Are all dressage methods the same? Do all dressage applications produce the same result? Let’s take a look.
In 1988, I embarked on a journey to learn dressage. Back then the competition dressage pyramid of training was the only form taught within my dressage community. Mind you, the world wide web and social media did not exist then with moments access to differing applications. So, in my corner of the world, I believed there was only one way to do dressage. This meant regular lessons to prepare for competition and confirm whether my horse and I were ready to move up a level.
However, a pivotal moment in 1995 introduced me to an altogether different dressage paradigm when French dressage master Dominic Barbier made a stop at my corner of the world. The lightness, harmony, and joy he personified with each horse was more like an artistic dance. This creative right-brain approach challenged my left-brain methods and awakened my heart and soul to participate in a two-way dialogue with my horse.
Yet, after the clinic ended, I returned to the competition dressage community to further my education. My Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding, Seili and I pressed on to compete through Second level.
Seili and I at our first recognized show.
A move northward to rural western games territory forced me to rely on my hard-wired habits from the dressage training pyramid. Seili grew into retirement and my grandma body took shape. Smooth called me by name, and I acquired a three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana.
With the exception of a few traveling gaited horse and dressage clinicians who came to my region, I continued to apply the dressage pyramid of training as Makana and I moved through Intro, Training, and First levels. From 2010 to 2015 we traveled to a variety of dressage schooling shows willing to embrace the only non-trotting entry. In all we rode over 60 tests.
Showing my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in flat walk at a traditional dressage show.
Not long after the digital age introduced me to the work of classical French dressage master, Philippe Karl’s School of Légèreté (School of Lightness) and the late Jean Claude Racinet. I purchased a library of books and DVDs to begin experimenting with this different approach to dressage.
A favorite in my collection is DVD Classical Versus Classique where French dressage master Philippe Karl and Christoph Hess, head of the training department of the German National Equestrian Federation, demonstrate and discuss their differing dressage methodologies. It has been rewatched enough I need a fresh copy!
While Hess confirmed my competition dressage understanding, Karl challenged my hard-wired habits. Karl’s application of French dressage awakened me to a for-the-horse approach to training that seeks my horse’s response in a partnership of harmony.
Navigating differing dressage dialogues
Trying out this new dressage paradigm, I observed significant impacts on the horses I rode, particularly their responses to my hand, leg, seat, and weight aids.
Application of the hand, leg, seat and weight aids
The competition dressage system taught a back-to-front approach, where I used my seat and legs to drive my horse forward into a low hand position for contact. However, this method led to a lack of true connection.
How? The low hand position made contact with my horse’s tongue causing discomfort. My horse evaded the tongue pressure and tucked behind the vertical creating an illusion of lightness. Plus, his poll dropped below the highest point.
Adding to this, riding was an aerobic workout! I wrongly perceived my horses as lazy and felt compelled to keep them moving forward with each step. In actuality, my melded leg, seat and hand aids created this perceived laziness―much like driving my car with a foot on the gas pedal and brake pedal simultaneously! What a revelation to realize this mixed message prevented my horse’s forwardness.
French dressage introduces a distinct separation between the leg and seat aids for “go” and the hand aids for “stop.” This clarity has brought newfound clarity to our communication leading to lightness and responsiveness and removing the excessive exertion on my part to keep my horse moving forward.
Transforming my riding to the French dressage approach proved challenging. It took time to unlearn habits of combining my aids and adopt a new way of communicating with my horse. Yet, it has paid off. My horses have gained lightness, and now we ride with the poll as the highest point.
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time.
Makana at the age of 19.
Achieving relaxation and balance
In competition dressage, relaxation grew from riding miles upon miles on a 20-meter circle in a long and low position. While this developed the top line muscles, this approach actually conditioned my horse on the forehand. Moving Seili into Second level was a rude awakening. This meant retraining him to attain the required balance produced through the shoulder-in, haunches-in, and rein back.
In competition dressage, we believed the horse was in balance when ridden briskly forward enough to track up the hind leg steps.
