Did you know there is a BIG difference between asking the horse to raise its head and neck vs pulling the reins back to force a high position?
Why a High and Light Riding Position
By Jennifer Klitzke
Living in the Northern Midwest without an indoor riding arena provides many months of book study. This winter I took a deep dive into Baucher’s second manner.
Many of the books I have been studying were written by Classical French Dressage Master Francois Baucher (1796–1873), his students, and others who have studied and applied Baucher’s second manner. During this era, ambling gaits were considered a fault and not developed like we do today with our naturally gaited horse breeds. Does this mean classical training doesn’t apply to our horses? I don’t think so. If you ask me dressage is more than trot.
My two favorite books regarding Baucher’s second manner are: Racinet Explains Baucher by the late Jean Claude Racinet and Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse by Faverot de Kerbrech. Some of what I have been reading affirms my training, while I have also discovered more to apply.
Now that Spring has produced suitable riding weather, I couldn’t wait to get out and begin applying my studies. For this post, I’ll focus on a high and light position. There is a big difference between the rider asking the horse to lift its head and neck to find balance vs the rider pulling back on the reins to force a high position. I have been teaching my horses a high and light position for years, thanks to Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl’s DVDs and books. However, my winter book study has challenged me to encourage my horses to reach an even higher position than I had been asking―provided my horse maintains relaxation and lightness.
Asking for a high and light position
For years, I had been asking my horses to lift the head and neck for the purpose of relaxation, lightness, and balance. I have alwaysintroduced a snaffle bit from in hand exercises. Then from the saddle at a halt, followed by a slow walk, and then proceeded by a slow gait.
Anytime the horse loses relaxation, lightness, or balance, the horse is brough back to a halt to regain relaxed balance. Then the horse returns to the walk or gait. Whenever more tempo is added before the horse is trained in relaxed balance, the horse tends to lose relaxation and/or balance. That’s why starting at a halt is best and gradually adding tempo. For me, balance and relaxation are key to smooth gaits.
My book studies taught me a few more benefits this high and light position offer the horse beyond relaxation, lightness, and balance. Asking the horse to lift its head and neck high and light in relaxation causes the horse to engage the chest and abdominal muscles to raise the wither and bring the back to a neutral position, and it engages the hindquarters. This high and light position teaches the horse balance to best carry the weight of a rider.
Forcing a high position
When the rider forces a high position by pulling back on the reins, it causes the horse to hollow its back, the under-neck muscles bulge instead of rounding the top line muscles, and the hind quarter doesn’t engage. This position isn’t helpful for many reasons. It develops the wrong muscles. It makes the horse less able to produce a smooth gait. It is more difficult for the horse to carry a rider. It compromises the long-term soundness of the horse. Plus, it is unsightly.
Watch the video below and see how teaching your horse a high and light position with a snaffle bit helps the horse find balance and elegance. Plus, a naturally, smooth evenly timed gait!
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Tennesse Walking Horses have a natural ability to perform smooth gaits like the flat walk and running walk. Yet these gaits need to be developed. Just how do you begin? Let’s take a look.
Running walk with contact and flexion at the poll.
All horses are born with the ability to walk, but not all horse breeds are born with the ability to perform the flat walk and running walk. The Tennessee Walking Horse is bred for these naturally smooth four beat walking gaits.
The foot fall sequence of the collected walk, ordinary walk, free walk, flat-footed walk, flat walk and running walk are all even four beat step sequences. The differences between these walks are the tempo, length of stride, depth of head nod, engagement of the legs and/or engagement of the hindquarters. The collected walk has the slowest tempo and shortest stride length with engagement of the hindquarters and little to no head nod, while the running walk has engagement of the hindquarters and engagement of the legs, the maximum length of stride, head nod, and most tempo of the walks.
If the flat walk and running walk are expressions of walk, how do you develop them?
The free walk is a great place to begin
When your horse is just starting the smooth gait work, the free walk is a great place to begin developing the flat walk and running walk because of its relaxed nature, slower tempo, long stride length with engagement of the legs, and evenness of the four-beat footfall sequence. By engagement of the legs the horse is encouraged to step deep under the body mass with the hind leg. This produces over track where the hind hoof oversteps the fore hoof print. The free walk can be ridden on a long rein with contact or a loose rein. Both allow the horse to extend the head and neck outward with the poll at wither height. Once the free walk is well established at a slower and deliberate tempo and rhythm to develop these qualities, the tempo can increase slightly.
