Did you know that there are different forms of dressage, producing different result? Here’s my story.
Not All Dressage is the Same
By Jennifer Klitzke
In the realm of dressage, there are various approaches and methods that can shape the way we train and communicate with our equine partners. From the competition dressage pyramid to an artistic French dressage style, each path offers unique outcomes.
After seven years studying competition dressage, French dressage master Dominic Barbier traveled to my region. I experienced the lightness and joy he brought to his work with horses. This sparked a shift in my training methods, moving towards a more creative and right-brain approach that focused on a two-way dialogue with my horse.
As I delved deeper into my dressage journey, I encountered the teachings of classical French dressage master Philippe Karl and the late Jean Claude Racinet. Their emphasis on balance, relaxation, and the separation of hand and leg aids opened up a new way of communicating with my horses.
Contrasting the back-to-front approach of competition dressage, where we drove our horses forward with our seat and legs into our hands to form contact, the French dressage method lightness to the hand and leg by separating the leg and seat aids for “go” from the hand aids for “stop.” I found an improved responsiveness from my horses through this distinction in my communication.
The focus on relaxation and balance from the beginning of training in French dressage has transformed the way I work with my horses. By prioritizing the horse’s comfort and well-being, I have seen improvements in their mental and physical relaxation, leading to smoother gaits and a deeper partnership.
Transitioning from a one-way to a two-way communication approach has been transformative as well. Instead of viewing resistance as disobedience, I now see it as a signal of misunderstanding or difficulty, prompting me to refine my communication and level of difficulty to ensure understanding and harmony with my horse.
In dressage, there are more than one path to explore, each offering its own applications and outcomes. French dressage has reshaped my approach and instilled a deep appreciation for the artistry and partnership that define this paradigm. As I continue to navigate the nuances of different dressage methods, I am reminded of the words of Philippe Karl: “If the dressage is good, it will work on any horse.”
Dressage is a journey of discovery, communication, and partnership with my horses. I am grateful for the diverse approaches that have enriched our experience.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Many of you know me as an avid gaited dressage equestrian and the author of Naturally Gaited, but I am also a daughter of a gentle, kind and generous man with unwavering integrity and a brilliant mind who lost his battle to Alzheimer’s disease on January 25, 2017, at the age of 77. The day my dad passed away, we had an angel encounter without even knowing it.
Angels Unaware
By Jennifer Klitzke
As a child, Dad grew up around work horses, Dolly and Sally. His Grandfather was a blacksmith for the logging mill where horses earned their keep.
Unfortunately, the love for horses didn’t gravitate to Dad, so he didn’t raise me up with them. Mom and Dad prayed I’d outgrow this insanity for horses.
Nope. Horses were in my blood, and it wasn’t until I moved out, acquired my first real job, saved up my money, and bought my first horse in 1988. She was an off-the-track-thoroughbred named Seasons. I bought her for trail riding, jumping and dressage. Dad kept asking me when I’d be racing at Canterbury. He was sure we’d be a winner.
Me and Seasons 1988
Dad had great faith in me. His support was always with me whether or not I had a winning [race] horse.
In January 2017 I lost Dad to a long and grueling battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Most people knew him as Jerry. I knew him as Dad.
He was a complex character of eclectic interests: an outdoorsman, a country western singer, a rose grower, a videographer, a polka dancer, and an artist.
Dad was a man of few words, a deep thinker, an off-the-chart introvert, and proud to be 100% Finnish.
He was a man of principle; quiet and reserved. Not an easy guy to strike a conversation with, unless you like to do all the talking. He wasn’t much for idle chit-chat at the water cooler. In fact, as Chief Design Engineer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, he was known for conducting staff meeting right before lunch in a room without chairs!
I knew my Dad as a kind, gentle, genuine, and generous man with unwavering integrity. I knew this, not by what my Dad said, but by how my Dad lived.
Me and Dad 1964
My dad was a wonderful provider for our family, a loyal husband to my mom for 54 years, and he was a supportive father of two daughters, me and my sister, Julie. I saw his generosity throughout his life of serving others, notably his family, as well as decades of volunteer work with the Minnesota Horticultural Society, City of Cottage Grove, and the Lutheran church.
Whenever I had car trouble, my dad would drop everything to help me. (My first car was a Ford Pinto, which explains just how often I needed his help!) That was every winter when my car wouldn’t start, every spring when my car got stuck in the mud, and every summer when my car would overheat. Not to forget the times I accidentally locked my keys in my car or got a flat tire. Dad would be there, greeting me with his delightful grin.
