Do you have a gaited horse that has a hard trot instead of a smooth gait? I did. Don’t be discouraged. With a little patience and consistent training, you might discover a handful of easy gaits!
Here’s my story.

Hard Trot to Easy Gait

By Jennifer Klitzke

Meet Lady, a grade gaited horse who arrived at my place two years ago from a friend. When I first began working with Lady, she had two distinct gaits: a dog walk and a hard trot. My strategy was to increase the speed of her dog walk to develop a flat walk. Then I increased her tempo just before she broke into a hard trot. Over time a couple steps turned into a circle and then into a consistent naturally smooth fox walk and fox trot.

Over the last year Lady has developed four distinct easy gaits: a medium walk, a flat walk, a fox walk, and a fox trot. While her gaits aren’t fancy, nothing beats Lady on the trail. She’s bold, smooth, and extremely efficient in her gaits. She can ride for a couple hours without breaking a sweat. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana can hardly keep up with Lady on the trail without cantering!

Lady’s Easy Gaits

The medium walk is a even four-beat gait and the horse’s head and neck nod with each step. All horses, whether they gait or trot, can perform the medium walk. Ideally the horse’s hind hoof print should meet or overstep the front hoof print.

The free walk is also an even four beat gait where I allow the horse freedom to reach down and out with its head and neck and take maximum ground covering steps. I use the free walk as a great stretching exercise to begin and end every ride and several times within a riding session as a reward to the horse. An active balanced free walk is a great way to start the flat walk.

The flat walk is an even four beat gait where the horse’s head and neck nod with each step of the hind legs. Ideally the horse’s hind hoof prints should overstep the front hoof prints. Lady is naturally short strided, and we are working to increase her depth of stride through developing an active free walk on a long rein. The flat walk feels even smoother than the medium walk and free walk.

The fox walk which is a smooth, uneven four beat gait with a 1-2–3-4 timing. The horse’s legs on one side will lift up and set down independently. The front leg and its diagonal hind leg will move forward together, but the front hoof will meet the ground before the hind hoof.

The fox trot is my favorite of Lady’s gaits. Like the fox walk, it is a diagonal easy gait where the diagonal pairs of legs lift off the ground and move forward together, but the front hoof sets down before the hind hoof. In motion, the fox trot gait sounds like “ka-chunck, ka-chunck,” because the hind foot fall occurs moments after the fore footfall. The horse’s head and neck also nod with the motion of the hind legs. The fox trot feels like a gentle rocking forward and backward in the saddle. It is comfortable and fun.

Canter. Now that Lady is set in her easy gaits, I’ll start dabbling with canter. In the meantime, I continue to ask her to increase speed in her fox trot just before she breaks into a hard trot, and I allow her to move actively forward in a free walk to increase her depth of stride as she further develops her flat walk.

So if you have a gaited horse with a hard trot, don’t be discouraged. With a little patience and consistent training, you might find out that you have a handful of easy gaits ready to be discovered!

Watch: Gaited Horse Transformation:
Hard Trot to Easy Gaits

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

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Clinics

From Trail to Rail to Dressage?

July 18, 2015 Jennifer Klitzke

Jennie Jackson and Cynthia Priebe — Pictured left to right: Dressage en Gaite Clinician Jennie Jackson, Heritage Walking Horse Temp’s Red Rascal, and Cynthia Priebe.

By Cynthia Priebe, Guest Writer

If you Google “Dressage,” you will learn it is a French term most commonly translated to “training.” To most horsemen it conjures up
images of horse and rider teams such as Charlotte DuJardin and the great Valegro. We think of FEI, USEF, WEG and the Olympics.
We may think of Levels, tests and Freestyle performances. We recognize and may even understand a leg yield, shoulder-fore or shoulderin. We may not however think of our gaited horses doing these maneuvers, but we should!

Dressage at its most fundamental is a standardized and progressive training method intended to bring out a horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to do what its rider asks of it. At its peak, the horse will respond ably to a rider’s minimal aids. The team performs together and it looks effortless. It is NOT breed specific. All horses can benefit from its principles and techniques.