Free Walk on a Long Rein
Gradually increase the tempo while maintaining the beautiful qualities you’ve built: relaxation, balance, length and evenness of stride, and a four-beat footfall sequence.
At first, there may only be a few steps and the horse tenses up or loses balance. No worries! This is common. Adding tempo adds factors the horse needs to figure out like adjusting balance and finding relaxation at a new tempo.
Whenever your horse loses balance or relaxation, or begins to take short quick steps, calmly back down the tempo and reclaim the quality steps you built in the free walk. Then slowly ease into the next tempo. These up and down transitions are great for the horse to learn balance with a rider.
The flat-footed walk is the next progression
From the free walk the horse will eventually move into the flat-footed walk. While it is a long striding walk with a four-beat footfall sequence and head nod, you’ll notice there will be a lot of lower back and hip joint undulation to follow the horse’s motion.
This flat-footed walk on a long rein shows engagement of the legs and engagement of the hindquarters. The wither is raised and the horse is balanced even in a neutral head position.
Depending upon the age of your naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, you may be at the free walk and flat-footed walk for several weeks of training 5-6 days per week before moving into the smooth flat walk. It takes time for the horse to develop strength to carry a rider with long strides in balance and to develop an evenly timed four beat foot fall sequence.
The flat walk is the introduction to smooth gaits for the Tennessee Walking Horse
The next level of tempo is the smooth flat walk. Once you achieve a few smooth strides, stop to reward your horse. The goal is to preserve the qualities built from the free walk and flat-footed walk into the smooth flat walk. Work through the transitions of free walk to flat footed walk to flat walk to halt and reward often. Within weeks of consistent training, your horse will move from a few flat walk steps to a minute or more of flat walk before a halt break.
Flat walk in a neutral position.
Here the flat walk is shown with contact. This is later on in training.
The running walk gets better over time
Finally, we have reached the running walk. Once your horse has developed a consistent flat walk, it is time to engage the legs and engage the hindquarters for steps of the running walk. Engagement of the hindquarters is when the horse tucks the hindquarter and carries more weight to raise the wither.
In this running walk on a loose rein the horse is showing engagement of the hind legs by stepping deep under the body mass with one hindleg more than the other hindleg trails behind the tail and engagement of the hindquarters raising the withers. The horse has a head and neck nod in timing with the hind leg steps. The running walk is super smooth!
Running walk with contact and flexion at the poll. This position is introduced later in training.
Problems that arise when pushing the horse into flat walk and running walk faster than the horse is ready for it:
The horse rushes into short, quick steps. They might be smooth steps, but it won’t be a running walk.
The horse gets tense and begins to pace, step pace or hard trot. If the rider pulls on the horse’s mouth, it further adds tension and reinforces these gaits.
The horse loses balance, falls onto the forehand and begins tripping.
How do I know? I have made all of these mistakes, and mistakes add even more time to the training to re-earn trust with my horse. So, my advice is to take the time your horse needs to develop the strength, muscle memory, and balance to perform relaxed smooth gaits.
How long will it take to develop the running walk?
Great question. It depends on the horse, the rider’s level of knowledge and riding ability, and the number of training days per week of consistent training.
I can comfortably say, the running walk takes time for a horse to develop with quality. By quality, I mean a running walk with maximum length of stride with engagement of the hindquarters and engagement of the legs (over track and a deeper step under the body mass more than the trailing hind leg behind the tail), evenness of stride, signature head nod with each hind leg step, and an even four beat gait that is smooth as glass. I am telling you, it is worth the wait!
In the meantime, enjoy the flat walk, which is also smooth. Trail riding with others who have seasoned Tennessee Walking Horses can also help your training come along while you and your horse enjoy a break from arena riding.
If you are new to riding gaited horses, I would seek lessons and traveling clinicians to learn as much as possible. However, there are many ways to train gaited horses: rail class showing, trail riding, and dressage. So, choose instruction that aligns with your riding goals.
What about the pacey Walking Horse?
Some Tennessee Walking Horses are naturally pacey. Adding speed to a pacey walk creates a faster pace which is not a flat-footed walk, flat walk or running walk.
