A year ago, I acquired a three-year-old unstarted gaited horse thanks to the help of a friend. Today this four-year-old and I are riding dressage solo through the woods. Here’s a review of this colt’s first year under saddle with dressage.
A Year in Review: Dressage with an Unstarted Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Mary and I have been horse friends for many years. Then COVID closed the world and drew everyone apart. The internet helped us stay connected, at least 1D. It is hard to ride horses that way, though. Thankfully, my horses are near.
Only, my horses are getting up in age. So are we, according to my husband.
While my husband has been set on downsizing and golf courses, I am way too young for retirement. I know many who still ride non-gaited and smooth gaited horses into their senior years. That means I’ve got at least one more horse to raise. After all, whacking a ball with a stick hasn’t been my gig. (Dreams of gaiting the manicured greens, on the other hand, that’s my jam!)
“No. No. No!” Said my husband every time I brought up the idea of another horse.
On October 7, 2021, “No. No. No!” didn’t stop me. I went to see him anyway. His name was Marvel, a three-year-old, unstarted Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse gelding. I had a feeling about him. It became an even stronger feeling when I saw him. Kind of like seeing the puppy at the Humane Society, only x 10.
Just how would I convince my husband to change his mind?!
Meanwhile, my Facebook activity tipped off Mary. Likes and comments about horse rescues and rehoming gaited horses caught her eye. Unaware of my husband’s resistance, she offered to help with the rehoming fee. Turns out, her willingness to help, was enough to sway my husband’s “No. No. No!” to “yes.”
Elated, Marvel arrived October 16, 2021. It would be up to me now to prove this decision was worth pushing off his downsizing golf course retirement dreams.
Marvel(ous) Milestones
Recap of our first year starting a gaited horse under saddle with dressage
Introducing the bridle and working in hand helped Marvel learn to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact while learning stretching exercises at a halt and then in hand at a walk. This became excellent preparation for saddle training. Learn More: Introducing the Bridle and Working In Hand
Marvel and I learn communication through lunging. First with a halter and lunge line, then with a snaffle bit and halter, then with a saddle no stirrups, bit and halter. Later we added the stirrups. Learn more: Lunging a Gaited Horse
Six months of lunging and in-hand training a gaited horse paid off when I began saddle training. Pictured is my first time sitting on Marvel’s back. Learn More: Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle
Fun to visit with Mary and watch her and Marvel interact.
Working the walk to develop quality smooth gait.
Marvel enjoys exploring. (Thank you, Mary for taking this beautiful photo of us!)
My husband has witnessed the joy Marvel has brought the last year and realizes he doesn’t have to live on a golf course to golf (and we can push back retirement for another day)!
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:
Mental and physical relaxation
Breaking training down into short learning sessions
Rewarding every good thing
Developing a relationship of trust and respect
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.
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.
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.
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
Introducing the gaited horse to the saddle and bridle.
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.
First time in saddleSecond time in saddleThird time in saddleFourth time in saddleFifth time in saddleSixth time in saddleSeventh time in saddleNinth time in saddle12th time in saddle
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.
I finally found a young gaited horse. Just where do I start with training? How fast do I bring the horse along? What age is best for starting a gaited horse under saddle?
Here’s my story…
It has been a thrill getting to know my three-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse/Spotted Saddle Horse gelding, Marvel. He’s been at my place for a few weeks. In this time, I’ve come to know Marvel as an observant, curious, bold, friendly, intelligent, sensitive, responsive, expressive, humorous, and game for anything (so far anyway) youngster.
Some horses make me smile! (Okay, maybe all horses, but some make me laugh!)
Trailering Home
Back to the day we picked Marvel up. He had never been in a trailer. Opportunity #1: starting an unbroke gaited horse. We planned to take our time. Relaxation was the key. No pulling or forcing. Just asking and rewarding.
We tried many approaches to trailer loading:
Loading his dam into the trailer since Marvel had a great relationship with her
Leading Marvel into the trailer by walking ahead of him to give him confidence
Walking next to him and letting him walk himself
Encouraging Marvel to lower his head and neck and sniff the ramp, and placing one foot on the ramp and rewarding him; then placing his other front foot on the ramp and rewarding him; we got stalled there
Taking a big loop and walking forward into the trailer
Using a crop to encourage forwardness into the trailer; the crop was new to him, so I clucked first; if no response, I clucked and tapped on his hindquarter and as soon as he stepped forward I ceased the cluck and tap
Using a lunge line behind and around him to encourage him into the trailer
Bringing down the energy, using grain as a motivator, and step by step, slowly and surely that did the trick. It seemed that Marvel had to choose for himself to load into the trailer. He wasn’t going to BE loaded. So trailer loading will be something to work on at home.
