Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows

Gaited Dressage: Rocking R Farm Dressage and Stadium

Course of Rails at Rocking R

By Jennifer Klitzke

At the June Rocking R Farm Schooling Show, Gift of Freedom (Makana) and I took our first crack at riding through a stadium course over ground rails. What a large and fun course of 12-plus fences it was! We began well until we reached the fences along the bushes and Makana got stuck. It felt like we were stuck for HOURS! When we reached the finish line, my saintly husband said, “Hmm, I’m not sure Makana is suited for this type of showing.” Well, maybe not, but schooling over rails and fences at home has really improved her canter.

Gaited dressage at Rocking R
Free walk on a long rein

Stadium jumping might not be her thing, but Makana loves the dressage ring, and that’s where we had two very nice First Level rides scoring 65% and 66.49%. She lost her impulsion in the deep sand along the corners but regained it to show a noticeable difference between the working and medium canters and the flat walk and lengthening along the diagonals. Makana scored high in her center line for obedience and straightness and her squareness at the halt.

Areas we need to work on include consistency in connection, forwardness through the corners, and for me, keeping my hands close together through the entire test. Her leg yields are terrific at a regular walk, but we have yet to show the leg yield at a flat walk.

I love showing dressage for the reason that I get specific feedback from a professional eye on where we’re at in our training, both me and my horse. It gives us something to work towards and know when we are ready to move to the next level. By the end of the summer, I hope that Makana and I will move up to First Level test three and Second Level test one.

This was the first time Rocking R Farm offered Western Dressage and two women did a beautiful job riding their tests. At the next Rocking R Farm schooling show, I may tinker with riding western dressage—gaited style!

At each show, I’ve had great conversations with people who are interested in gaited dressage and this show was no exception. One of these days, I hope that Makana and I won’t be the only ones showing gaited dressage!

Photo Gallery of Rocking R Show>

Starting a Gaited Horse Over Jumps, The Versatile Gaited Horse

Gaited Dressage: A Course of Ground Rails

Gaited horse jumping

By Jennifer Klitzke

Gift of Freedom, my 8-year-old Tennessee walking horse and I are preparing for our first stadium class at the next schooling show (over ground rails, mind you.) In preparation for the show, I googled the Internet for a basic stadium course that I set up at home with ground rails.

 

Yes, jumping over a course over rails even improves our gaited dressage! The course pictured above helps me work on bending, rhythm, balance, and communication with my horse. Since we have been dabbling with jumping, Makana’s canter has improved and consequently, her flat walk has improved. She has more of a true three-beat canter and her stride has increased at a flat walk.

I’m telling you, this jumping stuff is so fun whether you have a gaited horse or one that trots. Give it a try and you can’t help but smile! (And let me know how it goes.)

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows, Gaited Dressage Videos

Gaited Dressage: From First Level to Intro?

Three Ring Circus Schooling Show

By Jennifer Klitzke

In an unexpected turn of events, Gift of Freedom (Makana) found her way to the Three Ring Circus schooling show held at Carriage House Farm in Hugo, MN on May 28, 2012 and sponsored by St. Croix Saddlery.

And how’s that, you ask? Well, I woke up at 5am to give Indy, my six-year-old Spanish Mustang a bath before his second schooling dressage show, when I noticed a gash under his chin where the bridle would fasten. “Oh, crap!” I thought as I cleaned up his wound. Then I wondered if the show manager would let me switch horses as long as we rode the tests we had entered. Being 5:30am and our first class at 7:58am with an hour drive time, I took the gamble and cleaned up the other horse I have a current coggins on: Gift of Freedom. The only problem is that Makana doesn’t trot and this is a large trotting horse show.

“Oh, well,” I thought, “we’ll go for the experience.” So I quickly got Makana ready, and we were on our way to the largest show I’ve ever been to—over 200 horses entered. Makana rode in place of Indy in Intro A, B, and C dressage tests with 24 horse/rider teams in each category. We drew a lot of attention as the only horse that didn’t trot, and as a result, I had several great conversations with people about gaited horses and dressage training.

I even met one family who’s daughter shows their Tennessee walking horse at a trot and has done very well at recognized shows. She said her horse’s trot is super smooth. Now that would be ideal, a smooth trotting horse. Compare that to my warmblood who practically sends me to the chiropractor every time I ride him! So if you have a Walker that trots, maybe traditional dressage shows are in your future. Gaited dressage clinician Bucky Sparks says his Walking horse stallion can trot on cue without it disrupting the flat walk and running walk, so I know it is possible to train a horse to trot and gait. As for me, I bought a gaited horse to gait and a trotting horse to trot.