There is still hope for the pacey Walking Horse. You’ll need to teach your horse a new muscle memory from a lateral foot fall to a diagonal foot fall. Ground rails, exercises like the shoulder-in, and even teaching trot on cue can help diagonalize the foot fall sequence.
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.
Important qualities to develop the evenly timed four beat flat walk and running walk
Relaxation of mind and body: Relaxation is imperative for smooth gaits.
Become a relaxed rider in order to lead your horse into relaxation
Become an educated rider with your hands to transmit relaxation to the horse’s mouth
Balance: Carrying weight more evenly on all four legs
If your horse leans on the bit or pull itself forward with the front legs, these are good indications that the horse is on the forehand. Developing balance takes time. A good place to start is learning how work in hand makes training easier.
Teach your horse how to engage the hind legs to step more deeply under its body mass more than the hind legs trails behind the tail. This will develop over step for a longer length of stride.
Impulsion: Forward movement without rushing
Rushing leads to short quick steps, loss of relaxation, and balance. If we desire the long strides in a quality free walk, flat footed walk, flat walk and running walks, we need forward movement without rushing.
Rhythm: Steadiness in tempo and gait quality
Once the horse has developed relaxation, balance and forward motion without rushing, you’ll settle more easily into a steady rhythm.
Music can help the horse find rhythm. If you don’t have access to music, sing the tempo and rhythm you desire for your horse to move at. This has helped me with my naturally gaited horses.
Watch: Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Dressage for the naturally gaited horse offers many benefits include improving the full range of motion.
Dressage for the naturally gaited horse introduces many unique exercises that offer many benefits include improving the full range of motion, helping the horse find balance over the body mass, developing engagement of the hindquarters, abdominal muscles and chest muscles, and improving symmetry.
One of the best benefits dressage exercises offer the gaited horse are that they diagonalize the footfalls to break up pace for a four-beat smooth gait and break up a lateral canter for a truer three-beat canter.
Each time I ride my naturally gaited horse; I think about an accordion player. To produce the full scale of notes, the accordion stretches out and then gathers together. Riding a naturally gaited horse using dressage is similar to develop the full range of motion. There are neck extensions that stretch the top line muscles and spine and improve stride length and over track. There are also exercises that stretch the horse’s muscles longitudinally and exercises that help the horse engage.
This post and the video below capture elements from one riding session. Me and my then 16-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana work through dressage exercises and the full range of motion to improve quality smooth gaits.
Watch: Improving Full Range of Motion for the Gaited Horse
Developing full range of motion with dressage exercises
Flechi droit is not taught in mainstream dressage. It was an exercise I learned when studying classical equitation. There are many benefits to learning this exercise. Beginning at a slow walk, the horse keeps its body straight and turns its neck and head 45 to 90-degrees. This helps the horse learn shoulder balance and also stretches the outside neck muscles.
Shoulder in is the next exercise I like to do with my naturally gaited horse at a low walk. It can be done on three or four tracks on a straight line or on a small circle shown here. It is a wonderful exercise for suppling, balancing and engaging the horse. In this exercise the inside hind leg steps under the body mass.
Haunches in: After the shoulder in, I transition to the haunches in which can be done on three or four tracks on a straight line or on a small circle shown here. It is a wonderful exercise for suppling, balancing and engaging the horse. In this exercise the outside hind leg steps under the body mass.
Shoulder fore: Any time my naturally gaited horse gets stiff in the flat walk, I like to place her on a 15–20-meter circle in a shoulder-fore position. This helps her find suppleness, balance and engagement in the smooth gait.
Counter bend neck rein turns: Another great exercise for the naturally gaited horse is counter bend neck rein turns. This exercise can be done at a slow walk or in a smooth gait as shown here and in the video. The rider positions the horse’s bend to see the outside eye. Then as the inside shoulder is about to move forward, the rider motions both reins from the outside to the inside. The outside rein touches against the outside neck. This indicates to the horse to transfer weight from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder. This exercise has wonderful benefits for the naturally gaited horse in lightening the forehand.
Neck extension at a flat walk shows the horse stretching the head and neck forward and out to stretch the spine and top line muscles.
These exercises help the naturally gaited horse find balance over the body mass, lighten the forehand and shoulders, engage the hindquarters, abdominal muscles, and thoracic sling, and help the horse relax the mouth, lower jaw and poll, and stretch the top line and spine for full range of motion. Plus, these exercises break up pacey lateral movement for smooth natural gaits.
