also apply to naturally gaited horses.

Jennifer Klitzke riding at a Mary Wanless Clinic
Jennifer Klitzke riding her Spanish Mustang at a Mary Wanless Clinic and getting established in the A,B,Cs of riding biomechanics.

Long and low but not too low

The study of French dressage pulled back another layer of awareness for me with my gaited horses. It helped me see the difference between just letting my horse lower its head and neck as low as possible to lowering the head and neck while maintaining balance. French dressage helped me recognize that the free walk is a full body activity. You see, long and low is not beneficial if the horse in on the forehand and disengaged from behind.

French dressage encourages a neutral neck extension position instead of as low as the horse can go. A neck extension can be done at a walk, trot, or flat walk. It allows the horse a maximum stretch of the top line muscles and spine by allowing the horse to stretch out its head and neck, forward, out and down, but no lower than the poll at wither height. This helps the horse maintain more chest posture and balance.

The feeling of balance and its application for the naturally gaited horse

FEI dressage rider Heather Blitz describes the feeling of balance using this metaphor. While riding, imagine if your horse had a medicine ball which freely moves around its insides. Where does the weight of the medicine ball feel like it sits most? Does it feel like it rests in the horse’s chest or beneath your seat? The former indicates that the horse is more on the forehand and the latter indicates that the horse is more in balance with the rider.

Long and low in balance

Now think about long and low. If I were to release my horse into a long and low frame while her balance feels like the medicine ball is in her chest, what quality of free walk would we produce? My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse would be traveling on the forehand, right? She would be pulling herself forward with her front legs, chest muscles collapsed, and her hind legs would be disengaged with shorter strides. This means her hind leg steps would trail behind her tail more than step deep beneath her body and create less over track with the fore hoof prints.

Now that I’ve become aware of how it feels when my horse is in and out of balance, it is important establish her balance BEFORE releasing the reins to a free walk on a long rein.

dressage for the gaited horse and rider
The yellow lines show balanced alignment. The horse’s foreleg is perpendicular with the ground while the yellow and green lines at the tail shows how much of the hind step is under the body and planted under the rider. The center yellow line shows a balanced riding position over the horse’s center of gravity.

The feeling of balance

This medicine ball metaphor has helped me discover the feeling of balance and what to do when I lose it. Each time it feels like the medicine ball rolls into my horse’s chest, I begin with a half halt or transition from walk to halt to walk. If the medicine ball still feels like it is in my horse’s chest, then I transition from walk to halt, take a couple steps of rein back until I feel the medicine ball roll beneath my seat. Then in a feeling of balance, I encourage my horse to take the reins long and low into a free walk. I feel her hind legs step deeply beneath her belly beneath my riding position.

Free walk on a long rein is a great way to break up pace for a natural, four-beat, smooth gait. It also improves depth of stride, length of stride, rhythm and relaxation. Just remember to establish balance before releasing the reins to maximize your efforts.

Watch: A Balanced Free walk on a Long Rein

Free walk on a long rein in a balanced position.

Watch: A Balanced Free walk on a Loose Rein

Free walk on a loose rein in a balanced position.

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