By Jennifer Klitzke

Rocking R Farm, Foley, MN hosted their second of three well-attended 2011 schooling dressage shows on Saturday, August 6, 2011 open to gaited dressage. I rode Gift of Freedom (Makana), my seven-year-old Tennessee walking horse mare in First Level, Test One and First Level, Test Two. We were the only gaited dressage team riding among 36 horse/rider combinations.

Instead of a three-day affair like last weekend, the Rocking R Show was three hours for us; this included two hours travel time! We were off to a frantic start since I didn’t plan for how long it would take to get there and arrived 20 minutes before my first test. Yet we missed the soaking rain storm that swept through the show grounds a half hour earlier. The overcast sky and rain cooled the temperature down to a comfortable 75-degrees and the precipitation made for excellent footing.

Judge Jane Linville remarked on our winning Gaited First Level, Test Two ride which scored 65.67%: “Wonderful pair. Solid test. Beautiful horse.”

We received 63.1% on First Level, Test One. The Judge provided great constructive feedback in areas we can work on improving before the next show.

Video: Gaited dressage first level, test two

Gaited Horse Stories, Overcoming Riding Fear

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

August 2, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

Naturally Gaited TWH Trail Pleasure Class — Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom in the Amateur-Owner-Trainer-Owner-Trainer Three-gait Tennessee walking horse class at the 2011 Mid-Summerfest Celebration Show in Cannon Falls, MN.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

By Jennifer Klitzke

The three-day 2011 Mid-Summer Celebration Show held at Simon’s Arena in Cannon Falls, MN drew talented Tennessee walking horses and well-schooled riders from Canada, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Jennie Jackson who is also the owner and trainer of the famous TWH dressage stallion Champagne Watchout was the judge of the Walking Horse classes. The show also featured Saddlebred, Morgan, Hackney, and Arabian classes.

A blue ribbon doesn’t always tell the whole story, but let me tell you, I worked hard for this one.

Gift of Freedom (Makana), my seven-year-old Tennessee walking horse and I won the Amateur-Owner-Trainer Three-Gaited Tennessee walking Horse class, and yes, we were the only entry.

After our ride, Judge Jackson commented, “That was really brave!” (You’ll understand what she meant in a moment.)

For me, the 2011 Mid-Summer Celebration Show was a new twist on an old cliché; it was about “the good” that came through “the bad and the ugly.” It seemed that Makana and I were off to a great start. She had an unusual amount of energy despite the 105-degree heat index. She had the right amount of energy for flat walk, running walk, and canter.

The lineup was another story. Makana normally shines in the lineup by standing calmly and backing soft and round on cue. Instead she exuberantly expressed a desire to back before it was our turn. She backed and backed and backed so much that the Judge Jackson excused us to the end of the lineup. When Judge Jackson reached the end of the lineup, she didn’t even ask us to back⸺maybe for fear that the class may never end! It was a good ride gone bad, and one we continued to practice class after class after class until our blue ribbon ride. From there it got ugly.

Gift of Freedom and I rode respectably through flat walk, running walk, and canter during her solo ride. She even stood calmly in a lonely lineup and backed softly on cue.

“Phew!” I thought.

Moments later the announcer declared us the winner. That’s when the whoop-whoop cheering Saddlebred crowd ignited Makana’s dance moves. She swirled through the air, around and around and around like a top and wore a hole through my panic button. The sequenced-dressed blue ribbon lady spun around like a disco ball to the beat of the organ music while she prayed for an opportunity to transfer the beautiful blue ribbon to my jacket.

Somehow, even without Photoshop, the show photographer actually captured a smile through this frightening frenzy.

Makana continues to teach me humility⸺or humiliation⸺whichever comes first. (Next time I’ll remember that humility is far more pleasant!)

“The good” that came through “the bad and the ugly” was the encouragement I received from many long-time competitors.

“I’ve been there, too,” each one would say.

I wasn’t alone in my fear and frustration when things don’t go according my plan. Each person encouraged me to persevere and face the next class with confidence. Some offered helpful tips like, “Remember to breathe,” and “Think of turning Makana’s antics into schooling opportunities.”

Another “good” that came from the Mid-Summer Celebration was the thrill of meeting national clinician Anita Howe and watching her ride her signature head nodding naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse stallion Papa’s Royal Delight who won a Grand Championship. Anita watched some of our rides and offered insights to help us establish better balance, softness, and engagement that will improve our flat walk, running walk, and canter.

If I had not experienced “the bad and the ugly,” I would have missed “the good” that many seasoned competitors like Anita Howe had to share. The blue ribbon reminds me of the good people who encouraged me when I wanted to pack up and go home. And the blue ribbon reminds me that I find a “gift of freedom” whenever I face my fears with a breath of fresh air.

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.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows

Walker’s Triple R Schooling Dressage Show

July 27, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

The record heat wave with 82% dew points and 105-degree heat indexes broke just in time for the Walker’s Triple R Schooling Dressage Show in Cambridge, MN. Mike and Judy Walker put on another relaxed and well-run schooling show for 22 rides ranging from Intro through 2nd Level.

Many breeds were represented including Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, a Paint, a Swedish Warmblood, Appaloosa, Haflinger, Friesians, and my 7-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse Gift of Freedom. We’ve been working hard on our dressage since the B.L.E.S.S. Clinic and it must have paid off. We placed first and second in First Level Tests 1 and 2 with scores of 66.2% and 61.9% against trotting horses.

