Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse running walk at 21 years old.
Are naturally gaited horses smooth? Why do some gaited horses fall in and out of a smooth gait? Why are some gaited horses bouncy or rough to ride? How can a naturally gaited horse develop consistent smooth gaits?
How to Develop Smooth Gaits
By Jennifer Klitzke
Many people buy a naturally gaited horse thinking they are automatically smooth all the time. Some gaited horses are more naturally smooth, but most gaited horses need consistent training to develop a smooth gait.
Four steps to develop smooth gaits one step at a time
Easy? No, but with patience, joy, and perseverance, you and your naturally gaited horse can break free from pace, and it is worth every step of the journey to smooth gaits.
1. Begin with a relaxed walk on a circle. The key words are “relaxed” and “walk.”
If the horse is pacing instead of walking, here’s what I do: How to break up pace
Another thing to become aware of is rider tension and bracing or riding with low fixed hands. This can cause a gaited horse to pace. Here’s what I do: How to ride a gaited horse
2. From a relaxed walk ask for a bit more tempo to move into a smooth gait.
3. Practice consecutive smooth steps. Practice what you desire. Don’t keep practicing a tense and pacey gait since this reinforces what you don’t want.
4. Stop and reward your horse BEFORE the steps get bouncy, pacey, out of balance, tense or hurried.
In the beginning your horse might only be able to do a couple smooth steps in a row. Stop and reward every good thing! A few consecutive smooth steps can lead to more and more over time.
Avoid consecutive steps of pace, tension, or bouncy gaits, because that’s the muscle memory you’ll create. Practice what you want to keep―consistent smooth steps!
Can dressage develop smooth gaits?
Dressage is one form of training for the naturally gaited horse to develop consistent smooth gaits using exercises that develop relaxation, balance, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, connection, symmetry and engagement.
When my horse becomes unbalanced, loses rhythm and rushes, hollows or becomes disengaged, that’s a great clue I need to slow down to a relaxed and balanced walk before increasing the tempo to smooth gait. Tense, rushed and hollow movement have never led to the relaxed and balanced smooth gaits I desire.
When I’ve re-established a relaxed yet active walk, then I transition to the smooth gait I desire―one step at a time.
Over time, a few relaxed and balanced smooth steps turn into longer durations of consecutive smooth steps over time.
My seven-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in a smooth flat walk.
How do you learn dressage?
I’ve been perusing my equestrian education since 1988 and there is always more to learn. Dressage is a lifelong learning journey. That’s why I love it. It ever gets boring!
Taking dressage lessons, attending dressage clinics, studying dressage DVD and books, and recording my rides are great ways to develop my riding skills. When I become a more effective rider, I also become a more consistent trainer and better communicator with my naturally gaited horses in developing consistent smooth gaits.
Good dressage lessons are important to gain timely feedback. This feedback helps the rider develop the feeling of right and the feeling of when the horse is falling out of balance, rushing, hollowing, tensing, or disengaging and knowing what to do to regain the feeling of right.
Taking lessons from Jennie Jackson really helped improve the quality of our smooth gaits using dressage.
How dressage can help a naturally gaited horse stop pacing?
2009: Tension equals pace. Here’s me and my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, early in our training. We struggled with pace as shown above. Notice the spurs, riding two handed with low, fixed hands using a curb bit, sitting on my pockets with all my weight on the saddle. I learned this from gaited riders. They told me this is how to make them gait. Does my Tennessee walking horse look relaxed in the mouth, jaw and body? Tension leads to pace. That’s why I don’t ride two handed with a curb bit anymore. I ride with a snaffle bit using dressage. I teach bit acceptance not bit avoidance. Relaxation is the key to develop quality smooth gait.
Six reasons why naturally gaited horses pace and how dressage can help
The horse has developed the habit of pacing. Learning dressage can teach you and your horse fun exercises like shoulder in, shoulder out, haunches in. These exercises begin at a slow walk in hand and then in the saddle to help break up the pacey footfall sequence into a more evenly timed four-beat walk. These exercises also help the horse soften and become more supple.
The horse paces because the equipment causes pain. Riding in an english or western saddle that fits you and your horse without pinching bridging or hollowing the back is a must. Just as important is finding a well-fitting and comfortable snaffle bit. Learning dressage can teach your horse bit acceptance.
The horse paces because it is tense in the mouth, jaw, poll, body, and back. Learning dressage can teach your naturally gaited horse how to accept and follow a light contact with a comfortable snaffle bit is so important. This relaxes the mouth, lower jaw, and poll and has a relaxing effect on the entire horse.
