Category Archives: Gaited Horse Training

Gaited Horse Training

Free Lunging Boot Camp

free lunging

Do you have months and months and months of winter time off? Then spring arrives and you can’t wait to ride again. Only your horse has grown a sagging hay belly and is desperately out of shape. Now what?

Free Lunging Boot Camp for the Naturally Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

Ever since my husband and I moved to our farm, it feels like I have to start all over again each spring after five months off. On one hand, I love seeing my horses every day even though the winters get long without an indoor arena. The downside is having to start the first month of spring getting back to where we left off in the fall.

When I used to board my horses, I rode year-round in an indoor arena during the winter months. This kept me and my horses in shape, and we didn’t have the downtime we have now.

Yet, winter offers me time to read my dressage books. Time to study our videos. Time to reflect on how we are doing and what we need to improve upon.

In my winter studies, I became aware of a few things in my riding that I have started to apply now that spring is here.

Stretching stiff outside muscles

Reading Philippe Karl’s Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage offers many insights about why horses are crooked, the symptoms of crookedness, and a how good dressage program helps horses become ambidextrous and equally flexible. This spring I am making a conscious effort to stretch stiffer outside muscles to become even with the flexible side. Read more>

stretching the outside muscles

The importance of engaging the hindquarters AND engaging the abdominal muscles to lift the back

It occurred to me that teaching the naturally gaited horse to engage the hind quarters to step deeper under its body and engage its abdominal muscles to lift its back are two separate functions. Both are essential for top line muscle development. I have noticed that engaging the hindquarters does not automatically engage the abdominal muscles to lift the back to a neutral position.

I wrongly believed that by engaging the hindquarters for a deeper step under the body also engaged the abdominal muscles to lift the back. This may be the case for some horses, but not all.

For me, I had to recognize this on video and photos and then begin to develop a sense of feel while in the saddle for when the horse’s back was hollow and when the horse’s back was neutral.

When I ask the horse for a quality rein back, I feel the back and wither lift. So this is the feeling I seek to maintain. The rein back, transitions between gaits, and a quality canter engage the abdominal muscles and so does a stretching trot.

Now that it is spring, I have started a few new tactics with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana and naturally gaited fox trotting mare Lady. Neither are spring chickens. Both are 16 years old. And both have developed sagging hay bellies over winter.

Getting back in shape starts in the cross ties

While in the cross ties, I have started to apply belly lifts. I poke them in the belly until they lift their back to a neutral position. I ask them to hold their back up for a few seconds. Then I release and praise them, rub their belly, and give them a snack. I do the belly lift about six times on both sides.

Free lunging

Then I take each horse to the round pen for free lunging. Normally I tack up my horse with a saddle and bridle, cross the irons, and loop the reins. For the purpose of this post, I free lunged Lady without tack to show how free lunging in trot and canter improve engagement of the hind quarters and abdominal muscles to lift the back.

Allowing the naturally gaited horse to trot at liberty will not ruin the horse’s smooth gait. In fact, teaching a gaited horse a quality trot on cue can improve the quality of smooth gait.

Below is a series of photos during our
20-minute free lunging session.

Pictured above is Lady, my 16-year-old naturally gaited fox trotting mare. I captured this photo in the beginning of our free lunging session that lasted about 20 minutes. You can clearly see how much of a sagging hay belly she has, how hollow her back is, how disengaged she is from behind (not stepping deep under her belly and her hind leg trails behind her tail), and how much she is on the forehand.
This is Lady about 10 minutes later. I encourage her to trot. While she trots, I encourage her to stretch her top line muscles. Notice the difference in the engagement of the hind legs and the back is more neutral. Lady is being free lunged in a round pen. This forces her to stretch her outside muscles. When she travels counter clockwise, she stretches her stiffer outside muscles.
I also encourage Lady in the working trot. Her poll (between her ears) is about level with her whither. Notice that her back is neutral, her stomach is not sagging, and she is engaged from behind. A quality trot like this builds the top line muscles, stretches the outside muscles (when on a circle), teaches the horse rhythm, and relaxation.
Canter
The other thing I encourage while free lunging is transitions from trot to canter to trot. Notice how the canter teaches Lady to step deep under her belly and lift her back.

I have been free lunging both Lady and Makana for 20 minutes each five days a week. I ask them to travel counter clock wise more than clock wise so that they stretch their stiffer outside muscles.

After free lunging, I work each horse in hand for 5-10 minutes to soften the jaw and poll and encourage the horse to taste the bit. Then I ride for another 20 minutes.

We should be back in shape before you know it!

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.

Gaited Horse Training, Tips for the Gaited Horse

Thoughts about the Imus Comfort Bit

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Thoughts about the Imus Comfort Bit

Coming from decades of dressage with trotting horses, riding exclusively in snaffle bits, a curb bit was just as foreign to me as a head-shaking, ear flopping, and teeth clicking flat walk.

Thoughts about the Imus Comfort Bit

By Jennifer Klitzke

It had only been weeks after acquiring my first smooth gaited horse when I came to the 2007 MN Horse Expo. In my quest for knowledge, I learned that Brenda Imus would be teaching clinics about natural and humane training methods for smooth gaited horses like my Tennessee walking horse.

Meeting Brenda Imus

I hustled to the training arena where Brenda would be coaching several demonstration riders with their naturally gaited horses. Impressed with her kind and humane training methods, I followed her back to her booth to purchase her DVD “Gaits from God.” You see, I had just purchased my first naturally gaited horse, yet, the smooth gait would be something I would need to develop. It isn’t something that just automatically happens just because she is naturally gaited.

Brenda’s DVD included the helpful information I was searching for to improve smooth gait with an added bonus. It provided insights on various bits, both curbs and snaffles.