Judge Val Vetos commented, “Very nice team. Good on the basics of bend and balance.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSyIg82YuY&w=560&h=315

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Clinics

2011 BLESS Clinic

June 12, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

contact — Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at the 2011 BLESS Your Walking Horse Clinic with Bucky Sparks

By Jennifer Klitzke

June 5-6, 2011 marked my fourth trip with Gift of Freedom to Proctor, MN for the B.L.E.S.S. Your Walking Horse Clinic with Bucky Sparks. And yes, clinic participant Barb Nunke said it best, “The sun really does shine in Proctor!” No parkas, rain suits, or knives to cut through the thick Proctor fog this year.

For me, the 2011 BLESS Clinic was all about breaking through the mystery about contact. How do I ride a head-shaking horse with contact? Do my hands move with the motion? Do I keep the reins slack so that I don’t bump the horse’s mouth with each nod?

Not interrupting the head-nod was the main reason I switched to an Imus Comfort Bit, but a curb and a snaffle function differently. A curb bit has leverage and poll pressure that a snaffle does not, and for dressage, a snaffle is essential in training the lateral movements, and it is the only legal bit in showing at the lower levels.

While I love how free Makana moves in the Imus Bit without contact, Bucky helped us ride forward into a light (not loose) contact without stopping. This was simply breakthrough for us! A training level frame we get, and now Bucky has helped us capture impulsion into the outside rein for a first level dressage frame.

We began the exercise at a flatwalk on a 20 meter circle with a shoulder-fore position. As Bucky’s German schoolmaster would say, “You need to ride shoulder-fore for the rest of your life.” Shoulder-fore can be ridden on a circle and a straight line where the horse is slightly bent to the inside. You should see the inside eye of the horse, and the horse should bend slightly through the poll, neck, rib cage, and spine. The outside rein helps keep the horse from overbending the neck and popping the outside shoulder.

On our second day, Bucky helped us school second and third-level movements as shoulder-in, hauches-in, traver, and renver. He helped bring awareness to the rib cage. Whenever Makana was stiff on the inside rein, it was because she was stiff in the rib cage. Once we established bend through the rib cage by applying inside leg at the girth and outside slightly back to hold the haunches from falling out, Makana became soft and round and light on the inside rein through these exercises. Once we learn these movements fluently at a walk, they can be ridden at a flatwalk.

According to Bucky the shoulder-in and haunches-in are three-track movements and the traver and renver are four-track movements. All four exercises help establish balance, suppleness and softness, a more upright frame, and contact.

For more about Bucky Sparks, visit www.blessyourhorse.com.

Overcoming Riding Fear

Facing Fear

May 24, 2011 Jennifer Klitzke

Facing Fear

By Jennifer Klitzke

Whoosh! A Nokota drill team zips into the arena. The horses are ridden by young women half my age. I’m dressed in my formal English attire, and awaiting our team performance at the Minnesota Horse Expo. The arena is filling up with more Nokotas. In an effort to respectfully stay out of their way, I ask the fearless Nakota leader, “Do you mind if I join your drill practice?”

Hearing muffled snickers through the team’s gestures, “Sure,” the leader replies.

My Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana’s white braids swing wildly with each nod as we tag along.

Suddenly the young women stop and form a circle with their horses facing inward. Thinking the drill pattern is complete, I ride away.

“Hey, we’re not finished yet,” the Nokota team says as they and motion me to join the circle.

As Makana and I return the young women arise onto the backs of their Nokotas, slide off the backends, run from behind their horses, hop back into their saddles, swing a leg over to one side, and flip off their saddles backwards faster than you can say ‘Jimmy Johns.’

Now I know what the muffled snickers were about!

I thank them for their kindness and ride out of the arena where we encounter a wooden bridge trail obstacle. We face the object until Makana relaxes. Then we take a couple steps onto the bridge.

A few minutes later the Nokotas blast by and applaud our efforts.

You see, if you knew me 30 years ago, I was young and fearless like the Nokota riders. I was a trail guide. It was a dream job: ride for free and get paid for it, too! However, the guides rode the mystery horses that had just gotten purchased from auction. We introduced them to the trail and rode bareback for lack of saddles. I was game.

One summer evening I led a group out for an hour-long sunset trail ride. Half into our ride, the wind began to swirl through the mature forest. Fireflies and lightning lit our way as the ominous clouds set the tone. Sounds of distant thunder grew near. Then drops became waves cascading from the sky.

Riding bareback on a drenched mystery horse straight from the auction trailer was like riding with the Nokota drill team for me. I led our group safely back to the club house with a thrilling story to share.

Still invincible, five years later I was talked into the talent of a four-year-old off-the-track thoroughbred mare. I was clearly over horsed and under skilled. It didn’t end well. I fell off more times than kept track. Fearlessness now replaced with phobia. I faced a crossroads: Quit riding horses or face the fear.

Thankfully the latter won out.

Fear hasn’t disappeared, but it has been managed by perseverance, good instruction, finding a suitable mount, wise counsel, and my faith in God.

Will you see me standing on my saddle, flipping of the side, and riding bridleless and bareback with the Nakota team?

Maybe next year.