However, over the years if I would discuss dressage as could be applied to my TWH, I would receive odd looks, wrinkled up noses, scoffs or comments of “Dressage does not and cannot apply to a Walking Horse.” If I was referring to the Equestrian sport of the FEI, USEF or USDF, they are correct, but I was referring to its principles and exercises for training.

The last few years have changed that. Gaited Dressage though not widespread is now recognized. Facebook and Web pages are dedicated to the subject. Clinicians and trainers of the gaited horse have written books, posted videos and sell DVD’s.

This past April, Temp’s Red Rascal and I attended a Jennie Jackson’s Dressage en Gaite Clinic. A day of watching other riders learn how to apply dressage principles to their gaited horses, and a one-on-one session of our own. Rascal and I haven’t really done anything but ride around the barn for the last few years. Improving health and other factors have revitalized my energy. Rascal’s abilities, temperament and patience have revitalized my confidence. My goal – use dressage to get us both back into shape.

Cynthia and her Heritage Walking Horse Temp's Red Rascal — Cynthia and her Heritage Walking Horse Temp’s Red Rascal

Jennie is so good at communicating with any and all levels of rider experience. She is patient, and really understands the gaited horse. She helped me understand where we are in the training pyramid and what we might be capable of. We successfully performed leg yields and shoulder-in and learned a new way to warm up for focus, muscle elasticity and increased responsiveness to the aids all without expending the energy Rascal would need to perform properly. May not seem like much, but what we learned that day has completely changed our relationship and what we have been able to accomplish together since.

Most of the Walking Horses at the clinic were from show bloodlines, and Rascal presented very differently so I seized the clinic as an
opportunity to discuss the Heritage Walking Horse. Other than Jennie, no one was familiar. Jennie explained how Rascal’s temperament, build and “On/off” switch where hallmarks of
the Heritage horse. She took the time to explain that though Rascal’s build kept him from having a big over stride, it was not what he was bred for. He was bred for a steady and consistent 4 beat gait that would cover uneven ground safely. So proud that Temp’s Red Rascal could be an ambassador for the Heritage Walking Horse that day!

Since the clinic, Rascal has been improving in all aspects of his condition, responsiveness and ability. He has actually increased his stride length which I attribute to our lateral work and the conditioning that dressage provides. We plan on showing again this year in Halter, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship (Equitation.)
I am not sure where we will pin, but I know we will have more fun this year than we have had in long time. And I am looking forward to the growth of Gaited Dressage and the possibility of testing in the near future on Temp’s Red Rascal.

So next time you hear “Dressage,” think Dressage en Gaite!

For more about the International Heritage Walking Horse Society, visit IHWHA.com.

To learn more about Jennie Jackson and her dressage en gaite clinic schedule, visit Jennie Jackson’s Dressage en Gaite Facebook Group.

Gaited Dressage Videos, Gaited Horses and Cows, The Versatile Gaited Horse

Video: Cows and the Gaited Horse

June 18, 2015 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

It’s been a while since my naturally gaited Walking horse, Makana and I have worked with cows. I was so excited to see that Hi Circle Vee Ranch was having a Beginner’s Cow Sorting Clinic. My horse was due. She loves moving cows more than anything else. I think the reason she enjoys it so much is because she is the lowest on the pecking order and the cows give her something to push around!

Our clinician, Brandon Kruger, offered us strategies in reading cows and practical exercises to help our horses be more maneuverable.

One such exercise was the use of the counter bend. I’ve used the counter bend as a straightening exercise with my horses, but it had never occurred to me that it would have practical use in sorting. Brandon suggested to ride the horse on the counter bend along the fence, because it allows quicker change of direction for the horse when the cow darts off the other way.

The application of the inside leg to outside indirect rein has been so ingrained in my riding, because I am so fixated on getting the inside hind leg to step deeper under my horse. Brandon offered another practical maneuver which involves a different set of aids to lighten the forehand by engaging the hindquarters. The aids are to use the inside rein and outside leg at the girth. This makes the horse lighter in the shoulders so that it can more quickly lift up and change directions to stay in step with the cow.