True balance occurs when the head and neck are carried more over the horse’s body mass. The hindquarters engage where the hind legs lift beneath the belly more than push beyond the tail in disengagement. Engaging the abdominal muscles lift the back, and the chest muscles lift the shoulders and wither. This doesn’t happen in a long and low position.
In competition dressage, true balance is introduced at Second level where shoulder-in, haunches-in, and rein back are required. No wonder why it took Seili and I a couple years before we reached a showable Second level dressage test. We had to undo the habit of riding on the forehand to developing a posture of balance.
Few riders I know ever reach Second level and beyond in the competition dressage system. How do horse’s learn balance?
French dressage prioritizes balance and relaxation from the beginning of training. The rider gently teaches the horse how to accept and follow a mild snaffle bit from the ground. At a relaxed and balanced position, the horse learns to carry its own head and neck and not lean on the rider’s hands. The horse learns lateral exercises and rein back, as well as flexions and an extended position in-hand before saddle training.
Neck extension at a flat walk allows the horse maximum stretch from nose to tail and keeps the horse more in balance. When the nose is low to the ground, the horse collapses its chest muscles and is on the forehand.
Karl points out that the head and neck weigh up to 1/10th of the horse’s total weight. Imbalance occurs when the head and neck are propelled ahead of the body mass in a prolonged long and low position.
In French dressage any one position is not held at length. Rather the rider transitions the horse from moments of a balanced position to moments, not miles, of an extended position to stretch the top line muscles and spine and develop the full range of motion. Plus, this extended frame keeps the poll at wither height to maintain a lifted back and shoulders.
This early-on emphasis on relaxation and balance revolutionized my training approach. By prioritizing relaxation and balance, my horses developed softness, flexibility, and poised pride, setting the foundation for quality smooth gaits and greater trust.
Lightness of the hand and leg
Achieving lightness to the hand and leg is a crucial aspect of dressage. Competition dressage taught me how to drive my horse forward with my seat and legs into a low hand position. A higher hand position was frowned upon. To discourage my horse not to lean on the bit, I used draw reins, snug-fitting nosebands, and switched to a thinner bit.
French dressage has taught me a greater respect for the horse’s wellbeing in ways I had been completely unaware. For instance, I never knew that cueing with a low hand position actually presses the bit into the horse’s tongue and causes pain. Pain leads to bit avoidance. Pain also creates tension and for the naturally gaited horse, this leads to pacing. The angle of a low hand position is how a single-jointed snaffle becomes a nutcracker. A raised hand position does not.
French dressage offers a different approach by teaching the horse to be responsive and light to the hand aids apart from the leg aids producing self-carriage. The rider separates the hand and leg aids providing clearer communication between the stop and go aids. The horse learns to maintain the requested tempo through a light leg aid. This eliminates the rider’s need to constantly drive the horse forward, leading to a more responsive and engaged partnership.
As soon as I began separating my go and stop aids, my perceived “lazy” horse became lighter.
Instead of a fixed low hand position, cues are applied with a raised hand to avoid pressing the bit into the horse’s tongue. I also learned how to help my horse relax the jaw, poll, and mouth to teach bit acceptance and guide my horse into various head and neck positions while maintaining lightness. My horse’s comfort leads to bit acceptance and has brought about a more mental and physical relaxation, resulting in smoother gaits.
Bit acceptance
Competition dressage viewed it unsightly for the horse to open its mouth. We rode our horses in snug-fitting crank nosebands, flash nosebands, or drop nosebands to keep our horses’ mouths closed. This conveyed the appearance of bit acceptance.
However, this approach unknowingly caused discomfort for the horse. The combination of a low hand position and a snug-fitting noseband led to tension in the horse’s jaw and tongue. As a result, the horse would grind its teeth and try to evade the discomfort by tucking its chin behind the vertical. Despite my belief that my horse was light and on-the-bit, it was actually avoiding true contact.
The emphasis on salivation as a sign of proper flexion at the poll is also misleading. Dripping foam is not a sign of a relaxed horse, but rather a consequence of an uncomfortable noseband preventing the horse from swallowing.