The horse paces because the rider throws the rhythm off. The horse’s footfall rhythm can be disrupted when the rider cues at the wrong time.
Learning dressage can teach you effective timing of your communication aids with your reins, legs, and seat as well as help you develop a balanced riding position (ear, hip, heel) over the horse’s center of balance. This helps to be an easier load to carry and not throw the horse out of balance.
The horse paces because the rider is braced and tense. Learning dressage can teach you body awareness and its effect on your horse’s movement. By relaxing and following the horse’s natural belly sway and head and neck movement can help the horse relax.
The horse was bred to pace. Is there hope for a naturally horse who was bred to pace? Yes, learning dressage can help your horse develop a smoother gait.
Easy? No, but with patience, joy, and perseverance, you and your naturally gaited horse can break free from pace, and it is worth every step of the journey to smooth gaits.
Questions?
Let me know your thoughts by completing the form below.
Makana at 21 years old, a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse ridden in a snaffle bit and barefoot at a flat walk.
Do the variations of dressage produce the same results? What about dressage for naturally gaited horses―you know, the smooth ones that don’t trot?
Here’s my story.
Differences in Dressage
By Jennifer Klitzke
In 1988, I embarked on a journey to learn dressage. Back then the competition dressage pyramid of training was the only form taught within my dressage community. Mind you, the world wide web and social media did not exist then. There were no moments access to differing dressage applications in those days. So, in my corner of the world, I believed there was only one way to do dressage. This meant regular lessons to prepare for competition and confirm whether my horse and I were ready to graduate to the next level of complexity.
However, in 1995 I was introduced to an altogether different dressage paradigm when French dressage master Dominic Barbier was invited to my corner of the world for a series of clinics. Intrigued, I had to spectate and then participate in this unique application of dressage.
The lightness, harmony, and joy he personified with each horse was more like an artistic dance. This creative right-brain approach challenged my left-brain methods and awakened my heart and soul to participate in a two-way dialogue with my horse.
Yet, after each clinic ended, I returned to the competition dressage community to further education with my Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding, Seili. We pressed on to compete through Second level.
Seili and I at a recognized dressage show.
Dressage on a horse that didn’t trot?
In 2002, a move northward to rural western games territory forced me to rely on my hard-wired habits from the dressage training pyramid. Seili grew into retirement and my grandma body took shape.
Smooth called me by name, and I acquired a three-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse in 2007. With the exception of a few clinicians who traveled to my region, I continued to apply the dressage training pyramid with my naturally gaited horse Makana with one modification. I replaced trot with flat walk. We even traveled to a variety of dressage schooling shows willing to embrace the only non-trotting entry. From 2010 to 2015 we rode over 60 tests as we moved through Intro, Training and First levels.
Showing my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in flat walk at a traditional dressage show.
Second level posed a challenge for us. We needed more impulsion, engagement and balance. I began a quest for answers on a horse that didn’t trot.
In 2013, the evolving digital era introduced me to the work of two classical French dressage masters, Philippe Karl and his School of Légèreté (School of Lightness) and the late Jean Claude Racinet. I purchased a library of their books and DVDs to begin experimenting with a different approach to dressage.
Among my collection is Classical Versus Classique. On this DVD French dressage master Philippe Karl and Christoph Hess, head of the training department of the German National Equestrian Federation, demonstrate and discuss their differing dressage methodologies.
While Hess confirmed my competition dressage understanding, Karl challenged my hard-wired habits. Karl’s application of French dressage awakened me to a for-the-horse approach to training that seeks my horse’s response in a partnership of harmony.
Navigating differences in dressage application
Trying out this new dressage paradigm, I observed significant impacts on the horses I rode, particularly their responses to my hand, leg, seat and weight aids. Indeed, we found a new way to produce the balance and impulsion needed for Second level requirements (and beyond).
Application of aids and the effect
The competition dressage system taught a back-to-front approach. I used my seat and legs to drive my horse forward into a contact. We were encouraged to ride with a low hand position. However, this method lacked true connection.
How? The low hand position made contact with my horse’s tongue and bars causing discomfort. My horse evaded the bit by tucking behind the vertical creating an illusion of lightness.
Adding to this, riding was an aerobic workout! I wrongly perceived my horse as lazy and felt compelled to drive my horse forward with each step. In actuality, my melded leg, seat and hand aids created this perceived laziness―much like driving my car with a foot on the gas pedal and brake pedal simultaneously! What a revelation to realize my mixed message prevented my horse’s forwardness.