As a child my dad taught me how to ride a bike. He ran alongside me to keep me steady until I found my balance and began pedaling on my own.
Dad taught me how to build the best paper airplanes, and he showed me how to construct and fly a kite.
Dad brought me fishing in Northern Minnesota to places he fished as a boy—places where the lunkers live. One summer, Dad took my family to the Boundary Waters where we canoed, portaged, and camped on our very own island.
Me, Mom and Sis at the Boundary Waters 1970 (Dad took the photo)
As a family we always ate dinner together, and on the weekend we’d do things like go bowling, go on picnics, or play catch with the softball. Dad even became our softball coach. One of my favorite memories was when we played the undefeated team. Whenever a fly ball came to right field, our fielder would hide behind her glove. On this particular day, the ball landed right in her glove. My Dad ran into the field and shook her hand!
Dad coached my softball team, 1979
Over the years, my dad had volunteered countless hours caring for the roses at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. In 2002, my husband and I were married there. Dad walked me down the grassy aisle at the rose garden and then he captured the ceremony on video. It was a special day, a special place, and a special memory.
Dan and I married in the MN Landscape Arboretum Rose Garden 2002
When my husband and I moved to our farmhouse, Dad gave me several rose plants he had started from seed. These are treasured keepsakes of my dad every summer when they bloom.
Dad’s Roses
In 2010, Dad came to my college graduation and recorded the ceremony. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree and now both of his daughters had reached this milestone.
During this time Alzheimer’s began to steal my Dad away.
It didn’t seem fair. His parent lived sober-mindedly into their 90s. Dad thought he had longevity on his side. Mind over matter, Dad put up a good fight, but Alzheimer’s continued to erode away his mind.
In 2012, our family took a last-minute road trip to New Orleans and celebrate my mom and dad’s 50th Anniversary. I continued to take Mom and Dad on short road trips to Galina, IL, Munsinger Gardens, and the Apostle Islands before Alzheimer’s overcame Dad’s life.
Mom and Dad, Munsinger Gardens 2014
The last three years have been agonizing for my family, but Alzheimer’s doesn’t define who my Dad was, and Alzheimer’s doesn’t have a hold on him anymore.
I will always remember my dad as a kind, gentle, genuine, and generous man with unwavering integrity. I miss you, Dad. I miss you.
The day after my Dad had passed away, my Mom, Sister and I met with the funeral Chaplain. She showed us the funeral program options. Among them was a cardinal. All three of us gravitated to this program because of my Dad’s great love for birds.
“Do you know the significance of the cardinal?” asked the Chaplain.
We shook our heads, no.
She said the cardinal is symbolic of those who have departed and come back to escort a loved one on to eternal life.
Mom, Julie and I burst into tears because just hours before Dad had passed away, a male and female cardinal had perched in the snowy tree outside of his room. It seemed odd as there were no bird feeders around. The pair perched in the tree for 15 minutes—long enough for their presence to be noticed. Dad was close to his parents who had both passed away just a few years before.
My Grandma had faith in Jesus, and I shared my faith in Jesus with Grandpa and Dad for the hope of eternal life.
There was no doubt in my mind God had sent the male and female cardinal as angels to give us hope that Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad are with Jesus until one day we join them for eternity.
Practicing rein back with smaller steps that bend and fold the hind quarters of my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse.
A quality rein back has many benefits for the naturally gaited horse.
Rein Back for the Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Back in the days when I rode dressage with non-gaited horses, the rein back was commonly not introduced until the Second level tests. Since many riders never reach Second level, they miss out on learning the benefits of the rein back.
I took my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to a gaited horse clinic. The clinician introduced the rein back to horses and riders of all ages and training levels. After all, the rein back is a required movement in TWH rail class shows. Yet a quality rein back has great benefits for the gaited horse.
A quality rein back
In a quality rein back, I like to train my naturally gaited horse to engage from behind, bending the hindquarters, engaging the abdominal muscles, and lifting the back, chest, and wither. The horse needs to soften in the bridle without dropping behind the bit. Then step back with the hind legs leading versus the forelegs pushing back.
Also, important to note: In a quality rein back, the horse needs to walk back, not pace backward. The rein back is a diagonal foot fall sequence, not a lateral footfall sequence.