Discovering the French dressage approach opened my eyes to true bit acceptance. By allowing my horse to relax its mouth and jaw, taste the bit, and swallow freely, my horse became happier, more comfortable, and able to move in a relaxed way.
In-hand exercises teach the horse bit acceptance and to follow then gentle hands through a variety of stretches. Here the outside neck muscles are stretched.
A noseband and flash attachment came with every dressage bridle I ever purchased. At first it was foreign to ride without one. Yet riding without a snug-fitting noseband permits my horse to relax the mouth and lower jaw, taste the bit, and swallow. My horse is happier, more relaxed, more comfortable, and able to move more freely without the braces that lead to pace, step pace, and a hard hollow trot.
Ultimately, the education of the mouth and its effect on the entire body aids relaxation leading to achieving fluid and smooth gaits.
One-way to two-way communication
In this French dressage exploration, I discovered the power of two-way dialogue with my horses and moved away from one-way requests. Our time together has become a harmonious exchange of communication through my voice and hand, leg, seat and weight aids while listening for my horse’s response.
Transitioning from one-way to two-way communication has been a transformative journey between me and my horse. Initially, competition dressage instilled in me a unilateral approach, where my aids conveyed commands to my horse. Resistance was met with an escalation of cues until my horse complied as expected.
Delving into the realm of French dressage opened my eyes to rich dialogue with my equine partner. I learned to not only ask with my hand, leg, seat, and weight aids but also to listen attentively to my horse’s response. Rather than interpreting resistance as disobedience, I now view this as misunderstanding or unable to perform a given request and strive to refine my communication and level of difficulty to ensure understanding. This approach brings about harmony, lightness, relaxation, and respect for my horse.
While competition dressage confined me to the arena in preparation for shows, French dressage has broadened our horizons. Our two-way communication extends beyond the confines of the arena, enriching our experiences on the trail, amidst sorting cows, navigating obstacles, and addressing fences. My horse and I now share a deeper connection that transcends the boundaries of the four corners of the arena, allowing us to thrive in various settings together.
Finally, French dressage challenges the notion that only talented horses can perform advanced movements like piaffe and passage. It welcomes all horses to develop their skills and reach their full potential.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at 20 years old at a piaffe.
French dressage for the naturally gaited horse
The teachings of Karl, Racinet, and other French dressage masters offer:
A deep respect for the horse
Riding for the horse’s comfort
Clarity of rider aids by separating the stop from the go
Teaching the horse to be light to the hand and light to the leg
Developing mental and physical relaxation and balanced forward movement without rushing
Developing connection, straightness, symmetry, and collection to bring about the range of motion and quality gaits
Shoulder in on a circle with Makana, my 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
French dressage has reshaped my approach producing quality smooth gaits in one of the most humane ways. Not all dressage is the same, but I believe what Philippe Karl says, “If the dressage is good, it will work on any horse.” Naturally gaited horses, like any other, thrive under these principles with grace and harmony.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Does your gaited horse struggle with a flat four-beat canter or bumpy lateral canter? You’re not alone. I’ve learned a few ways to improve canter quality with my gaited horse.
Here’s my story…
How to improve canter with a gaited horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Experiencing dressage with my naturally gaited horses proves that relaxation of the mind and body produce smoother gaits, including canter. This means less lateral canter and four beat canter.
“Don’t practice a poor-quality canter.”
I learned an important lesson from my gaited dressage mentor, Jennie Jackson. She says, “Don’t practice a poor-quality canter.” This means as soon as my horse begins to feel flat, hollow, bumpy, braced, or out of balance in the canter, I need to stop cantering and start over from relaxation. That’s when I transition from canter to a walk or halt, re-establish balance and relaxation and ask for a quality canter depart to quality canter steps.
This also means I need to recognize the feeling of a quality canter and a poor-quality canter so that I can ask for more of the former and reduce steps of the latter. If I continue riding a poor-quality canter, that’s what I teach my horse.