In addition, while I had believed I had been driving my horse forward from back to front. In reality I was rushing my horse forward onto the forehand―conditioning my horse out of balance.
Racinet’s books explained the teachings of classical French dressage master Francois Baucher’s second manner which introduces “hand without leg and leg without hand.” Instead of combining the driving aids into the hand, there is a momentary separation of the “go” aids (leg and seat) apart from the “stop” aids (hand). This has brought newfound clarity to our communication leading to the lightness and responsiveness I desire.
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time.
Makana at the age of 19.
Achieving relaxation and balance
In competition dressage, relaxation grew from many 20-meter circles in a long and low position. We encouraged the horse to move forward with a regular rhythm along the arc of the circle. I would apply the concept of “inside leg to outside rein” and encourage my horse to step deep under the body mass with the inside hind leg.
While prolonged long and low developed the top line muscles of my horse, this approach actually conditioned my horse on the forehand. How do I know? Second level was a rude awakening! Required movements as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and rein back abruptly confronted us with the balance we didn’t know.
In competition dressage, we believed the horse was in balance when ridden briskly forward enough to track up the hind leg steps into the forefoot hoofprints.
True balance occurs when the head and neck are carried more over the horse’s body mass. The hindquarters engage where the hind legs lift beneath the belly more than push beyond the tail in disengagement. Engaging the abdominal muscles lift the back, and the chest muscles lift the shoulders and wither. This doesn’t happen in a long and low position.
In competition dressage, true balance is introduced at Second level where shoulder-in, haunches-in, and rein back are required. No wonder why it took us a couple years before we reached Second level. We had to undo the habit of riding on the forehand and develop a posture of balance.
Few riders I know ever reach Second level and beyond from the competition dressage system. How do horse’s learn balance? Wouldn’t it make more sense to teach the horse top line stretching AND balance from the get go?
French dressage prioritizes balance and relaxation from the beginning of training. The rider gently teaches the horse how to accept and follow a mild snaffle bit from the ground at a halt. At a relaxed and balanced position, the horse learns to carry its own head and neck and not lean on the rider’s hands. The horse learns lateral exercises and rein back, as well as flexions and an extended position in-hand before saddle training begins.
Neck extension at a flat walk allows the horse maximum stretch from nose to tail and keeps the horse more in balance. When the nose is low to the ground, the horse collapses its chest muscles and is on the forehand.
Karl points out that the head and neck weigh up to 1/10th of the horse’s total weight. Imbalance occurs when the head and neck are propelled ahead of the body mass in a prolonged long and low position.
In French dressage any one position is not held at length. Rather the rider transitions the horse from moments of a balanced position to moments, not miles, of an extended position to stretch the top line muscles and spine and develop the full range of motion. Plus, this extended frame keeps the poll at wither height to maintain a lifted back and shoulders.
Unlearning hard-wired habits and adopting a new way of communicating with my horses takes time. Yet, it has been paying off. From the beginning of training my horses, we learn lightness, balance and forwardness without rushing onto the forehand, and we ride with the poll as the highest point. Plus, we transition through the full range of motion with momentary breaks of top line stretching and big strides.
This early-on emphasis on relaxed balance, flexibility and impulsion has revolutionized my training approach. My horses are developing softness, flexibility, and poised pride, setting the foundation for quality smooth gaits and a harmonious partnership of joy.
Lightness or bit avoidance
Achieving lightness to the hand and leg is a crucial aspect of dressage. Competition dressage taught me to drive my horse forward with my seat and legs into a low hand position. A higher hand position was frowned upon. To discourage my horse from leaning on the bit, we used draw reins, snug-fitting nosebands, and switched to thinner bits.
French dressage has taught me a greater respect for the horse’s wellbeing in ways I had been unaware. For instance, I never knew the effect hand position had on the horse’s mouth.
A low hand position presses the bit into the horse’s tongue and/or bars and causes pain leading to bit avoidance. My horse was light, but not comfortable or correct. My horse escaped pain behind the vertical, and the poll was not the highest point.
Pain also creates tension and for the naturally gaited horse, this leads to pacing and hard trot. The angle of a low hand position is how a single-jointed snaffle becomes a nutcracker. A raised hand position does not.
French dressage offers a different approach by teaching the horse to be responsive and light to the hand aids apart from the leg aids producing self-carriage. The rider separates the hand and leg aids providing clearer communication between the stop and go aids. The horse learns to maintain the requested tempo through a light leg aid. This eliminates the rider’s need to constantly drive the horse forward, leading to a more responsive and engaged partnership.
