All posts by Jennifer Klitzke

"Dressage is more than trot...and the saddle you ride in." -Jennifer KlitzkeSome traditional dressage riders believe that dressage is ONLY for horses that trot. While many gaited horse owners believe that dressage will MAKE their gaited horse trot. Others believe that teaching their gaited horse to trot on cue will ruin their horse's natural gait.I challenge these notions and here's why...Dressage improves the quality of natural movement in a horse whether it trots or has a smooth four-beat gait.Dressage is a French term for training the horse and rider. Whether a horse is ridden in an english or western saddle; whether the horse trots or gaits, it doesn't matter. Dressage brings about the best natural movement whether the horse walks, trots, flat walks, fox trots, or canters.Why? When a rider grows in knowledge, awareness, and application of a balanced riding position with the horse's center of gravity and applies effective use and timing of leg, rein, seat, and weight aids to communicate with the horse, dressage improves relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, harmony, engagement, straightness, and collection. These elements improve the quality of movement and the full range of motion. For the naturally gaited horse, this means, smoother gaits, deeper strides, and a sounder horse for longer.Enjoy the journey!

By Jennifer Klitzke

I took an arsenal of questions with me to a recent gaited dressage clinic with Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer. Questions like how do I ride a head-shaking horse on-the-bit, how do I get my horse more forward, and how do I unlock my horse’s stiff back. My first question led to an interesting discussion about head nod. And little did I know that my questions all relate to form and function.

Larry explained that the mechanics of overstride with swinging straight legs and an exaggerated head nod stem from a stiff back. It is why horses shown this way are trained on straight lines versus circles, serpentines, and lateral movements. The mechanics of dressage require lengthened topline muscles, a round and relaxed back, and bending hock and haunch joints. The result is a different expression of movement.

This led to an eye-opening realization: I had been expecting the same movement of my Tennessee walking horse at dressage shows as at Tennessee walking horse rail classes. Gaited dressage and show ring gaited classes are not ridden and measured the same way. Its like riding in an english pleasure class with western attire and in western form. If dressage is the way I intend to ride and train my gaited horse, I need to adjust my form and function to that of gaited dressage mechanics and stop fixating on exaggerated head nod and maximum overtrack.

As the clinic progressed I discovered that a stiff back is also why my horse hasn’t been moving forward with impulsion and engagement, and why her canter has been flat. Larry and Jennifer taught us several exercises to unlock a horse’s braced back such as reinback, turn on the forehand, and shoulder in. These exercises teach a horse to bend and round through the back and step deeper under its belly. We also worked on upward transitions between gaits and within gaits to improve impulsion and downward transitions to soften our horses.

Riding my Walking horse in correct dressage form will likely minimize her head nod and overtrack, but Larry promised that correct dressage training methods will purify her four-beat gait and make it smoother than ever!

Photo gallery with commentary>

For more about Larry Whitesell, his training DVDs and clinic schedule, visit www.WhitesellGaitedHorsemanship.com.
For more about Jennifer Bauer, visit www.gaitedhorsemanship.com

Gaited Dressage Shows, Gaited Dressage Videos, Western Gaited Dressage

Western Gaited Dressage at Rocking R

August 7, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

Perfect weather, no bugs, and a western saddle that fits! My new (used) saddle arrived less than 24 hours before the Rocking R Schooling Dressage show in Foley, MN. I purchased a Synergist western saddle that fits Makana and feels like I’m riding in a dressage saddle with a horn. It’s lightweight, short enough length as to not bridge across my mare’s back and poke into her loins, and plenty wide to allow her freedom to move her shoulders.

Not only that but I brought along a friend who has never shown before and who had just purchased her first horse five months ago. She pulled me into my first team penning practice, so I encouraged her to give Western dressage a try. The gaited dressage and Western dressage classes were combined for a total of three entrants – two non-gaited horses and a Walking horse.

Warm up was a gas! I couldn’t restrain myself from using the ground rail and cross rail schooling fences to get Makana loosened up. Gymnastic jumping is so FUN!