If I want a quality canter, I must know firsthand what a quality canter feels like and practice more of it. That’s why taking lessons from a qualified instructor is so important to me. Instruction provides me timely feedback so that I can learn the feeling of quality and the feeling of poor quality. This helps me train my horses with greater progress and success when I am riding on my own.
Helpful exercises to help break up a four-beat canter into a truer three-beat canter
Walk-canter-walk transitions
Rein back to canter
Practicing rein back with smaller steps that bend and fold the hind quarters of the gaited horse and helps improve canter quality.
One of my favorite exercises is establishing a soft and round rein back before a canter depart. When the rein back is soft, not forced, and not rushed, it encourages my horses to bend their hindquarter joints and engage their abdominal muscles which lifts their back. This puts them in a wonderful posture most conducive for a quality canter depart and canter steps.
Counter canter
Gymnastic jumping and ground rails
Showing stadium jumping over rails
While I will never become serious about show jumping my naturally gaited horses, I enjoy schooling them over ground rails and small fences for gymnastic purposes. It gives them variety in their training. I’ve noticed that when we ride over ground poles and small fences, it creates more lift to their canter and brings out a truer three-beat canter.
Video: Cantering a Gaited Horse over Obstacles
Video: Starting a Gaited Horse over Fences
Below is a cantering exercise over two ground rails in an L-shape. I begin by letting my horse walk over the rails before we cantered over them.
Video: Exercises to Break a Lateral or Four-Beat Canter
This is a super fun exercise for the rider and horse.
In addition to improving the quality of canter, you’ll also learn:
Balance of the horse
Rider balance on the horse
The horse’s rhythm
Keeping the horse forward yet relaxed
Looking ahead to plan the arc of a turn and line to a rail
Getting a feel for how many canter strides to a rail
The L-shape can also be used to school flying changes over the rail by alternating the direction over each pole.
Additional tips to introducing and improving canter quality
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
The shoulder-in is a great exercise for any horse, especially a gaited horse that paces. It diagonalizes the footfall sequence to break up pace, encourages a relaxed and soft position, develops balance, suppleness and strength.
The shoulder-in is a great exercise for any horse, especially the naturally gaited horse that paces, because this exercise diagonalizes the horse’s footfall sequence leading to a smoother gait. The shoulder-in is one of several exercises that helps break up a lateral footfall sequence to develop a smoother four-beat gait. Plus, the shoulder-in is a terrific exercise to teach balance.
First of all, let’s look at some of the reasons a naturally gaited horse paces, and then how the shoulder-in can help the horse develop a smoother gait.
Why do naturally gaited horses pace?
Some naturally gaited horses are inherently wired with a tendency to pace. Yet, there is hope for horses like this by teaching the shoulder-in.
Other reasons the naturally gaited horse paces are the horse feels blocked by a tense or stiff rider and riding in a saddle that pinches and causes the horse to tense and hollow its back. In either case the horse is unable to naturally swing its back resulting in pace or stepping pace. Learning a balanced riding position and riding in comfortable, well-fitting equipment is a must.
Adding to tension is a naturally gaited horse ridden with braced contact, a harsh bit, or riding with two-handed contact in a curb bit. The horse tenses its lower jaw leading to stiff, braced movement. Often the horse learns to avoid the contact by dropping their nose behind the vertical. Teaching the naturally gaited horse how to accept and follow a snaffle bit contact is a great way to teach relaxation of the mouth leading to smoother gaits. Learn more:Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit | Naturally Gaited Horse
Another reason a naturally gaited horse paces is a weak back, loading their shoulders, and disengaging the hind leg steps (not tracking up under their body mass with the hind leg steps). Teaching the horse how to perform a shoulder-in on a circle can transform pace into a four-beat walk while also suppling and strengthening the back and hind leg steps.
How can the shoulder-in help develop a smooth gait?
The shoulder-in is a three or four track lateral exercise that helps diagonalize the horse’s foot fall sequence which breaks up the lateral steps of pace. Plus, it relaxes and softens the horse while strengthening the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass. The hind legs and the front legs cross over, but not at the same time. The shoulder-in is not a side pass, rather it is a lateral bending exercise.