As soon as I began separating my go and stop aids, my perceived “lazy” horse became lighter.
Instead of a fixed low hand position, cues are applied with a raised hand to avoid pressing the bit into the horse’s tongue. I also learned how to help my horse relax the jaw, poll, and mouth to teach bit acceptance and guide my horse into various head and neck positions while maintaining lightness. My horse’s comfort leads to bit acceptance and has brought about a more mental and physical relaxation, resulting in smoother gaits.
Bit acceptance
Competition dressage rewarded a quiet mouth. We rode our horses with snug-fitting nose bands to keep our horses’ mouths closed. This conveyed an appearance of bit acceptance.
However, I had been unaware of the discomfort it caused many horses. The combination of a low hand position causing pain on the tongue and bars and a snug-fitting nose band led to tension in the horse’s jaw. Some horses would grind their teeth. Despite my belief that my horse was light and on-the-bit, he was actually avoiding true contact behind the vertical.
The emphasis on salivation as a sign of proper flexion at the poll is also misleading. Some foam along the lips is good. However, dripping foam can be a sign of a snug-fitting nose band preventing the horse from swallowing.
Discovering the French dressage approach opened my eyes to true bit acceptance. By allowing freedom to open and relax the mouth and jaw, taste the bit, and swallow freely, my horse became happier, more comfortable, and able to move more relaxed.
In hand exercise: Shoulder in on a circle on four tracks to cross the front leg and hind leg.
A nose band and flash attachment arrives with every dressage bridle I have ever purchased. At first it was foreign to ride without one. Yet without a snug-fitting nose band my horse is able to relax the mouth and lower jaw, taste the bit, and swallow. My horse is happier, more relaxed, more comfortable, and able to move more freely without the braces that lead to pace, step pace, and a hard hollow trot.
Ultimately, this newfound awareness on helping my horse find bit acceptance and relaxation of the jaw, mouth and poll has shown me its effect on the entire body leading to the natural smooth gaits I longed for.
One-way to two-way communication
In this French dressage exploration, I discovered the power of two-way dialogue with my horses and moved away from one-way requests. Our time together has become a harmonious exchange of communication through my voice, fingers, legs, seat and weight aids while listening for my horse’s response.
Transitioning from one-way to two-way communication has been a transformative journey between me and my horse. Initially, competition dressage instilled in me a unilateral approach, where my aids conveyed commands to my horse. Resistance was met with an escalation of cues until my horse complied as expected.
Delving into the realm of French dressage opened my eyes to a rich dialogue with my equine partner. I learned to not only ask with my hand, leg, seat, and weight aids but also to listen attentively to my horse’s response. Rather than interpreting resistance as disobedience, I now view this as misunderstanding of my request or an inability to perform a given request. Instead of an escalation of aids, I strive to refine my communication for understanding or lessen the difficulty for a successful outcome. This approach brings about harmony, lightness, relaxation, and respect for my horse.
While competition dressage confined us to an arena in preparation for shows, French dressage has broadened our horizons. Our two-way communication takes us beyond the arena to new adventures: enriching experiences on the trail, sorting cows, navigating obstacles, and addressing fences.
Finally, French dressage challenges the notion that only talented horses can perform advanced movements like piaffe and passage. It welcomes all horses, including naturally smooth gaited horses, to develop their skills and reach their full potential.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at 20 years old at a piaffe.
What French dressage offers the naturally gaited horse
A deep respect for the horse
Riding for the horse’s comfort
Clarity of rider aids to the horse by separating stop from go
Teaching the horse to be light to the hand and light to the leg
Developing mental and physical relaxation and balanced forward movement without rushing
Developing connection, straightness, symmetry, and collection to develop full range of motion and naturally smooth gaits
Shoulder in on a circle with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
Learning differences in dressage has reshaped my approach to produce naturally smooth gaits in one of the most humane ways. Not all dressage is the same, but I believe what Philippe Karl says, “If the dressage is good, it will work on any horse.” Naturally gaited horses, like any other horse, thrive under these principles with grace and harmony.
Questions?
Let me know your thoughts by completing the form below.
Does your gaited horse struggle with a flat four-beat canter or bumpy lateral canter? You’re not alone. I’ve learned a few ways to improve canter quality with my gaited horse.
Here’s my story…
How to improve canter with a gaited horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Experiencing dressage with my naturally gaited horses proves that relaxation of the mind and body produce smoother gaits, including canter. This means less lateral canter and four beat canter.