Once loaded, Marvel trailered quietly for his journey to his new home
Breaking a Horse or Starting a Horse
Okay, so after a few weeks. Is Marvel broke yet? In what way? For me as a passionate dressage rider/trainer, there are many steps along the way to being broke. I am fortunate in that Marvel was family raised from birth, just like Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse mare. To me, being handled since birth makes training easier.
At three, Marvel has a short attention span. Knowing his personality, his age, and stage of training, I like starting a gaited horse by breaking it down into simple 10-minute sessions of learning until we are both ready for the time my seat meets the saddle.
Starting a gaited horse begins with many introductions.
Introducing Marvel to:
His new home and new friends over the fence
Where the water is
Coming into the barn at feeding time and into a stall
Getting acclimated to the herd and establishing the pecking order
Coming when called
Being free lunged
Being haltered and led
Being cross tied
Letting me trim his feet
Being bridled
Learning to accept snaffle bit contact and follow the hands
Marvel at his new home with his new friends (though he matches perfectly!)
Then Marvel learned about being cross tied.
And Marvel experienced being bridled for the first time.
Introducing the Bridle
I introduced the bridle to Marvel in the same way I have with every horse I have worked with. Watch this short video about bridling a horse the easy way.
10-23-21. In this video, an unbroke 3-year-old gaited horse, a TWH / SSH, gets an introduction to the bit and basic flexions.
Once bridled, I began teaching balance, relaxation, flexions side to side, and neck extension. These exercises teach him to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact and to stretch his outside neck muscles and top line. All of these exercises will be transferred to the saddle one day.
11-14-21: In this video, an unbroke 3-year-old gaited horse, a TWH / SSH, learns the next phase of flexions that introduce following contact.
Teaching the horse balance and not to lean on the hands of the rider.
Neck extensions to the side teach the horse to follow the contact out and down and stretch the outside neck muscles.
Relationship of Relaxation
For me, building a relationship of relaxation with Marvel is the number one most important priority right now. I want to help Marvel look to me as a trusted leader. I learned early on with Makana at gaited horsemanship clinics with Larry Whitesell, that a horse will look to the rider for leadership, and if the horse doesn’t trust that leadership, it will take matters unto its own and fight or flight.
In addition to introductions to the cross ties and bridle, I began free lunging Marvel in the round pen both directions; yielding the haunches, encouraging him to turn towards me and halt.
Examples of building relationship through communication:
Creating a relationship that encourages relaxation (mind and body) no matter the distractions around us
Being aware of where his attention is while we are together and using create ways to draw his attention back to me
Establishing consistent body language and verbal cues are important while I work with him
Becoming aware of Marvel’s response to my request and body language; do I need to increase or decrease the ask with my levels of excitement or sense of calm to either motivate or relax and reward him
Marvel is so keen, aware, and sensitive to my body language. This is telling to how he will be under saddle. I have been training horses using dressage for over thirty years and have started a couple youngsters Marvel’s age.
How long will it take before my seat reaches the saddle? Not soon enough if you ask me, but I am only half the relationship. Some people start young horses at the end of their second year, give them the winter off and begin saddle training at three. Others wait until the horse is physically more mature and start them at four. Marvel turned three in June. Since I just brought him home, I want Marvel to be physically ready, for us to have a solid relationship of communication, and both of us to be mentally prepared.
Lunging a gaited horse.
Lunging a Gaited Horse: Our next progression of training including our first seven video sessions from halter to saddle and bridle.
Marvel enjoys following us around. Just look at the hind leg stride difference between Marvel and Lady. I think Marvel will have some nice moves under saddle. What do you think?
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
I was beginning to wonder if I would be retiring with my smooth gaited horses, Lady and Makana when a few unexpected blessings showed up just in the nick of time. Meet the next chapter of quality smooth gaits.