The shoulder-in also helps the naturally gaited horse learn balance by engaging the hindquarters, lifting the back, raising the chest and shoulders. The benefits include strengthening the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass and helping the horse become soft, supple, flexible, and symmetrical.
The shoulder-in can be ridden in a straight line or the arc of a circle. The shoulder-in along the rail or arena wall is a great way to guide the rider and horse through a few steps. After the rider and horse understand the exercise along the wall, the shoulder-in is also a beneficial exercise on a circle.
Shoulder-in on a circle
The shoulder-in on a circle is an excellent remedy for the pacey naturally gaited horse because it diagonalizes its foot fall and makes the forelegs slow down while the hindleg steps take bigger strides. This relaxes the horse’s back by the alternating right and left hind steps. After a few steps in shoulder in on a circle, the horse can be directed into a straight line as long as the horse maintains a four-beat walk. As soon as the horse begins to pace, the shoulder-in on a circle resumes to break the lateral foot fall sequence.
Introducing the shoulder in along the rail and in hand.
The best way to introduce the shoulder-in is in hand. Then once the horse understands the movement, it can be performed with a rider at a slow walk. When both the rider and horse are moving as one in a shoulder-in, the exercise can be applied at a slow gait.
Now let’s look at the rein, leg, seat, and weight cues.
What are the shoulder-in cues?
There are many ways to cue the horse for the shoulder-in using the reins, legs, seat and weight aids. Over the years I have learned a few ways which are outlined below. Most importantly, it is most helpful to the horse to remain consistent with the aids after a method is adopted.
Let’s take a look…
Four ways to cue the shoulder-in
Shoulder-in cues version 1
Shoulder in along the rail (Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at five years old)
I began riding dressage with non-gaited horses and learned to apply the shoulder-in on a straight line with the following aids.
Inside leg on the girth to encourage the bend
Outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunches along the bend
Outside rein to keep the head and neck from over bending
Inside rein to encourage softness and a slight bend
Shoulder-in cues version 2
Jennifer and her 6-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at a clinic with Larry Whitesell teaching us lateral exercises.
In 2010, I took my then six-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to a Larry Whitesell, a gaited dressage clinician, who introduced me to another set of cues for the shoulder-in.
Outside leg at the girth
Inside leg behind the girth encouraging the horse to step its hind leg under its belly
Outside rein keeps the horse from over bending the neck, inside rein applies a slight give-and-take with the fingers to encourage softness and a slight bend
The rider’s shoulders turns to face the direction of movement and slightly more weigh is applied in the outside iron
At first this method was counter to my habit of learning the first version. Yet after trying it I was amazed how easy my horse grasped the shoulder-in and how effortless it is for me to ride it.
Larry has a DVD set that demonstrates the shoulder in as well as other exercises. It wasn’t until I rode with him that I realized how a soft and light contact can be. Larry has traveled all over the country to teach riders the benefits dressage has for the naturally gaited horse leading to smoother gaits.
Shoulder-in cues version 3
The shoulder-in on a circle diagonalizes the foot fall sequence helping to break up pace.
I learned of another way to cue the shoulder in with my rein, leg, seat and weight aids when I began studying the School of Legerete by Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl through his books and DVDs.
The rider sits slightly to the inside if applying the exercise on a circle and slightly to the outside if applying the exercise on a straight line
Inside leg is at the girth to encourage the horse to step under its body mass and toward the outside front leg
Outside leg at the girth
Inside hand is raised while requesting the horse to relax the jaw, mouth and poll and bend inward enough to see the inside eye
Outside hand is lowered at the wither.
If the horse leans on the bit, both hands are raised to meet the corners of its mouth with a nudge upward until the horse carries its own head and neck
Riding Lady, my 20-something grade gaited horse on a shoulder-in on a circle.
In 2024 I began learning and applying shoulder-in on cues as taught by Heather Moffett through her Online Classical Equitation Academy and book, “Enlightened Equitation.”