Working the hole (the space between the two round pens) is the hardest thing for me and Makana to do because those sneaky cows read us and out maneuver us more often than not. Brandon worked with each of us one-on-one and gave us some great tips. One of the best tips is to ride the horse two feet in front of the hole instead of inside of the hole. This tip along with the inside rein to outside leg kept more cows from sneaking through the hole than when we stood inside of it.

After our one-on-one lesson, we broke into two person teams for sorting. Sara and her Quarter horse and me and Makana made a great team. Sara had only been riding her Quarter horse for a week and it had been her horse’s first time working with cows. In the three sorting rounds, we got all ten cows sorted in order in 90 seconds or less. This is a first for me and Makana thanks to Brandon’s teaching. Everyone at the clinic was excited to join a sorting league!

Video: Sorting cows with a gaited horse

Thank you to Hi Circle Vee Ranch for hosting the clinic and to Brandon Kruger and his lovely wife for the teaching and encouragement.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows, Starting a Gaited Horse Over Jumps

Gaited Dressage [and Jumping] at Northwoods

June 5, 2015 Jennifer Klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

Thanks to the familiar faces, I felt like I was showing among friends at the Northwoods schooling show instead of me, Makana, and tripod.

Northwoods offered their first annual schooling dressage [and hunter] show on May 30, 2015. I took my naturally gaited Walking horse Makana—the only gaited horse/rider entry among 29 trotting horse tests ridden, Intro through First Level.

Nearing the arena I heard someone say my name. I turned to look and a woman introduced herself. We came to know each other through NaturallyGaited.com. I was delighted to connect with her face-to-face.

Then another woman I had met through the Western Dressage Association rode her Norwegian Fjord at her mare’s first dressage show. These women, among the other friendly spectators and competitors, made it feel like I was riding with friends instead of showing solo—me, Makana, and tripod.

Since Makana seems to run out of gas so quickly, I’ve been making a point to do more conditioning with her during our rides at home. It really paid off. We rode both First Level Tests One and Three back-to-back and Makana had enough energy to spare. The tests were held in Northwood’s spacious mirror-lined indoor arena with dust-free rubberized footing.

This show marked the first time Makana and I had ever ridden First Level Test Three which is filled with lots of new challenges: leg yield zig zag at a flatwalk, 10-meter flatwalk circles, counter canter, and simple changes of lead at X through the flatwalk, in addition to the running walk, canter lengthenings, and 15-meter canter circles.

To my amazement Makana scored 70.294% on First Level Test Three and received a respectable score of 65.926% on First Level Test One.

After our rides, Judge Colleen Holden remarked, “That was really fun to watch how you orchestrated all those variations of walk.” She said that we received an “OMG” on our free walk and medium walk because they were the best she had seen all day, and she was very impressed with our transitions, and the quality of our canter. Areas she encouraged us to work on are developing better bend which will improve the overall elegance of our tests.

After the dressage tests were completed, the outdoor arena was set for the hunter course. While I continue to school Makana over ground rails and small jumps at home to improve her canter, it had been a couple years since we entered a hunter course.

The last time we rode a course of ground rails, Makana spooked, refused, and hesitated getting near the strangely colored poles. The Northwoods schooling show promised to be a fun and beginner-friendly event, so I entered Makana in the hunter course over ground rails.

What a terrific course—eleven poles with lots of turns and canter stretches made it feel more like a cross country course. I was so proud of my girl. She confidently cantered the entire course of rails without a spook, refusal, or hesitation! In fact, I was tempted to enter her in the 18″ cross rail course.

Video: Naturally gaited (and barefoot) Walking horse over a hunter course of ground rails

Special thanks to Northwoods Stables for hosting their first annual dressage and hunter schooling show and for accommodating gaited dressage.

