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Make vs Ask: What Kind of Rider am I?

Ask vs Make: What Kind of Rider am I?

“In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do, we ‘ask’ the horse to do,” says the French dressage clinician. These were humbling words when I took an honest look at my riding and its effect on my horse. Yet, it transformed how I ride today.

Make vs Ask: What Kind of Rider am I?

By Jennifer Klitzke

Riding with Lightness clinic
Riding with Lightness clinic

In 2013, I brought one of my non gaited horses, Indy, to a “Riding with Lightness” clinic with Susan Norman, a classical French dressage instructor. She had been a 15-year student of the late Jean Claude Racinet and a 3-year student of Philippe Karl—both classical French dressage masters and authors. Susan, among others, introduced me to the teachings of Philippe Karl and his Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness).

I learned much from Susan during that clinic.  Among the highlights are:

  • Slowing the tempo WAY down to teach the horse balance
  • Lightness doesn’t mean a riding with a long floppy rein—the horse needs to learn balance and self carriage before releasing to a light contact; and
  • The introduction of demi arret and descent de mains (lifting my hands up to touch the corners of the horse’s lips and release when my horse stops leaning) to teach my horse not to lean on my hands for balance, rather to carry his own head and neck

These concepts have transformed my riding with my non gaited and naturally gaited horses.

Yet, the biggest transformation came from a simple statement Susan would say: 

“In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do,
we ‘ask’ the horse to do.”

These words and watching the ‘Ask’ difference throughout the clinic made me take an honest look at how I ride and its effect on my horse.

What kind of rider am I: ‘Make’ or ‘Ask’?

Thoughtful, gentle, kind. That’s who I thought I had been as a rider when I began dressage lessons in 1988. That’s how my German dressage instructor taught me to ride and train my Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding, Seili. He was my best friend, and I thought I had always considered his needs.

Seili in 2013 at 29 years old
My Trakehner/thoroughbred, Seili in 2013 at 29 years old

In the German dressage system, I learned that I needed to confirm our training in the show ring. When we reached consistent scores of 60% or above we were ready to move to the next level of training. Thirty years ago, achieving 60%-plus at recognized shows wasn’t easy to do. Over the years the scoring system has become more generous.

Susan’s profound statement had awakened me to realize that I unknowingly had become both an ‘Ask’ and ‘Make’ rider. I was an “Ask the horse to do” rider at home (which is how my German dressage instructor taught me to ride) and a “Make the horse do” rider at shows. I had become a perfectionistic, demanding and controlling rider at shows in order to “make my horse do” at each letter as the test required while the judge evaluated our ride and my peers and the crowd watched.

Adding to the show pressure that I brought on myself, was how my horse reacted while being away from home: nervous, spooky, and tense—Seili became a monster.

My reaction: I felt even more out of control. Fear overcame me. All I thought about was MY ambition to attain those 60s so that I could advance to the next level. (Or if I am really honest, be on the leader board, win, or at the very least, not be completely humiliated before my peers and a crowd of onlookers.)

I felt pressure because many of those watching knew what my horse and I were capable of at home. Yet I could not understand why we were not able to replicate this at a show. I couldn’t understand why I had two different horses: a calm and exceptionally talented horse at home and a monster at the show grounds.

Not until Susan’s words, “In the French philosophy, we don’t ‘make’ the horse do, we ‘ask’ the horse to do.”

My riding paradigm at home had been ‘Ask.’ At that moment, I realized that my riding paradigm at a show had become ‘Make’.

My horse needed my support as an ‘Ask’ rider. Instead of helping him relax at an unfamiliar show ground, my self interests clouded my horse’s needs. As a ‘Make’ rider, I felt out of control, fearful, and frustrated that my horse wasn’t performing as I expected.

I didn’t recognized my horse at a show. My horse didn’t recognize me at a show. Susan’s words helped me realize that I had two different horses because I was two different riders: ‘Ask’ and ‘Make’. My horse became a monster in my own ‘Making.’