“Don’t practice a poor-quality canter.”
I learned an important lesson from my gaited dressage mentor, Jennie Jackson. She says, “Don’t practice a poor-quality canter.” This means as soon as my horse begins to feel flat, hollow, bumpy, braced, or out of balance in the canter, I need to stop cantering and start over from relaxation. That’s when I transition from canter to a walk or halt, re-establish balance and relaxation and ask for a quality canter depart to quality canter steps.
This also means I need to recognize the feeling of a quality canter and a poor-quality canter so that I can ask for more of the former and reduce steps of the latter. If I continue riding a poor-quality canter, that’s what I teach my horse.
If I want a quality canter, I must know firsthand what a quality canter feels like and practice more of it. That’s why taking lessons from a qualified instructor is so important to me. Instruction provides me timely feedback so that I can learn the feeling of quality and the feeling of poor quality. This helps me train my horses with greater progress and success when I am riding on my own.
Helpful exercises to help break up a four-beat canter into a truer three-beat canter
Walk-canter-walk transitions
Rein back to canter
Practicing rein back with smaller steps that bend and fold the hind quarters of the gaited horse.
One of my favorite exercises is establishing a soft and round rein back before a canter depart. When the rein back is soft, not forced, and not rushed, it encourages my horses to bend their hindquarter joints and engage their abdominal muscles which lifts their back. This puts them in a wonderful posture most conducive for a quality canter depart and canter steps.
Counter canter
Gymnastic jumping and ground rails
Canter a Course of Rails at Rocking R
While I will never become serious about show jumping my naturally gaited horses, I enjoy schooling them over ground rails and small fences for gymnastic purposes. It gives them variety in their training. I’ve noticed that when we ride over ground poles and small fences, it creates more lift to their canter and brings out a truer three-beat canter.
Video: Cantering a Gaited Horse over Obstacles
Video: Starting a Gaited Horse over Fences
Below is a cantering exercise over two ground rails in an L-shape. I begin by letting my horse walk over the rails before we cantered over them.
Video: Exercises to Break a Lateral or Four-Beat Canter
This is a super fun exercise for the rider and horse.
In addition to improving the quality of canter, you’ll also learn:
Balance of the horse
Rider balance on the horse
The horse’s rhythm
Keeping the horse forward yet relaxed
Looking ahead to plan the arc of a turn and line to a rail
Getting a feel for how many canter strides to a rail
The L-shape can also be used to school flying changes over the rail by alternating the direction over each pole.
Additional tips to introducing and improving canter quality
Questions?
Let me know your thoughts by completing the form below.
The shoulder-in is a great exercise for any horse, especially a gaited horse that paces. It diagonalizes the footfall sequence to break up pace, encourages a relaxed and soft position, develops balance, suppleness and strength.
How Shoulder-in Breaks Up Pace
By Jennifer Klitzke
The shoulder-in is a great exercise for any horse, especially the naturally gaited horse that paces, because this exercise diagonalizes the horse’s footfall sequence leading to a smoother gait. The shoulder-in is one of several exercises that helps break up a lateral footfall sequence to develop a smoother four-beat gait. Plus, the shoulder-in is a terrific exercise to teach balance.
First of all, let’s look at some of the reasons a naturally gaited horse paces, and then how the shoulder-in can help the horse develop a smoother gait.
Why do naturally gaited horses pace?
There are many reasons why naturally gaited horses pace. Gaited horses are able to perform a wide range of gaits from an evenly timed four beat walk, to a diagonal two beat trot, to smooth fox trot, to an evenly timed four beat flat walk and running walk, to a smooth saddle rack, to a lateral two beat pace and a three-beat canter. Plus, a variety of other smooth gaits depending upon the breed. It is our job as the rider/trainer to define and develop our horses on cue.
Other reasons naturally gaited horses pace are the horse feels blocked by a tense or stiff rider or riding in a saddle that pinches and causes the horse to tense, braces and hollows its back leading to pace. Learning a balanced riding position and riding in comfortable, well-fitting saddle is a must for smooth gaits.
Adding to tension is a naturally gaited horse ridden with braced contact, a harsh bit, or riding with two-handed contact in a curb bit. The horse tenses its lower jaw leading to stiff, braced movement. Often the horse learns to avoid the contact by dropping their nose behind the vertical. Teaching the naturally gaited horse how to accept and follow a snaffle bit contact is a great way to teach relaxation of the mouth leading to smoother gaits. Learn more:Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit | Naturally Gaited Horse
Another reason a naturally gaited horse paces is a weak back, loading their shoulders, and disengaging the hind leg steps (not tracking up under their body mass with the hind leg steps). Teaching the horse how to perform a shoulder-in on a circle can transform pace into a four-beat walk while also suppling and strengthening the back and hind leg steps.