Benefits of a quality rein back
It rounds the back and engages the hind quarters
It diagonalized the steps which is helpful for gaited horses that tend to pace
It is a great transition exercise for horses that tend to get heavy on the forehand and lean on the bit
It is a great preparation to a canter depart and piaffe
Introducing the rein back to the horse in hand from the ground is a great way to help the horse understand the concept before teaching the horse from the saddle.
Cues for the rein back from the saddle
At a halt, soften and round the horse by massaging the reins and a snaffle bit.
Then draw your tailbone forward and tap on the horse’s sides in front of the girth with your lower leg and say “back.” It is the seat and leg aids that encourage the rein back. The purpose of the reins are to soften and prevent forward movement. The reins DO NOT pull the horse back.
As the horse offers a step back, immediately stop cuing and let the horse think about it. Scratch the horse on the neck lightly and reward the effort.
Repeat one step a few times and reward each time.
Then ask the horse for two steps with the same cues and alternate your leg cue with the second step.
After the horse is consistent with the concept of rein back from the saddle, I ask for more deliberate steps backward. Sometimes I tap my riding crop on the horse’s shoulder to encourage the backward movement. Soon, the deliberate steps can be accomplished without the encouragement of the riding crop.
Another application is to apply the lower leg behind the girth and tap the riding crop on the horse’s croup. If the horse moves forward, close your fingers on the reins without pulling back. After a few tries, the horse will grasp the concept and produce a more engaged rein back.
If you’re interested in showing Walking Horses at rail class shows, the rein back is a required movement in most classes. So, get good at it and while you do, you’ll discover just how much the rein back improves the roundness and engagement of the forward gaits.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Haunches In: Naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse (18 years old)
Haunches in is an excellent exercise for gaited horses―especially the pacey ones. It diagonalize the horse’s steps, breaks up pace to begin smooth gait.
Since 2007, I have learned so much in my application of dressage since I began this journey with my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana. If I could turn back time with the knowledge I have today, I would have started lateral exercises in hand before saddle training. It wasn’t until 2014 that I began to learn the value of in hand work.
Hindsight is 20/20.
Haunches In (Five years old)
In any case, Makana and I began haunches in exercises from the saddle after she had a good grasp of the leg yield exercises. As with any introduction, the haunches in was clumsy at first. We began with a couple consecutive steps at first, and I added more steps as she was ready for it.
Haunches in vs leg yield
Three ways the haunches in is different from the leg yield:
In the haunches in, the horse travels into the bend where the horse steps away from the bend in a leg yield.
Another difference is that the haunches in is a bending exercise on three tracks while the horse is a fairly straight from poll to tail in a leg yield and the horse steps forward and sideways at the same time.
Finally, the haunches in helps the horse engage from the hindquarters and collect where the leg yield does not. The leg yield is an introductory exercise to lateral movement for horse and rider.
Rider aids for the haunches in
While maintaining a light and even contact with both reins, the rider softens the horse’s lower jaw by squeezing and releasing the inside rein.
At the end of the arena, the rider directs the horse into a volte (small circle) at a slow walk.
Just before the horse reaches the fence, the rider helps the horse’s shoulders, head and neck to remain straight along the fence while encouraging the horse to continue the bend of the circle with the back half of the horse. The rider does this by applying the inside leg at the girth and the outside leg slightly behind the girth.
The rider sits slightly on the outside seat bone and encourages the horse to step its outside hind foot under its belly and towards the inside fore foot.
Viewing the haunches in from the front or back, the horse travels on three tracks. The horse’s front legs are fairly perpendicular to the fence, while the outside hind leg steps under the belly.
Benefits of lateral exercises for gaited horses
Lateral exercises, like haunches in are excellent for the naturally gaited horse―especially for those the pace. Why? Because lateral exercises actually diagonalize the horse’s steps. This breaks up pace. Since lateral exercises diagonalize the horse’s steps, why are they called lateral?
Great minds want to know.
Shoulder In (Five years old)
Haunches in is one of several lateral exercises. Others are shoulder in, shoulder out, and haunches out. These lateral exercises offer other wonderful benefits to the naturally gaited horse. Lateral exercises supple and strengthen the horse as well as help the horse become more flexible, balanced and engaged. All of these qualities improve the quality of natural smooth gaits.
Haunches in on a 10-meter circle: I learned this more advanced exercise during a lesson with Makana (16 years old).
After special times with family, a competitive game of Scrabble, and reading the Christmas story, I saddled up my naturally gaited Walking horse for some walkin’ wonderland.
From my human and equine family to your’s, we wish you a blessed and Merry Christmas! —Jennifer Klitzke and naturally gaited TWH Makana
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