We had terrific weather for the show. The Carriage House Farm facility is top-class with dust-free rubberized footing in the indoor and well-drained ag-lime footing outdoors. The show was extremely well organized for the number of trailers transporting over 200 horses and hundreds of cars filled with spectators. Amazing!

Makana seemed to enjoy being there as much as I did. I giggle because we had skipped Intro level when we began showing at dressage schooling shows a couple years ago. Now we are schooling second level and here we were showing Intro level. Makana did the best she could. After the first ride, the judge commented, “I have no idea how to judge your tests because you didn’t show a trot.” After our last ride she commented, “Nicely ridden. That’s a very nice, obedient, supple gaited horse.”

We finished all tests in the 53-56%-range and about middle of the score board—not bad for a horse that doesn’t trot!

Gaited horse at Three Ring Circus dressage show

Gift of Freedom and Jennifer Klitzke were the only gaiting gaited duo among a hundred entries at the Three Ring Circus Schooling Show held Sunday, May 28, 2012.

httpv://youtu.be/6rvFq_7GZPo

httpv://youtu.be/TmGkWOBhnMY

httpv://youtu.be/LnT2H8Xt6HU

 

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Rider Position for Gaited Horses

Rider Position and its Effect on Forwardness

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riders hands

Rider Position and its Effect on Forwardness

By Jennifer Klitzke

While auditing a gaited dressage clinic with Larry Whitesell, demonstrated three ways how rider position can effect the horse. The position of the rider’s hands, head, and arms can encourage the horse onto the forehand. And of coarse, I’m mortified that I’ve been guilty on all counts.

In Larry’s first demonstration, a woman volunteered to be the horse. She closed her eyes and held the bit in her hands while Larry held the reins. Larry repositioned his hand position from thumbs on top to a horizontal position (aka, puppy paws, piano hands). Without pulling on the reins, he asked her if she noticed a change and if so, what did it feel like.

The volunteer said, “It feels heavy.”

I was amazed how just turning the wrists from vertical to horizontal without pulling back on the reins could actually be felt as heavy through the reins! Larry said if hand position feels heavy to the horse, it can put the horse on the forehand.

In Larry’s second demonstration he changed his head position from looking ahead to looking down at the horse’s head. The volunteer had her eyes closed as she held the reins. Larry asked her if she noticed a difference and she said, “It feels heavy.” Again, I was amazed that the position of one’s head makes a difference to the horse through a loose rein contact.

Larry added that if you ride with straight arms, it also feels heavy to a horse and places them on the forehand. Wow, I’m guilty on all accounts and all at the same time! It’s no wonder my horse travels on the forehand.

Now that I’ve become aware of riding positions that are counterproductive to what I aim to achieve, I can become more intentional about riding with my thumbs up, arms at my sides with a bend at the elbow, and my head positioned up and looking ahead of where we are going.

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
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For more about Larry Whitesell and his gaited dressage training methods, visit: whitesellgaitedhorsemanship.com.

Gaited Horse Stories

Following Open Doors

gaited dressage

By Jennifer Klitzke

It is not easy to discern whether I should persevere through adversity or if am I fighting to keep a closed door open. Trials have a way of shaping me into who I am today and who I believe God is preparing me to becoming. Where I am today is not meant to be my final destination, but a means to it.

When I bought my Tennessee walking horse mare Gift of Freedom as a three year old, I had no intention of showing. I just wanted a smooth horse to ride. However, following the open doors have led me back to the dressage ring after a 15-year absence—ironically on a horse that doesn’t trot!

A month after purchasing my mare, I joined the Minnesota Walking Horse Association (MWHA), and a year later the association pleaded for more show participants. That open door led us to give it a try. Since then many MWHA experiences have shaped us: gaited dressage clinics with Bucky Spark that have helped me learn how to ride a head-shaking horse on-the-bit; Walking Horse rail classes that have led us to the State Fair and Minnesota Horse Expo—two life-long dreams come true; the gaited trail trials that have inspired me to tinker with the thought of eventing a gaited horse; and new friendships that have been kindled along the way.

No doubt we’ve grown during the last five years, but we’ve reached a cross-roads. Do I continue to persevere at Walking Horse shows that my horse doesn’t seem to want to be at? Am I just fighting to keep a closed door open? It’s not easy to discern.

Dressage schooling shows seem to be where this odd-duck gaited dressage duo is being welcomed, and it’s where my mare seems to excel. Doors have been opening in the schooling dressage circuit, the Western Dressage Association, and gaited dressage demonstrations among mainstream western and traditional dressage groups. These opportunities would not have been possible had I not followed the open doors leading up to them. For this I am grateful for the MWHA experiences that have prepared us.

Do I know what open doors are awaiting us next? Not really, but I’ll keep you posted along the way.

Dressage is More than Trot

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