Rein backPiaffe
A slow and folding rein back to half steps and piaffe are also great exercises to improve engagement and lighten the forehand.
Lateral pace canterTrue canter
Dressage exercises such as the shoulder in and haunches in diagonalize the footfall sequence to break up a lateral canter for a truer three-beat canter.
WalkSaddle RackFlat WalkCanter
This post and video applying dressage exercises to develop the full range of motion in a variety of smooth gaits: walk, canter, fox trot, saddle rack, flat walk, and running walk.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Why do horses lean on the bit? Is all heaviness on the hand treated the same? How do we communicate lightness to the hand to the horse? Let’s take a look.
I’m a visual learner by preference. Reading is my least favorite way to learn. However, I’ve noticed that book learning is necessary to glean in depth knowledge of classical equitation. I have a video library, but videos didn’t exist centuries ago.
One of the books I am studying is, Faverot de Kerbrech: Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse. Faverot de Kerbrech was a student of Baucher’s second manner. I highly recommend this book for those interested in learning classical equitation with your naturally gaited horse. There are many takeaways, but for the sake of this post, one eye opener for me is discerning why the horse becomes heavy on my hands and how to re-establish lightness to the hand. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why do horses lean on our hands
In this book, Baucher’s student, Faverot de Kerbrech describes two reasons horses lean on our hand. Each reason has a different corrective measure. Horses can lose balance by getting heavy on the forehand and lean on the rider’s hands. Horses can also pull on the rider’s hands or get heavy by becoming resistant or tense in the mouth, jaw and poll.
Whether the horse loses balance or becomes tense or resistant in the mouth, jaw or poll, Baucher treats each cause of heaviness differently. However, for both cases starting out, it is easiest for the rider to slow the horse down to a halt and apply the application.
If the horse loses balance
The demi arret: Bring the horse to a halt. The rider shortens the reins to the snaffle bit. With elbows at your sides, close your fingers on each rein, turn your palms upward and raise your hands up meeting the heaviness with contact until the horse lightens. The horse should lift its head and neck, shift its weight back to the hindquarters, and relax to the contact. Once the horse lightens on the reins, relax your fingers and lower your hands for a light contact. Then proceed in motion.
At a halt, elbows at side, hands meet heaviness with contact by lifting hands upward. My reins are a bit long and my palms should be facing upward.
It is important that the rider’s reins aren’t too long. For me, I am constantly adjusting my reins since they continually slip through my fingers. As you can see above, my reins are a bit too long. Also, it is important that the rider’s elbows remain at their sides and the motion is an upward one. This method doesn’t work if the rider pulls the reins backward low hands.
Marvel is showing lightness and relaxation on the bit.
If the horse is tense or resistant in the mouth, jaw and poll
The rider applies vibrations with gentle squeezes and releases on the reins when the horse resists the contact and roots or vibrations on one rein if asking for inside flexion and the horse loses relaxation. Then the rider ceases the vibrations once the horse stops rooting or relaxes and softens the jaw.
Ideally, the rider learns to help the horse maintain lightness to the hand and balance in motion. However, as tempo increases, it is common for the horse to fall out of balance, become resistant or lose relaxation. It is easier to restore balance at a slower tempo or halt than at speed. It is also dangerous for the gaited horse who is prone to tripping to be traveling at speed while on the forehand. It is best to slow down and restore relaxed balance before adding tempo. As the horse becomes more developed through consistent training, balance can be achieved in motion.
Reading about lightness to the hand from Baucher’s student, Faverot de Kerbrech, has been both affirming and eye opening. Affirming in that I have noticed how difficult it’s been to regain balance in motion using the demi arret, and that halting has been the best approach to restoring balance and relaxation.
It is eye opening in the way Baucher clarifies distinct applications to addressing various reasons for heaviness. Not all heaviness is treated equally. Is the heaviness due to a loss of balance, a loss of relaxation or is the horse being resistant? These are important distinctions since tension and resistance require squeeze and release cues and loss of balance require a constant lifting cue. While I was able to discern the difference, I hadn’t been applying the squeeze and release cue to resistant heaviness until now.
