The last three Légèreté clinics have connected many dots that were missing from my book and dvd study. The October 2020 Légèreté clinic with Linda Hollingsworth Jones was no exception. This clinic answered questions to a quandary with my naturally gaited horses: if resistance pops up, does it mean I am doing Légèreté wrong? Does resistance mean that Légèreté is not for gaited horses? 

Here’s my story…

Resolving Resistance with Légèreté

By Jennifer Klitzke

I have been inspired and have learned so much through my Légèreté dvd and book study over the years. I love the harmony the riders have with their horses and how happy the horses express themselves. Thankfully, my horses are happy most of the time. However, resistance pops up when I ask for something new or challenging. Tail swishing, pinned ears, and body language that says, “NO!” This doesn’t look like the harmony I see on the dvds. 

Clearly, I am nowhere near the expertise of Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl. This makes me wonder: Am I doing Légèreté wrong when I experience resistance? Am I the one creating the resistance? How do I renegotiate moving forward in training with my naturally gaited horses without resistance? Is a resistant-free relationship with gaited horses possible? Have my gaited horses reached their limit?

Or could it be that resistance is part of any relationship, horse and human. The difference is whether or not I acknowledge and work through conflict and how I choose to work through conflict? 

Think about it. How successful is avoiding conflict with the people in our lives? Every time we sweep conflict under the rug and pretend it isn’t there, the hidden conflict doesn’t go away. It seems to grow bigger and bigger when unaddressed. The small conflict grows into a hairy ordeal. Now we kind of wished we had addressed it when it was a small matter, right? I wonder if this could be the same for resistance and our horses?

Perhaps resistance doesn’t mean I’m doing it wrong. Perhaps resistance means a lack of understanding and need for clarification. Perhaps resistance means, let’s slow down, take it step by step and better understand each other. Let’s negotiate through this to a positive outcome where our relationship can be even better on the other side. Perhaps resistance is an opportunity to help my horses experience the potential they aren’t realizing they have. 

For my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana, we have been stalled at first level for several years. Thanks to Légèreté, we are working on second level movements which are improving her balance and the quality of her canter. 

Makana is light to the hand at the halt and walk. However, when we transition to flat walk and canter, she becomes heavier and heavier. I feel like I am in a perpetual demi arret which leads to resistance. I wonder, “Am I doing Légèreté wrong? Is Légèreté not for gaited horses?”

For my naturally gaited horse Lady, we have made tremendous improvement this summer by applying Légèreté methods: acceptance of the bit, relaxation of the jaw, tasting the bit, flexions and counter bend turns to move the shoulders. We have established a light contact with the reins at a halt and walk. Yet, when we move from walk to fox trot, she gets heavy in my hands unless I ride her in a floppy rein. I feel like I am doing a perpetual demi arret to ride with contact. When I ask for shoulder in and haunches in, I am met with resistance. Again, I wonder, “Am I doing Légèreté wrong? Is Légèreté not for gaited horses?”

Or could it be that by avoiding the conflict, am I allowing a hairy ordeal to grow under the rug?

The October 2020 Légèreté Clinic

I was thrilled to participate with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, at our second clinic with certified USA Légèreté instructor Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones and audit the sessions of the other trotting horse riders.

Meeting resistance with dialogue

Bringing forty years of horse training to Légèreté has its advantages. Linda is one of the few Légèreté instructors who rides clinic horses. Watching her ride has been one of my favorite highlights. She is able to hone in on the horse’s asymmetry and help the rider develop a program to bring about symmetry and balance for the betterment of the horse. 

When Linda addresses this asymmetry with each horse, what do you think occurs? Resistance. For me, watching her resolve resistance with Légèreté and helping the horse find understanding in its next step of progression to its potential is exactly what I needed to see. 

We witnessed astonishing transformations as Linda worked with each horse through the resistance. For some, it meant stepping under the body with the inside hind leg a couple inches more, which brought the horse into greater collection and expression. For others, it meant lightness to the leg, meaning responsiveness to the lightest leg cue. For others it meant understanding the clarity of aids.

Yes, resistance is a realistic part of Légèreté training. 

Afterwards, one of the auditors asked, “How do you know whether the horse is resistant or unable to do what is requested?” 

“Great question,” Linda replied, “Forty years of horse training.” 

This is why I keep taking lessons with people like my Légèreté coach, Linda Kaye Hollingsworth Jones, my local instructors, Kari and Rick Schmitt, and my gaited dressage instructor, Jennie Jackson who are experienced horse trainers and in the know.

For me, this clinic answered my questions about resistance. Légèreté is a way to listen to the horse to better understand. Then provide the tools and method to lead the horse to a better outcome when addressed instead of avoiding conflict and staying stuck. Persevering with an instructor who is in the know helps me discern what is possible and push through obstacles.

Resistance doesn’t look like harmony. Neither does avoidance. When resistance is met with understanding, kindness, and an educated rider leads to harmony.

Effective Timing of the Aids

In terms of the demi arret (upward actions with the rein(s) to say to the horse “stop leaning on the bit”), the trotting horse riders struggled with heaviness in trot and canter just as I have in gait and canter. Linda helped us understand the importance of effective timing in the demi arret and décent des mains (stop acting with the hands). The demi arret needs to be applied BEFORE the horse thinks about leaning on the bit and BEFORE the horse is heavy.

Seeing both resistance and heaviness exist with the trotting horses encourages me to know I am not alone. It is not a gaited horse issue.

And my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and I met resistance head on in our lesson with Linda and worked through it for a better outcome. Our lateral left lead canter began to transform through traver-walk transitions, and demi arret and décent des mains timing and application helped with lightness in canter. Linda was pleased with our improvement from two months ago in our canter transitions and piaffe quality.

Yes, Légèreté is for gaited horses, too!

Piaffe is a great exercise for the naturally gaited horse to improve canter quality and diagonalize lateral gaits.

What are your thoughts? Please reach out and send me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.