Outside leg from the hip to the foot are drawn behind the girth and follow the belly sway
Inside thigh and calf are positioned at the girth also following the belly sway while encouraging forward movement
The rider draws their inside shoulder back when riding shoulder-in on a straight line (outside shoulder back when riding shoulder-in through the bend of a corner or on a circle)
Outside rein at the wither to keep the horse from over bending the neck,
Inside rein lifts to soften the lower jaw and ask for a slight bend to the inside enough to see the eye; when the horse responds, the inside hand can be lowered to the neutral position alongside the outside hand
The rider maintains equal weight in the irons and a balanced following position which helps the rider not collapse and allows the horse to lift its back instead of hollow
Why not give each shoulder-in method a try and see which one makes most sense for you and your horse. Then remember to be consistent with your rein, leg, seat, and weight aids to improve your communication with your naturally gaited horse to smoother gaits.
My barefoot and naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse and I are showing dressage at a flat walk and running walk instead of trot.
Showing Dressage with a Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Yes, you can show your naturally gaited horse in dressage without trotting!
This is great news for those of us who love to show. Showing gaited dressage is growing in popularity around the USA—both english and western variations. Virtual shows allow you to compete without leaving home.
Are you interested in riding your naturally gaited horse at a dressage show but not sure what to expect? I’ve ridden my Tennessee Walking Horse and grade gaited horse at traditional schooling dressage shows for years. This video shares tips on riding a dressage test with a gaited horse.
Watch: Tips on Riding a Dressage Test with a Tennessee Walking Horse
Schooling dressage shows
Schooling dressage shows are a great way to give dressage shows a try. In this friendly environment, you’ll receive constructive feedback from an experience dressage professional on where you and your horse are at in your training—what’s working and what needs improvement. Plus, you don’t have to wear the stuffy suit or braid your horse’s main, unless you want to. Casual riding attire is the norm at schooling dressage shows. The only requirements are riding with a helmet, boots with a heal, and riding in the right equipment: legal snaffle and english saddle for tradition dressage and some western dressage allows a legal curb or snaffle and a western saddle.
Riding a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in virtual North American Western Dressage Association Shows.
I love riding dressage tests because they are written to help the horse develop symmetry. All movements are shown traveling clockwise and counterclockwise. Invariably, one direction is more challenging for my horse and for me as a rider. Showing dressage encourages me to face my weaknesses and address challenges I might otherwise avoid, like breaking up the left lead canter that can get pacey or break into a cross canter. (Of course, not all dressage tests require canter. The Intro level tests generally require halt, walk, and a smooth gait like flat walk.)
Showing dressage with my naturally gaited horse challenges me to become more aware of how my riding position and use of aids affect my horse. The dressage test helps me communicate more precisely through the use and timing of my hand, leg, seat, and weight aids to guide my horse through each movement at the letter. This also means preparing my horse before each transition. Each test leads my horse through a variety of gaits and postures to develop quality smooth gaits and full range of movement.
Yet by facing weaknesses, my horse becomes more supple and stronger and improves symmetry, while I become a more confident rider and our partnership grows.
Five benefits to showing gaited dressage
Introducing your horse to unfamiliar sights and sounds
Being in the spotlight, alone in the arena with the judge’s undivided attention through several minutes of your test
Confirming where you and your horse are at in your gaited dressage training by a professional judge
Receiving your test sheet with scores and remarks from the judge to know what went well and what needs work
Bragging rights if all goes well!
Showing is not a requirement to learn dressage
For me, dressage is more than riding a test at a show. It’s about continually learning to become a more educated rider; developing a balanced riding position; awareness of feel; the use and timing of my hand, leg, seat, and weight aids; how my riding position and aids effect my horse.
Gaited dressage is about seeking to declutter my mind and be present with my horse; to listen to, understand, and respond to my horse in a two-way dialogue and partnership using my voice, my hand, leg, seat, and weight aids.
Gaited dressage is a mobile communication language
Gaited dressage is how I communicate with my horse whether I show or not.
