How to Develop Smooth Gaits

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse running walk at 21 years old.

Are naturally gaited horses smooth? Why do some gaited horses fall in and out of a smooth gait? Why are some gaited horses bouncy or rough to ride? How can a naturally gaited horse develop consistent smooth gaits?

By Jennifer Klitzke

Many people buy a naturally gaited horse thinking they are automatically smooth all the time. Some gaited horses are more naturally smooth, but most gaited horses need consistent training to develop a smooth gait.

Four steps to develop smooth gaits one step at a time

1. Begin with a relaxed walk on a circle. The key words are “relaxed” and “walk.”

2. From a relaxed walk ask for a bit more tempo to move into a smooth gait.

3. Practice consecutive smooth steps.

4. Stop and reward your horse BEFORE the steps get bouncy, pacey, out of balance, tense or hurried.

In the beginning your horse might only be able to do a couple smooth steps in a row. Stop and reward every good thing! A few consecutive smooth steps can lead to more and more over time.

Avoid consecutive steps of pace, tension, or bouncy gaits, because that’s the muscle memory you’ll create. Practice what you want to keep―consistent smooth steps!

Can dressage develop smooth gaits?

Dressage is one form of training for the naturally gaited horse to develop consistent smooth gaits using exercises that develop relaxation, balance, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, connection, symmetry and engagement.

When my horse becomes unbalanced, loses rhythm and rushes, hollows or becomes disengaged, that’s a great clue I need to slow down to a relaxed and balanced walk before increasing the tempo to smooth gait. Tense, rushed and hollow movement have never led to the relaxed and balanced smooth gaits I desire.

When I’ve re-established a relaxed yet active walk, then I transition to the smooth gait I desire―one step at a time.

Over time, a few relaxed and balanced smooth steps turn into longer durations of consecutive smooth steps over time.

My seven-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in a smooth flat walk.

How do you learn dressage?

I’ve been perusing my equestrian education since 1988 and there is always more to learn. Dressage is a lifelong learning journey. That’s why I love it. It ever gets boring!

Taking dressage lessons, attending dressage clinics, studying dressage DVD and books, and recording my rides are great ways to develop my riding skills. When I become a more effective rider, I also become a more consistent trainer and better communicator with my naturally gaited horses in developing consistent smooth gaits.

Good dressage lessons are important to gain timely feedback. This feedback helps the rider develop the feeling of right and the feeling of when the horse is falling out of balance, rushing, hollowing, tensing, or disengaging and knowing what to do to regain the feeling of right.
Taking lessons from Jennie Jackson really helped improve the quality of our smooth gaits using dressage.

How dressage can help a naturally gaited horse stop pacing?

pace riding two handed with curb contact — 2009: Tension equals pace. Here’s me and my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, 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, sitting on my pockets with all my weight on the saddle. I learned this from gaited riders. They told me this is how to make them gait. Does my Tennessee walking horse look relaxed in the mouth, jaw and body? Tension leads to pace. That’s why I don’t ride two handed with a curb bit anymore. I ride with a snaffle bit using dressage. I teach bit acceptance not bit avoidance. Relaxation is the key to develop quality smooth gait.

Six reasons why naturally gaited horses pace and how dressage can help

The horse has developed the habit of pacing. Learning dressage can teach you and your horse fun exercises like shoulder in, shoulder out, haunches in. These exercises begin at a slow walk in hand and then in the saddle to help break up the pacey footfall sequence into a more evenly timed four-beat walk. These exercises also help the horse soften and become more supple.
The horse paces because the equipment causes pain. Riding in an english or western saddle that fits you and your horse without pinching bridging or hollowing the back is a must. Just as important is finding a well-fitting and comfortable snaffle bit. Learning dressage can teach your horse bit acceptance.
The horse paces because it is tense in the mouth, jaw, poll, body, and back. Learning dressage can teach your naturally gaited horse how to accept and follow a light contact with a comfortable snaffle bit is so important. This relaxes the mouth, lower jaw, and poll and has a relaxing effect on the entire horse.
The horse paces because the rider throws the rhythm off. The horse’s footfall rhythm can be disrupted when the rider cues at the wrong time.

Learning dressage can teach you effective timing of your communication aids with your reins, legs, and seat as well as help you develop a balanced riding position (ear, hip, heel) over the horse’s center of balance. This helps to be an easier load to carry and not throw the horse out of balance.
The horse paces because the rider is braced and tense. Learning dressage can teach you body awareness and its effect on your horse’s movement. By relaxing and following the horse’s natural belly sway and head and neck movement can help the horse relax.
The horse was bred to pace. Is there hope for a naturally horse who was bred to pace? Yes, learning dressage can help your horse develop a smoother gait.

Easy? No, but with patience, joy, and perseverance, you and your naturally gaited horse can break free from pace, and it is worth every step of the journey to smooth gaits.

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

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How to Develop Smooth Gaits