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.

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

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse, The Versatile Gaited Horse

Naturally Walkin’ in Wonderland

March 14, 2013 Jennifer Klitzke 2 Comments

By Jennifer Klitzke

Naturally Walkin’ in Wonderland

I live in the frozen tundra where the winter’s cold and dark imprisons us for up to six months. No indoor arena. No deep pockets to travel South. If I want me and Makana my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse to stay in shape, I have to get creative.

Winter riding is not new to me, but using the snow to improve and condition my horse’s naturally smooth gaits is a new concept. The snow has encouraged my gaited horse to lift her shoulders and engage from behind, so much so that I now know what the rocking chair canter feels like. I’m hoping that winter riding will ingrain muscle memory in Makana and for me, the “feel” of the rocking chair canter.

The snow has also introduced Makana and me to the Tennessee trot. Yes, I know that I’m crossing the thresh holds of taboo, but I believe that my Walking Horse is established enough in her naturally smooth four-beat gaits to develop another gait on cue. So adding to the free walk, medium walk, flat walk, running walk, canter and counter-canter, we are tackling the trot. After all, I’ve enjoyed 25 years of riding traditional dressage horses, so trot is a welcomed gait. I believe that as long as the trot is trained on cue, it will not disrupt Makana’s naturally smooth four-beat gaits.

My cues for flat walk and trot

For flat walk and running walk, I encourage Makana to lift in the shoulders, and I follow her head nod with a light rein contact. At the same time, I lighten myself in the saddle by distributing my weight into my thighs. This allows Makana to neutralize instead of hollow her back.

For trot, I hold my weight in my thighs and hug my calves through the upward transition while holding a light steady contact with the reins. This holding the reins with a steady contact discourages the head nod and encourages the trot. Then I post instead of sit each trot step. Every stretch of trot on cue is followed up with flat walk and canter.

Not only is riding in the snow an utter blast, but it has been a good workout for both me and Makana (especially the posting trot). Who knows, if I can develop Makana’s trot on cue in and out of the snow, nothing will stop us from entering the traditional dressage shows!

Remember, dressage is more than trot (but gaited horses can learn trot on cue, too, and it won’t ruin their naturally smooth gait!)

Video: Walkin’ in Wonderland

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

Video: Gaited Dressage and Cows?

February 24, 2013 Jennifer Klitzke

What do you get when you blend dressage with a gaited horse and cows? An application of western gaited dressage, naturally!

By Jennifer Klitzke

I took my Tennessee walking horse Gift of Freedom (Makana) to an “Introducing Your Horse to Cows” Clinic held at Hi Circle Vee Ranch in Isanti, MN. We were the only gaited team among 19 quarter horses, paints and appaloosas which turned a few heads and raised usual the question, “What kind of horse is that?”

This clinic was a terrific confidence booster for both horses and riders of all ages. Horses were gradually introduced to cows over the fence and then individually in a round pen with a coach. We let the horse slowly walk up and sniff the cows and then picked a cow to follow. Once each horse discovered that they were empowered to move the cow, their fear was replaced with confidence.

I had a hunch that once Makana realized she could move the cows, her gift of bossiness would take over. And was I ever right! Within a minute she was pushing the cow along with little help from me.

After we moved the cow around, we were coached to ride ahead and cut the cow off to change directions and keep the cow from joining the herd. The sneaky cows figured out a way to make a break back to the herd and that’s where the dressage training really paid off. It became a game between horse and cow and strategy on the part of the rider. Lots of changes of direction, transitions from walk, canter, gait, halt, bending, turning on the forehand, and turning on the haunches. Only the beautiful expression of riding on the bit was thrown out the door when my horse turned cowy and developed the desired pinny ears and death stare.

It was a super fun time to get out of the frozen tundra and try something new. I’m lucky to live near two barns that offer open sorting and team penning practice each week. Stay tuned, there might be more of this in our future!

Video: Introducing my gaited horse to cows

Video: Gaited dressage and cows coaching session

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Dressage is More than Trot

February 7, 2013 Jennifer Klitzke

Dressage helps horses develop quality natural gaits, whether the horse trots, tolts, fox trots, or flat walks.

Dressage is More than Trot

By Jennifer Klitzke

How many times have you heard someone say, “Dressage is only for horses that trot?”