Hoof Trimming for Gaited Horses

Barefoot and Sound

May 30, 2015 Jennifer Klitzke

Are shoes required for showing? Do shoes make a horse sound? Can a horse perform well barefoot and sound?
Here’s my story to barefoot and sound…

Barefoot and Sound: How I Threw the Shoes and Discovered Natural Soundness for My Tennessee Walking Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

During the competition dressage years with my Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding, he wore shoes on all fours year-round for his soundness and quality of movement. He was stalled at a show barn and fed alfalfa and sweet feed. That’s what everyone at show barns did back then, so I followed along. I didn’t know differently nor ever thought to question it.

Five years later at 12, my gelding became stricken with laminitis, so the farrier added pads and wedges to his shoes. We had the best farrier in the area, and I trusted his credentials believing shoes and pads were necessary for his soundness. I believed barefoot would make him worse not better.

Still plagued with laminitis three years later, I retired my gelding from dressage competition. Then we moved to the rural North, and I had the shoes pulled. There were no more intentions of showing any of my horses.

Over time barefoot began to heal my gelding from his lameness, as well as limiting his pasture time, and changing to a low-carb feed and a grass hay diet.

By the time my naturally gaited and barefoot Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana joined our herd, my now 23-year-old barefoot gelding was sounder than he had been at 12 with shoes, pads and wedges. I was grateful to my barefoot trimmer.

Then the Tennessee Walking Horse club I had joined pleaded with members to enter the county fair to keep the tradition of Walking horse classes alive. Hearing they encourage naturally gaited and barefoot horses; I took my four-year-old dressage trained Walking horse to her first rail class show. It was a fun experience riding under the lights at night at the county fair.

I didn’t know much about healthy hooves, because I relied on my farrier’s expertise. I could have kicked myself for not paying more attention when my farrier announced his retirement. He did a terrific job and my horses moved better than ever.

Thankfully, I found a new farrier nearby to schedule the next trim. I noticed a different approach. He would trim from the top and rasp away any flare that grew. The hooves sure looked good when he was done, but the flares kept coming back.

The next year the Walking horse club urged members to enter the show again. I was game. While there a fellow competitor discretely pulled me aside. “I hope this doesn’t offend you,” she said, “But I’m concerned if you don’t get your horse’s feet trimmed correctly, she might not stay sound.”

Alarmed yet grateful, I thanked her for opening my eyes to what I hadn’t seen. My ignorant trust blinded the risk I had placed my horse’s soundness in.

I tried talking with my farrier about making some adjustments. It didn’t go well leading to hiring another farrier who confirmed my friend’s concerns.

From that point on, I became an educated and informed caregiver learning how to keep my horses’ hooves healthy from the inside out. Over the course of the next year, I began to study the work of barefoot trimmers and learn about diet and its effect on soundness.

In 2011, I took the plunge and began trimming my horses. Hats off to professional hoof trimmers. You couldn’t pay me enough to do this for a living. While it’s great exercise, it’s a killer on my grandma body. Yet, it has been rewarding for the few horses I trim.

A healthy hoof is a science. Like dressage, learning to trim hooves is a journey of education. There are many factors affecting the feet: climate, turnout, terrain, diet, conformation, workload, and genetics to name a few. Among the many barefoot hoof trimmers I have studied, there are differences of opinion: Are the bars, frog, and dead sole to be trimmed or left alone? Is the wall beveled or not? Are the feet round or oval? Is a heel desirable or not? Is the wall or the sole the main support for the horse?

For my first couple years of hoof trimming, I just followed one tried and tested method. If I noticed an issue pop up like a flare, I explored what other hoof trimmers did about it. I had to be a discerning and critical student. Do I believe all show horses need to wear shoes? Not anymore. Do I believe barefoot horses can perform to the best of their abilities? Yes, I do. Does this mean horses should never wear shoes? No, I would never say that for others, but for me and my horses, we have done well without shoes and remained sound.

I rode my retired barefoot Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding until he was 29 years old, and he passed away sound at 34.

Seili in 2013 at 29 years old — My barefoot Trakehner/thoroughbred at 29 years old.

As for my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana, she and I have shown dressage, rode endurance races, sorted cows, trail ride, and have done gymnastic jumping barefoot. At 20, Makana is still barefoot and sound.