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Back to Fore Connected by Core to Improve Natural Gait

back and fore connected by core

Back to Fore Connected by Core to Improve Natural Gait

By Jennifer Klitzke

Let’s be honest. How many of us who show naturally gaited Tennessee walking horses are obsessed with the hind leg depth of stride (the distance between the hind leg behind the horse’s tail to the hind leg planted under the belly)?

I know I have been.

There is nothing wrong with striving for the BEST possible natural stride length our horses can offer. However, I realized that focusing on the hind leg stride length is only part of the equation to achieving a quality flat walk or running walk. Here’s why.

Think this through with me.

If the hind legs offer a big stride (the distance between the hind leg behind the horse’s tail to the hind leg planted under the belly), the front leg stride needs to equal that or else the horse will do a face plant. Right?

Below is the sequence of a full stride of flat walk. Notice the length of hind stride and fore stride along with the head nod.

Hind step
Hind leg stride with head nod, snaffle bit contact and following hands.
Fore step
Fore leg stride with head nod, snaffle bit contact and following hands.

In order to create the best possible natural gait, think back to fore, connected by core.

Here’s what I mean. Back to fore connected by core is how I help my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse produce her best possible flat walk with the most over track she is capable of through establishing balance, relaxation, rhythm, connection, and engagement (without rushing).

When the naturally gaited horse is working back to fore connected to core, the hind leg steps deeper under the body to produce maximum over track along with maximum depth of back stride that equals the fore stride.

091718 hind fore stride length and overtrack
When the naturally gaited horse is working back to fore connected to core, the hind leg steps deeper under the body to produce maximum over track along with maximum depth of back stride equal to fore stride.

How back to fore connected by fore feels

Bringing it all together. Back to fore connected by core feels through, balanced, rhythmic, with a lifted chest and wither for lightness, forward without rushing, deep striding with shoulder scope, and SMOOTH.

So next time you hop on to ride your naturally gaited horse, think back to fore, connected by core.

I hope this is helpful to you, please reach out and let me know your thoughts by sending me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and joining our community on facebook.com/naturallygaited.