We rode our Western gaited dressage using the NWHA gaited dressage training level, test one and first level, test one. As of yet, no Western gaited dressage tests are available. The Western Dressage Association of America rules allow entrants to ride in a snaffle or curb. I opted to ride in my Mylar level 2 curb.

Makana received her highest scores yet! 70.83% in training level and 71.38% in first level. We scored “8’s” in our centerline halts and free walks on a long rein and “7.5’s” in overall gaits. Improvement areas for us are to work on a more consistent contact, which is easier said than done on a head-shaking horse; evenness in gait regardless of changing footing conditions between deep and compacted sand; and showing more difference between the working and lengthened gaits in first level.

Western gaited dressage photos>

httpv://youtu.be/40Aa8TRqhPE

httpv://youtu.be/tcQ11Bev_Oo

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Dressage Horse vs Dressage Training

August 4, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

To me there is a difference between a “dressage horse” and dressage training methods. A “dressage horse” is like one you see at the Olympics: sensational scope and movement, high levels of training, ability, aptitude, and athleticism. In the gaited dressage world, I would consider Champaign Watchout ridden and trained by Jennie Jackson to be that of a “gaited dressage horse.”

A “dressage horse” is trained using dressage methods; however, you don’t need a “dressage horse” to realize that dressage training methods effectively improve the natural movement of any horse—gaited and non-gaited alike. And dressage training methods can transform the horse and rider relationship into one of a beautiful dance.

For me dressage training is a pursuit for improvement, and schooling dressage shows provide a learning environment. I show my gaited horse regularly at schooling dressage shows to get feedback from a qualified judge about where we are at in our training—what’s working and what needs improvement. Dressage training methods will likely never shape my gaited horse into an Olympian, but it will direct us to the next level of collection, balance, impulsion, harmony, and teamwork as we pursue a more smooth and enjoyable dance.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Dressage Demonstration with a Gaited Horse

Video July 30, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

This video highlights how dressage benefits naturally gaited horses including improving the quality of smooth gaits.

Dressage Demonstration with a Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

In 2011, my seven-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse and I were invited to a non-gaited dressage ride-a-test clinic. We were asked to demonstrate how dressage benefits naturally gaited horses. We showed walk, flat walk, running walk and canter. No trot.

Dressage improves the quality of gaits whether the horse naturally trots, tolts, fox trots, or flat walks. Dressage is more than trot!

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Gaited Dressage Shows, Western Gaited Dressage

Western Gaited Dressage

July 27, 2012 Jennifer Klitzke

My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and I took a stab at Western Dressage, and we weren’t the only gaited horse entry!

Western Dressage for Gaited Horses

By Jennifer Klitzke

flatwalk stretch — Both tests required a 20-meter circle at a flat walk allowing the horse to stretch.

My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse mare, Gift of Freedom, and I took a stab at Western Dressage for the first time. A stable in Cambridge, MN offered classes in traditional dressage, western dressage, gaited dressage and western gaited dressage. I was thrilled because this was also the first dressage show we’ve attended in which we weren’t the only gaited dressage entry! There was another gaited horse and rider team who rode FOSH Intro A and FOSH Intro B tests.

Since no Western Gaited Dressage tests are currently available, Makana and I rode the NWHA tests. We received a 68% on NWHA gaited first level test one and a 65% on NWHA gaited training level test one. Highlights were receiving a “9” on our centerline/halt first level test and “8’s” on our free walk on a long rein.

072212_Walkers_TripleR_Western_Gaited_Dressage_Jennifer_Klitzke_Gift_of_Freedom_freewalk3 — We scored “8” on our free walk on a long rein.

Improvement areas are finding a well-fitting western saddle. We are working on getting this resolved soon. The saddle I rode in, even with shims, hindered her shoulder movement. Although we received “7’s” for impulsion and quality of gaits, Makana felt reluctant to step deep and maintain a fluid canter in this western saddle. My gaited horse moves best in a dressage saddle, but I can’t ride western gaited dressage in an english saddle! I wonder if there is a saddle maker who produces a western looking saddle on a dressage tree?

The schooling dressage show encouraged western entrants to ride in snaffle bits. Our next schooling dressage show at another farm in Foley, MN allows western dressage using curbs or snaffles.