Clarifying my aids has improved communication with my horses and has made a big difference. Back to the book study I return for more gleanings.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Relaxation is key to develop smooth gaits for the Tennessee Walking Horse and other naturally gaited horse breeds. So, how do you teach the horse relaxation?
Does Rhythm Produce Relaxation?
By Jennifer Klitzke
What is the best way to produce relaxation leading to smooth gaits? Relaxation is key to develop smooth gaits for the Tennessee Walking Horse and other naturally gaited horse breeds. So, how do you teach the horse relaxation? Does rhythm produce relaxation?
Here’s my story.
The Pyramid of Training
I began a journey into competitive dressage with non-gaited horses in 1988. Back then we didn’t have the plethora of resources we have today. The internet was a distant dream, and resources like social media, blogs, and video channels were nonexistent. We were fortunate to have a traveling dressage instructor to teach us the Pyramid of Training.
The Pyramid of Training has changed a couple times since I was a competition dressage student. We began at the foundation with rhythm (with energy and tempo) followed by relaxation (with elasticity and suppleness). Then connection (acceptance of the bit through acceptance of the aids), impulsion (increased energy and thrust), straightness (improved alignment and balance), and collection (increased engagement, lightness of the forehand, self carriage).
We showed our horses by riding dressage tests at the level of our training, beginning with Training level, followed by First, Second, Third, Fourth, Prix St. Georges, Intermediate, and Grand Prix. The latter showed the horse attaining the top of the Pyramid of Training. We moved up to the next level after achieving a few scores in the 60s or above. Most riders and horses never reached beyond Second level. The Pyramid of Training is a challenging, time consuming, and costly way to train dressage.
We believed rhythm produced relaxation. So, for my first 20 years of dressage riding with non-gaited horses, I lunged my horse and then rode him on a 20-meter circle long and low in rhythm until he was relaxed. This is how I understood reaching relaxation.
The Pyramid of Training with a Tennessee Walking Horse
In 2007, I acquired my first naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana. I continued the dressage Pyramid of Training I learned with non-gaited horses. Makana often worried about her surroundings and tensed her body. Worry quickened and shortened her steps. Was it smooth? Yes, but not the long striding flat walk she was capable of. Tension also affected her gait. When she tensed her body, it produced a step pace and a pace canter―definitely not smooth.
Makana often spooked when tense. This certainly didn’t create relaxation in me. My tense reaction only reinforced her spooking and perpetuated her worry. If I continued to ride her in this state, it was like trying to control a stiff plank caught in a gusty wind. Each spook made it harder to establish rhythm. We definitely had energy and tempo! I hoped I stayed on long enough to establish rhythm to finally reach relaxation.
I wondered, “How long does a nervous rider ride an anxious horse through spooks and tension before rhythm is established and relaxation sets in to develop smooth gaits?”
If I could sweat it out, riding a tense horse in a jarring gait for an hour, was this really the best approach? What was I teaching my horse by riding through miles of tension? Wasn’t I training my horse to be worried and reinforcing her fear with my fear? I certainly was reinforcing mine!
Perhaps a relaxed rider could have ridden Makana through her tension and spooking to rhythm until she relaxed. For me, I needed a different approach.
The Pyramid of Training with a fox trotting horse
When my naturally gaited fox trotting horse, Lady, was tense in her lower jaw, mouth, and poll, it affected her whole body, and she would blast off into a hard, hollow trot. Any attempt to slow her down with bit contact only made her trot faster. Lady wasn’t having fun, and neither was I.
Perhaps after a few miles of a hard trot, Lady would have been tired enough to relax into a smooth gait. However, what muscle memory was she learning if I lunged and/or rode Lady through the rhythm of a hard, hollow trot for miles until she wore out into relaxation? Wasn’t she just learning to run away in tension? For me, I needed a different approach.
Another dressage: Relaxation before rhythm
In 2013, I began exploring a different application of dressage with my naturally gaited horses. Through DVDs and books by French dressage masters Philippe Karl and the late Jean Claude Racinet, I discovered techniques to help my horses mentally and physically relax before BEFORE I rode.
While Karl and the late Racinet teach dressage for non-gaited horses, I have found these methods work well for my naturally gaited horses and for me as the rider.
The core of the French dressage philosophy is “respect to the horse” and the foundation of training is relaxation, balance, and impulsion. The ideal is to train the horse to be responsive to the lightest hand, leg and seat aids.