Does a bit make a difference in how a horse moves?

The Effect a Bit has on a Horse

In the DVD “Gaits from God,” Brenda describes the action various bits have on the horse. Some bits pinch the lips and tongue which causes pain. Some curb bits have too much leverage. Both pain and too much leverage negatively impact a horse’s natural smooth gait. Pain and tension lead to pace in the naturally gaited horse.

Then Brenda described how the Imus Comfort Bit was designed to alleviate pain and tension. She demonstrated the effect a traditional Walking horse curb bit had on a naturally gaited Walking horse. Then the same horse was show being ridden with the Imus Comfort Bit.

Pain reaction vs bit acceptance

When the TWH was ridden in the traditional Walking horse curb bit, the horse threw its head up with each head nod in pain reaction vs. relaxation and bit acceptance. Its movement was pacey. With the Imus Comfort Bit, the same TWH moved fluid, relaxed and loose through its body, and its head nod was dramatic and pain free.

Impressed with the before and after difference, I had to try the Imus Comfort Bit with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse. Right away, I was simply amazed with how much better my Walking horse rode in it. Her head nod was deeper, freer and straighter; her ears flopped consistently, and I even heard an occasional click of her teeth. She was relaxed and responsive with a light contact. She even spooks less when I ride in the Imus Comfort Bit, so I felt safer.

flat walk with Imus Comfort Bit

The only downside I can think of is that the Imus Comfort Bit is not a recognized dressage bit. However, it is perfect for trail riding and rail class breed shows.

For more about the Imus Comfort Bit, visit: PhoenixRisingSaddles.

Video: Imus Comfort Bit in action at the Minnesota Horse Expo Tennessee Walking Horse demonstration

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
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Gaited Horse Training, Starting a Gaited Horse Over Jumps, The Versatile Gaited Horse

Forwardness is not an Option

gaited horse over fences

Forwardness is Not an Option

By Jennifer Klitzke

North Run Farm’s heated indoor arena made for a comfortable respite on a brisk Minnesota winter morning. Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse enjoyed digging into the unfrozen footing. The quality of her flat walk, running walk, and canter have noticeably improved through the jumping exercises we’ve been practicing.

square halt

However, it was a typical Minnesota winter day and Makana’s first encounter with the heater’s song and dance. Her forward flat walk came to a screeching halt each time she neared the humming heater. It wasn’t the jumping lesson I had in mind, but it was the lesson we needed. Len coached me through a course of distractions and Makana’s willful choices not to go forward. No doubt schooling through episodes like these will prepare us for future shows when we ride by clapping crowds, flapping banners, exuberant children, and the announcer’s booth.

Below are three take-a-ways from my January lesson at North Run Farm.

Lesson Tip #1: Working through distractions. Each time Makana would stop, stare, and blow back at the heater, Len suggested that I keep Makana’s shoulders, head and neck straight with a slight inside bend, and inside leg on. Then direct her into a small circle, gradually enlarging the circle until she willingly moved past the spooky object.

My previous approach to riding through Makana’s spooks has been to make her face the object, but this allows her to stop, and that rewards her for spooking. When it comes to jumping, stopping and fences do not mix.

“Forwardness,” Len said, “is not an option.”

After a few circles, Makana settled enough to proceed with jumping. Len set up a ground rail spaced nine feet before an “x.”  The ground rail was meant to minimize her choices as she learns how to jump—choices like becoming airborne six feet ahead of the jump, rushing, and jumping flat.

As I approached the line, Makana was still reluctant to move forward over the ground rail and “x” toward the heater. Len observed that my grandma-leg cues were not getting the desired response, so he popped a lunge whip behind Makana as she approached the line. Thankfully, Makana began to change her mind about jumping toward the heater.

Lesson Tip #2: Rider’s position on a green horse. Len noticed that Makana became distracted each time I tweaked my aids through the line. He encouraged me to circle into a forward canter, set my aids as I approached the line, and remain quiet through the line so that Makana could focus on learning. With calves clamped on and hands low with a light contact, I made it through the line without changing my position, my contact, and my legs. I felt the HUGE difference this made!

Lesson Tip #3: Break down confrontations into small bits. Confrontations are part of life and training horses is no exception. When things go wrong, Len encouraged me to simplify instead of trying to fix multiple issues at once.

First focus on forwardness, then add forwardness and straightness, then forwardness, straightness and frame, then forwardness, straightness, frame and the fence.

Most important, don’t proceed to jumping until the horse is forward. Remember, forwardness is not an option.

Let me know your thoughts by sending me a message. Stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

Gaited Horse Training

Long and Low for the Gaited Horse

Flat walk long and low

A long and low riding position at a walk or flat walk helps the naturally gaited horse relax, stretch, and strengthen the topline muscles of the neck and back. This can help break up a tense and nervous pace with a four-beat walk sequence.

Long and Low for the Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

Riding your gaited horse in a long and low frame can improve the quality of all gaits. In dressage, long and low is called free walk on a long rein. The free walk on a long rein is a great way to start a young green horse, as well as begin and end every ride on a horse of any level of training. This long and low position helps the horse relax and stretch the top line muscles. It also helps the horse slow down into a four-beat walk sequence with maximum over track.

The DVD “Training the Gaited Horse from the Trail to the Rail” by well-known naturally gaited horse trainers Gary Lane with Anita Howe offers tips to resolve pacing by using long and low.

While riding Tennessee walking horses, Anita builds the foundation in the easy gaits by encouraging a forward flat walk on a long and low frame. Over time of consistent and regular training, the naturally gaited horse develops topline muscles along the neck and back while establishing a consistent four-beat step. Then more tempo can be added into the smooth gait.

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

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
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