I am thankful for another year of smooth riding. How about you?
I am thankful for another year of training my five-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Marvel who is progressing well in his smooth gait. Thankful for Makana (19) and Lady (20+) who are sound and smooth in their senior years.
And I am thankful to those of you I have met this year, who have shared your dressage journey with your naturally gaited horse. I have enjoyed getting to know you and to hear how dressage is making a difference in developing smooth gaits and a partnership of harmony!
Over the last thirty-five years, I have studied from many circles of thought that have shaped my riding paradigm with dressage as the basis of communication.
By Jennifer Klitzke
As an avid dressage rider and passionate equestrian of humane training methods for over three decades, I have studied from many circles of thought. Throughout this blog you will encounter the sources, experiences, and people who have shaped the foundation of how I ride, train, and relate with my naturally gaited horses using dressage as the basis of communication in everything we do.
Among the many circles of thought and experience that encompass my riding paradigm are German dressage, French dressage, natural horsemanship, naturally gaited horse training, biomechanics of riding, biomechanics of movement, natural hoof trimming, horse care, showing dressage, cross country, stadium jumping, rail class, endurance, competitive trail, trail obstacles, and cow sorting leagues.
The common denominator of the many circles of thought and experience I embrace is humane training with respect for the horse. No abusive methods. No gadgets or artificial enhancements. And consistent communication using dressage.
Lady free walk and fox trot.
Lifelong learning
Since learning is a lifelong study, how I relate with horses today has changed since I first began. I began with one circle of thought, mainly because when I began, one-on-one lessons from a local instructor and book learning were my only options. Today through digital media, we are blessed with instant access to dozens of humane training options from thousands of unique perspectives.
When I encounter a new circle, I give it critical thought, dabble in its tips and concepts, and take relevant parts into my riding and training. Sometimes I drop old ideas for new ideas, but I still hold onto the many circles. One circle doesn’t replace the rest.
Learning is an investment of time, money and commitment—especially the study and application of dressage. I have invested a college education’s worth of lessons over the years. Timely feedback through regular lessons taught me how to ride with feel; develop a partnership of trust and a consistent communication system with my horse using my reins, legs, seat, and weight aids; find a balanced riding position over the horse’s center of gravity; interpret the horse’s body language; and help my horse develop full range of motion and quality gaits for long-term soundness.
Lady’s collected fox trot.
How the many circles improve my dressage
I like to embrace effective humane training methods from more than one circle of thought to enhance my horse’s relaxation of mind and body, balance, forward rhythm and tempo without rushing, connection, quality movement, suppleness, and build a harmonious partnership. I believe these qualities make for a great dressage foundation no matter which circle of thought offers the insight.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after studying German dressage and French dressage. As a result, I blend precision and timing of aids with lightness of philosophy and joy in my heart.
From jambette to steps of Spanish Walk with a Tennessee Walking Horse.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider by learning from both local instructors and traveling clinicians. Local instructors help me persevere in my growth over time while traveling clinicians offer new insights from their breadth and depth of experience.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after studying the work of natural horsemanship cowboys. These horsemen and women have taught me the value of communicating with a horse in ways a horse understands, the importance of establishing trusted leadership in the relationship, and the benefits of groundwork and desensitization.
This trail obstacle is harder than it looks!
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider by breaking up arena work with trail riding, endurance riding, trail obstacles, and cow sorting leagues. The hills and uneven terrain improve our balance and stamina while the latter put my communication through the aids to the test in real time.
Marvel enjoys exploring.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after studying the anatomy of the hoof and understanding it’s impact on movement to promote soundness without shoes. While I’m not a professional farrier, I am an educated care giver.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider after spending time riding bareback. Through riding bareback, I’ve improved my balance and core and a better sense of feel.
Riding my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse barefoot and bareback at a flat walk.
I think I’ve become a better dressage rider through showing, even when I’m the only rider on a horse that doesn’t trot. And I think trotting horses have made me a better rider of naturally gaited horses. Practicing for a dressage show has forced me to face what I’d rather avoid. Shows challenge me to strengthen our weaknesses and become more ambidextrous as a rider and help my horse develop symmetry.
Showing Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a traditional schooling dressage show at a flat walk instead of a trot.
Will we be in the Olympics someday? No, but I think I’m a better dressage rider than I’d be if I only stuck to one circle of thought.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a free walk, flat footed walk, flat walk and running walk on a loose rein.
Fun comparison of four walking gaits on a loose rein of the same naturally gaited horse on the same day in regular and slow motion.
4 Walks on a Loose Rein
By Jennifer Klitzke
In dressage, we communicate with the horse through the consistent use and effective timing of our rein, leg, seat and weight aids. The horse learns to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact and the rider learns to follow the horse’s natural head and neck motion.
What happens to communication on a long loose rein?
In dressage, through the course of a 30–60-minute riding session, the horse is offered many breaks (rewards). The horse is halted or released to a walk and the rein is extended to the buckle on loose rein.
This is video captures moments through our ride where my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse is enjoying her breaktime. She is relaxed in mind and body, traveling forward with even rhythm, and in balance.
As I watch this video, I notice her free walk and flat-footed walk are the most expressive with the biggest strides, over track, and head nod. In these expressions of walk, they have the most motion to follow with my hip joints.
What happens to quality on a loose rein?
I also notice, the faster she travels, the smoother she naturally becomes, and the less motion I have to follow with my hip joints. However, I also notice, the faster she travels on a loose rein, the shorter her strides become.
Very interesting.
In terms of quality gait, her free walk and flat-footed walk are the best she can do. However, while the flat walk and running walk are smooth, they are not the quality steps she is capable of.
Here’s a photo of my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse’s quality flat walk with contact during our session.
Random thoughts and questions about riding on a loose rein
Is contact required for quality smooth gaits or are the faster smoother gaits naturally shorter strided? If the latter, are we forcing our naturally gaited horses into positions that are not natural? Or is my naturally gaited horse just enjoying a break from the longer stride I had been working her in?
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Lady (naturally grade gaited horse) shown at a fox trot, Makana (naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse) shown at a flat walk and Marvel (naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse) shown at a dog walk.
From me and my furry friends to you and yours, have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
—Jennifer Klitkze
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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)!
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