Some naturally gaited horses, including performance-bred Tennessee Walking Horses and Standardbreds are actually bred to pace. Yet, there is hope for horses like this by teaching the shoulder-in.
How can the shoulder-in help develop a smooth gait?
The shoulder-in is a three or four track lateral exercise that helps diagonalize the horse’s foot fall sequence which breaks up the lateral steps of pace. Plus, it relaxes and softens the horse while strengthening the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass. The hind legs and the front legs cross over, but not at the same time. The shoulder-in is not a side pass, rather it is a lateral bending exercise.
The shoulder-in also helps the naturally gaited horse learn balance by engaging the hindquarters, lifting the back, raising the chest and shoulders. The benefits include strengthening the inside hind leg as it steps under its body mass and helping the horse become softer, more supple, and flexible.
The shoulder-in can be ridden in a straight line or the arc of a circle. The shoulder-in along the rail or arena wall is a great way to guide the rider and horse through a few steps. After the rider and horse understand the exercise along the wall, the shoulder-in is also a beneficial exercise on a circle.
Shoulder-in on a circle
The shoulder-in on a circle is an excellent remedy for the pacey naturally gaited horse because it diagonalizes its foot fall and makes the forelegs slow down while the hindleg steps take bigger strides. This relaxes the horse’s back by the alternating right and left hind steps. After a few steps in shoulder in on a circle, the horse can be directed into a straight line as long as the horse maintains a four-beat walk. If the horse begins to pace, slow down to a walk and resume a shoulder-in on a circle to break up the lateral foot fall sequence.
Introducing the shoulder in along the rail and in hand.
The best way to introduce the shoulder-in is from the ground. Then once the horse understands the movement, it can be performed with a rider at a slow walk. When both the rider and horse are moving as one in a shoulder-in, the exercise can be applied at a slow gait.
Now let’s look at the rein, leg, seat, and weight cues.
What are the shoulder-in cues?
There are many ways to cue the horse for the shoulder-in using the reins, legs, seat and weight aids. Over the years I have learned a few ways which are outlined below. Most importantly, it is most helpful to the horse to remain consistent with the aids after a method is adopted.
Let’s take a look…
Four ways to cue the shoulder-in
Shoulder-in cues version 1
Shoulder in along the rail (Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at five years old)
I began riding dressage with non-gaited horses and learned to apply the shoulder-in on a straight line with the following aids.
Inside leg on the girth to encourage the bend
Outside leg behind the girth to hold the haunches along the bend
Outside rein to keep the head and neck from over bending
Inside rein to encourage softness and a slight bend
Shoulder-in cues version 2
Jennifer and her 6-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse at a clinic with Larry Whitesell teaching us lateral exercises.
In 2010, I took my then six-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to a Larry Whitesell, a gaited dressage clinician, who introduced me to another set of cues for the shoulder-in.
Outside leg at the girth
Inside leg behind the girth encouraging the horse to step its hind leg under its belly
Outside rein keeps the horse from over bending the neck, inside rein applies a slight give-and-take with the fingers to encourage softness and a slight bend
The rider’s shoulders turns to face the direction of movement and slightly more weigh is applied in the outside iron
At first this method was counter to my habit of learning the first version. Yet after trying it I was amazed how easy my horse grasped the shoulder-in and how effortless it is for me to ride it.
Larry has a DVD set that demonstrates the shoulder in as well as other exercises. It wasn’t until I rode with him that I realized how a soft and light contact can be. Larry has traveled all over the country to teach riders the benefits dressage has for the naturally gaited horse leading to smoother gaits.
Shoulder-in cues version 3
The shoulder-in on a circle diagonalizes the foot fall sequence helping to break up pace.
I learned of another way to cue the shoulder in with my rein, leg, seat and weight aids when I began studying the School of Legerete by Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl through his books and DVDs.
The rider sits slightly to the inside if applying the exercise on a circle and slightly to the outside if applying the exercise on a straight line
Inside leg is at the girth to encourage the horse to step under its body mass and toward the outside front leg
Outside leg at the girth
Inside hand is raised while requesting the horse to relax the jaw, mouth and poll and bend inward enough to see the inside eye
Outside hand is lowered at the wither.