Here’s my story…
Next Chapter of Quality Smooth Gaits
By Jennifer Klitzke
It’s hard to believe that nearly 15 years have gone by in my smooth gaited dressage journey with Makana, my first naturally gaited horse. She arrived as a three-year-old into the first chapters of Naturally Gaited. Then a few years later came Lady, my grade fox trotting mare. Together we explored that “Dressage is more than Trot” in developing quality smooth gaits.
Why dressage for the gaited horse?
Previous to smooth gaited horses, I had 20 years experience as an avid dressage rider with non-gaited horses that trot. I learned how to develop a balanced riding position and communicate through effective use and timing of leg, rein, weight, and seat aids to lead a horse into relaxation, balance, forward movement without rushing, rhythm, connection, straightness, and collection over time. This process improves the horse’s quality of movement and the full range of motion.
If this is true for non-gaited horses that trot, I believed that dressage would also develop the full range of motion and quality smooth gaits as flat walk, fox trot, and saddle rack. For the naturally gaited horse, this means smoother gaits; longer, deeper strides; and a sounder horse for longer.
The first fifteen years of Naturally Gaited proves this hypothesis: Dressage is more than Trot in developing quality smooth gaits.
While still sound and rideable, Makana and Lady have reached their retirement years. I have enjoyed a remarkable dressage journey with both smooth gaited horses, unique in their own way.
Makana, Tennessee walking horse, at 17, ridden bareback and barefoot at a flat walk.
Lady, grade fox trotting mare, 18-20, ridden barefoot.
So what’s next for Naturally Gaited, I thought?
I began pleading with my husband to purchase another gaited horse. He kept saying, “No.” The thought of downsizing and retiring were all to compelling to him.
Retiring?
I’m thinking…I’m too young to retire. I’m too young to retire from training horses. I’m too young to retire from Naturally Gaited. I’ve got another quality smooth gaited generation to raise!
Meanwhile, I check out gaited horses for sale. For my first 30 years of equestrianism, finding a good registered training prospect for under $2,500 was common. Today’s prices are astonishing! Grade gaited horses are priced at double that. Registered gaited horses for sale are triple or more!
At the same time, auctions are full of gaited horses. Many are priced under $1,000. If not sold, they join the tens of thousands placed on trailers to Mexico for slaughter. It breaks my heart.
I seriously looked into saving one of these auction horses, but after the cost of the horse, vetting, 4-6 weeks quarantine, and transportation, I’d be looking at thousands to save a horse I never met. A horse of unknown handling, unknown breeding, unknown temperament, unknown age, unknown health, unknown soundness. Too much risk at too high a cost.
Next step, I applied for adoption with a few reputable rescues who take in gaited horses. I was approved, yet so were many others. The young gaited horses were snapped up as soon as they arrived.
Then a dear friend, fellow horse lover, and a follower of Naturally Gaited, contacted me and desired to contribute towards the adoption of a new horse.
I was beginning to wonder if there would be a horse to adopt?
The riding season was quickly coming to a close. The days growing colder and darker. Would there be a next chapter of quality smooth gaits? Would I be forced into retiring with my gaited horses after all?
Then last week my heart stopped. (In a good way.) I saw an ad for an unbroke Tennessee walking horse gelding. I immediately texted for more information.
After a few text exchanges, I went for a visit the next day. His name is Mellum’s Midnight Marvel, and his price was EXACTLY the amount my friend had on her mind to contribute.
Marvel is a friendly fellow, a curious character, and has striking beauty. I like his balance, his uphill build, how he uses himself, and how he moves.
Meeting Marvel.
Returning home, I couldn’t get Marvel out of my mind. I envisioned him at my place running with my smooth gaited mares, Lady and Makana. I saw him as the next chapters of Naturally Gaited and of quality smooth gaits made possible through dressage.
I pleaded with my husband ONE MORE TIME, and he finally said, “yes” to one more horse.
Sharing the good news with my friend, she said, “God works in mysterious ways.”
Picking Marvel up the next week, the previous owner said, “This was just meant to be.”
Introducing the next chapter of quality smooth gaits: Marvel
Marvel is a curious character and a friendly fellow.
Don’t panic if your gaited horse trots at liberty. Many do and trot does not ruin their natural smooth gait.
Marvel at his new home.
I am humbled with gratitude and thanks for the generous gift from my dear friend that has allowed my naturally gaited journey to continue and for her passion for horses to continue.
Stay tuned as the next chapter of quality smooth gaits unfolds.
You must be logged in to post a comment.