The Legerete (lightness) training model.
Surrounding the foundation of lightness is developing flexibility through suppleness. Then mobility with straightness and rhythm, followed by collection developing cadence. Legerete begins with relaxation and balance BEFORE rhythm.
In hand exercises
Instead of lunging and riding a worried or tense horse for miles in hopes to develop rhythm leading to relaxation, I have learned in-hand exercises that teach the horse relaxed balance at a halt and then at a slow walk. These exercises both improve my rein communication with my horse to help them accept and follow a gentle contact with a mild snaffle bit.
After a flexion to the right to stretch the left-side neck muscles. I signal “Action.”
The “Reaction” encourages the horse to stretch out in a lower position
Shoulder in
I’ve noticed the in-hand relaxation and balancing exercises make riding easier, too. These same in-hand flexibility exercises are applied from the saddle at a halt. As long as my horse maintains a relaxed and balanced state of mind and body, I’ll proceed to a slow walk and then increase the tempo to a smooth gait to develop rhythm.
Anytime my horse begins to get tense, anxious, or lose balance, I slow down the tempo or to a halt and reapply these flexibility and suppling exercises until relaxation and balance are restored. This has been a better option for me and my naturally gaited horses compared with riding through miles of tension. Plus, the riding we do in a relaxed and balanced state develops the quality smooth gaits and muscle memory I desire. This dressage approach has led to a harmonious partnership with my naturally gaited horses.
Relaxing the mouthFlexionActionReactionShoulder inFlat walk
My six-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse, Marvel, has been trained exclusively with the Legerete method and is coming along nicely. Plus, I cherish the fun and interactive partnership we have developed.
In handSquare haltActionReactionFlexionJambetteFlat walkNeck extension
Anytime my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horses get worried, or my Foxtrotting mare gets tense in her body, I just ease down to a slow walk, halt or even dismount to work in-hand and restore relaxation. I don’t proceed until I’ve established mental and physical relaxation.
How relaxation creates smooth gaits
For me and my naturally gaited horses, we don’t proceed into movement until they are mentally and physically relaxed.
Without relaxation, there is no quality rhythm, no quality steps, no trainable or teachable horse to produce quality smooth gaits.
Thankfully French dressage has been the training philosophy I needed for my naturally gaited horses. Directing my horse to relaxation of mind makes a teachable horse−less tense and distracted and able to stay more focused on our time together. Teaching the gaited horse to relax its body leads to smoother gaits.
Ways to lead the horse into relaxation are:
Teaching the horse how to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact
Teaching the horse how to relax the mouth, lower jaw, and poll which helps the horse relax through the back
Riding with a snaffle bit contact and following the natural head and neck motion with relaxed hands, arms, and shoulders
Making sure I am relaxed as a rider helps me lead my horse into relaxation
Shoulder in exercises in hand or from the saddle at a slow walk
Developing a partnership of trust and harmony with the horse
Relaxation of the horse’s jaw and back are especially important for the naturally gaited horse. The gaited horse is more prone to pacing when there is tension in the mouth, lower jaw, poll, and back.
My Tennessee Walking Horse has learned to relax her mouth, lower jaw, poll, and back. The step pace and lateral canter are gone. Now she has quality smooth gaits such as flat walk, running walk and saddle rack, and her canter is a quality three-beat canter.
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a relaxed and balanced flat walk.
For my fox trotting mare, by relaxing her mouth and lower jaw helps her relax her back. The hollow, hard trot is gone. Now she consistently offers a smooth gait.
My naturally gaited fox trotting mare, Lady in a relaxed and balanced fox trot with contact.
My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Marvel in a relaxed and balanced flat walk.
Does a relaxed rider make a difference?
Applying French dressage with my gaited horses in hand and in saddle has built my confidence as the trusted leader in our partnership. It has also helped me be a more relaxed rider when we increase the tempo to a smooth gait or canter.
Riding my smooth gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana in a flat walk with neck extension. The neck extension allows the horse to both stretch its spine and build its top line while allowing maximum stride length.
Over the last several years, I have learned tools that have helped me become a more relaxed and confident rider. My relaxation and confidence lead my naturally gaited horses into relaxation of mind and body. From this mutual relaxation, my horses are able to produce quality, smooth gaits (with a lot less spooks)!
Now we are having fun!
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
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