If the horse leans on the bit, both hands are raised to meet the corners of its mouth with a nudge upward until the horse carries its own head and neck
Riding Lady, my 20-something grade gaited horse on a shoulder-in on a circle.
In 2024 I began learning and applying shoulder-in on cues as taught by Heather Moffett through her Online Classical Equitation Academy and book, “Enlightened Equitation.”
Outside leg from the hip to the foot are drawn behind the girth and follow the belly sway
Inside thigh and calf are positioned at the girth also following the belly sway while encouraging forward movement
The rider draws their inside shoulder back when riding shoulder-in on a straight line (outside shoulder back when riding shoulder-in through the bend of a corner or on a circle)
Outside rein at the wither to keep the horse from over bending the neck,
Inside rein lifts to soften the lower jaw and ask for a slight bend to the inside enough to see the eye; when the horse responds, the inside hand can be lowered to the neutral position alongside the outside hand
The rider maintains equal weight in the irons and a balanced following position which helps the rider not collapse and allows the horse to lift its back instead of hollow
Why not give each shoulder-in method a try and see which one makes most sense for you and your horse. Then remember to be consistent with your rein, leg, seat, and weight aids to improve your communication with your naturally gaited horse to smoother gaits.
Does your gaited horse have a smooth gait but short strides? Or does your gaited horse have a rough ride? In either case, I have experienced both and here are tips on developing longer strides and smoother gaits.
Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits
by Jennifer Klitzke
Like many of us gaited horse riders, I couldn’t wait to experience that comfortable smooth gait. In 2007, when I began my journey with Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, I quickly realized that the faster she moved, the shorter her strides became. Although this quick gait was smooth, I yearned for longer strides at the flat walk and running walk.
To achieve longer strides and smooth gaits, I learned that I had to begin by SLOWing down. By taking the time to develop a quality free walk, my horse learned to move in four evenly timed steps with longer strides. This groundwork transformed her flat walk and running walk from short quick steps to long smooth strides.
Video: Tips to Longer Strides and Smoother Gaits
How to develop longer strides at a free walk
What is a free walk
During a free walk, the horse takes slow, ground-covering steps while maintaining a relaxed and extended posture. The horse stretches its head and neck forward and out, making contact with a snaffle bit and an open throat latch.
The free walk is an even four beat footfall. It is not a pace. If your horse has trouble walking, don’t practice more pace if you desire a walk. There are tips in this post to help break up pace: Quality Step to Quality Steps | Naturally Gaited Horse
Riding with a snaffle bit and a light following contact
There are various approaches to training gaited horses, and my passion is French dressage to develop quality smooth gaits. In training, I use a mild snaffle bit to teach my horses how to relax their mouth, lower jaw, and poll, as well as how to accept and follow contact with the bit. As I ride, I maintain a light following contact with both hands to ensure a harmonious connection and communication with the horse.
Relaxation of the mouth, the body and mind are keys to unlocking a quality, smooth gait with rhythm and long strides. This is why I teach my horses to accept and follow a snaffle bit contact, while I gently follow their natural head and neck motion with my hands.
When riding with low fixed hands, the bit can uncomfortably press into the horse’s tongue. This causes pain and leads to tension in the lower jaw and poll. In response, the horse may run off or over flex at the poll in an attempt to escape this tongue pressure. This tension not only affects the mouth, it also has a negative impact on the entire body, including a braced back which can result in more pacing, step pacing, and hard trotting.
Additionally, a noseband that prevents the horse from opening its mouth can contribute to the tension, and the horse may struggle to swallow, further exacerbating the issue. An indication of this is when saliva drips from the horse’s mouth.
For these reasons are why I believe it is best to ride with a light following contact using a snaffle bit and ensure the horse’s comfort and relaxation.
2023: Makana, my naturally gaited barefoot Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk (19 years old).
Cues for the head and neck
To encourage my horse to stretch her head and neck forward and achieve a more extended posture, I position my arms at my sides and gradually lift my hands until I feel the bit touching the corners of her mouth. As she responds by lowering her head to a neck extension position, I follow her movement by guiding the reins down and out, until her poll is aligned with her withers. These asking and releasing cues are known as known as “Action/Reaction.”
During the free walk, I aim for an open throat latch, ensuring that my horse’s nose is slightly ahead of the vertical position.
2023: A free walk on a long rein. The horse extends its head and neck forward and out with an open throat latch. The horse takes maximum slow walk steps with over track where the hind hoof steps over the fore hoof print.