Gaited dressage is while riding at home in my arena
Gaited dressage is while riding on the trail
Gaited dressage is while sorting cows or negotiating a trail obstacle
Gaited dressage is riding a test at a show
Dressage is a versatile language
Cow sortingGymnastic jumpingTrail Riding with a Gaited HorseBareback ridingEndurance ridingTrail trialShowing Western Dressage with a Gaited HorseShowing stadium jumping over railsSchooling dressage show
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Ever wonder how riding position and the communication system through the leg, seat, weight and hand aids affect the horse? How we ride our naturally gaited horse directly impacts smooth gaits for the better (or worse).
If you are searching for a more effective way to communicate with your naturally gaited horse into smooth gaits, read on…
Another way to ride to smooth gaits
By Jennifer Klitzke
I have been studying dressage for decades with non-gaited and gaited horses and have been introduced to a variety of rider positions and ways to effectively communicate with the horse through my leg, seat, rein and weight aids. Some methods are hard to understand and apply. Some methods are quite strenuous to apply and maintain. There are differing methods between German dressage and French dressage. Even within German dressage there are differences of application.
Then there is my riding recipe I have been refining from best practices of methods I have come across over the years, including the naturally gaited horse world. Yet, I know there are more applications I have not yet encountered.
Video: Rider position and effect on smooth gaits
Could there be yet another way to ride smooth gaits?
I wasn’t actually looking when I stumbled upon yet another way to ride my naturally gaited horses. In April, I was scouring Facebook for classical dressage groups. That’s when I discovered Heather Moffett is more than a fine saddle maker. I first learned of her name years ago after purchasing a secondhand Heather Moffett dressage saddle. Intrigued with her connection to classical riding, I had to learn more.
Enlightened Equitation
Turns out Heather Moffett is also a brilliant riding instructor and author. She’s been teaching her method for decades. Perhaps I had not learned of her since she is in the UK. In any case, I am thrilled how social media can connect us to people all over the world. After reviewing her website, I learned of her book, “Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse” and her Online Classical Riding Academy. She offers a free 14-day trial (plus, it is highly affordable if I choose to join).
I gave the trial a go. Then I joined the academy because there are so many videos to learn. I also purchased her book. “Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse” by Heather Moffett is a must-study for anyone desiring to learn a balanced riding position, what the hand, leg and seat aids are and how to effectively use and time of the aids. All of these elements directly impact the naturally gaited horse’s movement for the better. I haven’t come across a book that describes how to ride dressage with the horse in mind better than Heather’s book.
“Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse,” by Heather Moffett
Through the video demonstrations and detailed book explanation, I am learning breakthrough applications about my riding position, effective use and timing of my leg, seat, rein and weight aids leading to quality smooth gaits. Plus, her method is rather easy to understand and apply.
I highly recommend this affordable academy and her book for anyone looking for encouraging and well-articulated demonstration videos in helping to develop an effective rider position and its effect on the horse.
I have been a student of dressage since 1988 and wish I had stumbled upon Heather Moffett’s teaching years ago. Her easy-to-understand methods have been helpful, insightful and my horses are moving better than ever in their senior years.
Makana, my 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse and Lady, my 20-something grade gaited horse are giving the Mullen mouth pelham bit a try―one of the ideas offered by Heather to help the horse relax the jaw.
While Makana is already relaxed in the jaw riding in a snaffle bit, the pelham has helped to improve her balance in walk, flat walk and canter, as well as leg yield, shoulder in, transitions, and rein back.
Flat walk in a shoulder fore position
Video: Following the belly sway to smooth gaits
Even more is the difference it is making with Lady who tends to hold tension in her mouth and jaw. The Mullen mouth pelham has helped her find relaxation in her mouth leading to her best quality smooth gaits.
June 2024: Riding Lady, my 20-something grade gaited horse in a Mullen mouth pelham in her smooth diagonal gait.
Video: Why follow the belly sway to a smooth gait
Ride along with us as I share thought about rider position and its effect on the naturally gaited horse.
You must be logged in to post a comment.