Coming from over 30 years of dressage riding non-gaited horses, much of my focus had been on the quality of the trot. Before buying SeilTanzer, my German warmblood in 1989, I had looked at over 50 dressage prospects to find the best trot I could afford. Back then the trot seemed to define dressage, especially in the show ring.

Eighteen years later I bought my first gaited horse, Makana. Dressage was the only training method I knew, so out of default that’s how I trained my Tennessee Walking Horse from the age of three. I didn’t encourage a trot, rather I focused on developing relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, and engagement to establish her full range of motion for quality smooth gaits. This proves to be extremely helpful as my Walking horse has more gaits than my trotting horses ever did.

When my naturally gaited horse turned five I began to bring her to schooling dressage shows. Ironically, this is where I realized the true essence of dressage. While each judge said they had not evaluated a gaited horse in the dressage ring, each commented on the qualities of rhythm, relaxation, harmony, balance, engagement, connection, straightness, rider’s position and effective use of aids. And that’s what dressage training is all about. Dressage is more than trot.

Dressage is a French term for “training of the horse and rider.” In fact the United States Dressage Federation recognizes the dressage training pyramid in the development of the horse. Not one element in the dressage training pyramid is “trot.” All horses whether they flat walk or trot will benefit from progressive training which develops rhythm (with energy and tempo), relaxation (elasticity and suppleness), connection (acceptance of the aids and bit), impulsion (energy and thrust, straightness with alignment and balance), and collection (engagement, self carriage, lightness of the forehand).

So whether your horse is a scopey warmblood with lots of hang-time, a backyard pony, or a smooth-gaited Walking horse, dressage training will improve the quality of its natural gaits, and you’ll develop an amazing connection with your horse that is both enjoyable to ride and watch.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Clinics, Rider Position for Gaited Horses

Gaited Dressage: Taking Hands vs. Giving Hands

February 6, 2013 Jennifer Klitzke 1 Comment

By Jennifer Klitzke

How much does a horse sense from a rider? Can my insecurities get transmitted to my horse through my reins? Can this really affect how my horse moves? These questions were raised at a recent gaited dressage clinic with Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer. I spent five full days taking in new perspectives and training techniques—as much as my brain could hold. Among the many “ah-huh” moments was an exercise we did that showed the difference between “taking hands” versus “giving hands.”

Jennifer led us through a dismounted exercise. She held one end of the reins as the rider and each of us took turns holding the other end of the reins as the horse. When it was my turn, I closed my eyes, held the other end of the reins, and followed the rhythm of gait she established on a light connection. When Jennifer changed something like clenching her jaw, tensing her shoulders, holding her breath, or looking down vs. ahead, each of us immediately felt heaviness through the light rein contact. Amazing! If I can feel these changes through light rein contact, just what would it transmit to the horse?

Then Jennifer let each of us experience the effects of “taking hands” versus “giving hands.” Taking hands follow the horse’s rhythm in a non-pulling backward motion while riding with giving hands follow the horse’s rhythm forward. When Jennifer’s motion with the reins demonstrated giving hands, it gave each of us the feeling of freedom to move in lightness. Then when she demonstrated taking hands, it felt constrained. If I can feel the difference between taking and giving hands through light rein contact, imagine how much more is communicated to my horse through my seat and weight aids?

Up until this point, I had not been conscious of whether or not I rode with taking or giving hands. For years I had battled with riding fear and had unknowingly developed a “taking hands” riding mindset as a reaction to stay safe and in control. Then I began to think about the mixed messages I had been sending my horse whenever I unconsciously rode with taking hands and at the same time squeezing my horse to go forward. Or the times I had anticipated a spook, tensed my body, held my breath, and rode with taking hands instead of riding my horse forward into balance and relaxation.

Experiencing the difference between taking hands and giving hands has given me new awareness to ride my horse with a forward hand and body position and mindset. I am already noticing a difference this is making with my horse—more willingness to more freely forward with less leg on my part.

What a powerful exercise. Why not find a friend and try this exercise for yourself? You’ll be amazed with how much of an impact a riding mindset and position can have on your horse’s way of going, and just how much can be communicated through a light rein contact.

For more about Larry Whitesell, his training DVDs and clinic schedule, visit www.WhitesellGaitedHorsemanship.com.
For more about Jennifer Bauer, visit www.gaitedhorsemanship.com