Maintaining a neck extension position during the free walk not only enhances the stretching and relaxing benefits for my horse but also ensures better balance. It is important to avoid a head and neck position that is too low, as this can shift too much weight onto the forehand, causing the horse to be out of balance and more prone to tripping. As a responsible trainer, I always strive to keep my horse in balance and avoid any training that may compromise their stability.
Cues for the length of stride
As I tune into my horse’s movement, I notice the side-to-side sway of her belly with each hind leg step. Then I notice my riding position. There is a balance between core tone and a relaxed lower back and hip joints that follow her natural motion. It is essential to maintain relaxation in my hips and lower back, as tension in these areas could lead my horse to shorter her strides. I strive to follow her movements with relaxation and core tone. Yet I avoid driving her forward with my pelvis as this can irritate the horse and actually cause them to slow down. Instead, I coordinate the motion of each hip joint with the corresponding hind leg step, almost as if my own hip joints are walking alongside hers. The belly sway also helps me with the timing of leg cues to encourage the horse to take a deeper step under the belly.
Leg cue
When riding a free walk on a 20-meter circle going clockwise, my right calf will be on the inside of the circle. As my horse’s belly sways down and to the outside of the circle, that’s when her inside hind leg is stepping under her belly and is the ideal time to cue for a deeper step by pressing and releasing with my inside calf. It is important to stop the cue as soon as I feel a response, otherwise my horse will begin to ignore the cue. If my horse doesn’t respond to my leg cue, I follow up with a tap of the dressage whip on the same side at the same time as the press and release of my calf. Another thing I do is make a “cluck” sound at the timing of the leg aid, and/or tap of the whip.
Noticing uneven strides
Asymmetry is common in horses which can be apparent in uneven strides, with one leg taking longer steps than the other. While lameness can sometimes be the cause, it is often a sign of weakness or stiffness. Just like humans, most horses are born with a dominant side, whether it be right or left-handed. As a result, one side of their body may stretch easier than the other. This can affect their stride length and overall movement.
Also, when riding on a circle, the inside of the circle is a smaller circle than the outside of the circle. If a horse is stiff on the outside, it can be harder for them to take a longer stride on the outside of the circle. I make a point to notice which direction my horse is stiffer so I can help my horse become more flexible. Over time, this work helps my horse become more ambidextrous with more even hind leg steps.
Noticing rider unevenness
The other observation I’ve made is that I have an easier riding direction since I am right-handed. This means if I’m always traveling my easiest direction, I’ll be compromising my horse’s development as well as mine as a rider.
Full length of stride
Developing full length of stride is more than just encouraging my horse to take a deeper step under her belly. This is only one half of the length of stride. The other half is the leg that extends back and pushes forward. Together the pushing leg and the carrying leg make the full length of stride. I have found that the best way to develop length of stride is to SLOW the walk down taking relaxed and deliberate big steps.
2023: The full length of stride (green line) includes the hind leg step reaching under the belly (red line) which can be influenced by the proper timing of the rider’s leg cue and the hind leg step behind the tail (yellow line) as it pushes the horse forward.
Slow walk to smooth gait
Why is it important to have a SLOW, big walk? A quality walk is composed of four evenly timed steps— the same sequence in the flat-footed walk, flat walk, and running walk. For horses that are naturally offer pace or step pace, the free walk can be beneficial in developing more evenly timed steps for muscle memory and smooth gaits.
Video: Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk
Circles over straight lines
I incorporate 20-meter circles into our training sessions for several reasons. Not only does the bend a circle produces help develop strength in the inside hind leg as the horse steps under its belly, but the horse develops flexibility when stretching the outside body muscles. The latter benefit cannot be achieved riding a straight line.
Also, circles are particularly helpful for horses that tend to have a lateral pacey gait. For horses that are more square moving or tend to have a diagonal trotty gait, I ride my circles with a slight counter bend position to maintain an even four-step sequence.
Myth buster: There is a time for longer strides, but not always
Now having focused this entire post about developing longer strides. It is important to realize that the higher levels of collection require more carrying power vs pushing power. This carrying power shortens the stride length. Not permanently, though, only for as long as you are performing the carrying steps of collection. As soon as you release your gaited horse back to the pushing power, the length of stride returns. Examples of carrying power movements and gaits include: counted walk, half steps, piaffe, and collected walk. Examples of pushing power gaits are flat walk and running walk.
I mention this because for many years, I had been expecting my Tennessee walking horse to maintain the same length of stride in collection. This is not realistic nor biomechanically possible. Just look at the photo below.
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