Is ‘Make’ fun for me or my horse? No. Is ‘Make’ relaxing for me or my horse? No. What effect does ‘Make’ produce me? Perfectionism, control, tension, and dominance. What effect does ‘Make’ have on my horse—especially one who is nervous, spooky and tense? It creates more tension, resistance, fear, shutting down, and wanting to run away, right? It is no wonder my horse became a monster of my own ‘Making.’

If I am the leader in our partnership, I realized the importance of becoming an ‘Ask’ rider wherever I ride my horse, whether at home or away from home. ‘Ask’ builds relaxation in the rider and horse, leading to harmony, partnership, which builds trust.

Granted, it isn’t easy. Obstacles arise at home and away from home. Yet, the answer is still ‘Ask’ which leads to relaxation. I need to always keep ‘Ask’ in mind with my horses. If tension or fear block the answer, I need to help my horse find relaxation before I ‘Ask’ again.

‘Ask’ paradigm put to the ultimate test

Thinking this through, I wondered: Is it possible to show dressage with this ‘Ask’ paradigm in mind? Could I let the perfectionism of the test requirements go? Could I block out the crowd of onlooks and my peers while the judge evaluated our test requirements? Could I let go of the fear of failing? The fear of losing control if my horse were to spook? Instead, could I focus on our partnership, remain relaxed in mind and body, and lead my horse into relaxation, balance, engagement, rhythm and connection as I ‘Ask’ our way through the test and let go of the outcome?

I put this new paradigm to the test at the next show after the clinic in 2014 with my non gaited horse, Indy. Not only were my peers watching, my first riding instructor was watching, who I hadn’t seen in 34 years!

Would you know that this dressage test became a test of a lifetime and a turning point. Not only was this ride the most joy-filled, harmonious, connected and relaxed dressage test I had ever ridden, it became proof that ‘Ask’ can produce wonderful results. It was our best ride ever!

At the final halt salute, the judge popped out of the booth and applauded, “Bravo!”

2014 winning dressage ride and highest score of the day with 73 percent!
2014 winning dressage ride and highest score of the day with 73 percent!

My horse and I received the highest score of the SHOW and won our level with 18 riders in the class. 

This paradigm shift made all the difference. ‘Ask’ produced partnership and relaxation between me and my horse.

From that moment on, I became aware that I need to be a consistent ‘Ask’ rider with my non gaited and naturally gaited horses wherever we ride: at home, the trails, at shows, at cow sorting league, endurance rides, clinics and lessons.

How to become an “Ask the Horse to Do” Rider

Showing dressage with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse with 'Ask' in mind.
Showing dressage with my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse with ‘Ask’ in mind.

Susan, among others, introduced me to the work of Philippe Karl and his Ecole de Legerete (School of Lightness) that teaches this paradigm in great detail. I have been studying Karl’s book Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage and his DVDs: Classical Dressage (Vol 1-4), Classical versus Classique and Legerete 1 & 2. I do my best to translate and apply this philosophy with all of my horses.

Ecole de Legerete teaches a step-by-step progression in how to become an ‘ask the horse to do’ rider. You learn how to train your horse without harsh bits, big spurs. weighted shoes, chains and pads or artificial aids. You’ll learn how to lead your horse into relaxation of mind and body, balance, and impulsion to be light to the hand and light to the leg.

Legerete instructor, Linda Kaye Hollingsworth-Jones coaches me in organizing my aids to draw my naturally gaited horse's haunches into the circle.
Legerete instructor, Linda Kaye Hollingsworth-Jones coaches me in organizing my aids to draw my naturally gaited horse’s haunches into the circle.

Then you’ll learn how to develop symmetry, flexibility, strength, and softness through lateral exercises that will help your horse become ambidextrous through its full range of motion and produce its best quality gaits. All the while, you’ll learn how to become an ‘ask the horse to do’ rider which will transform your partnership into joy and harmony whether at home or away at a show.

If you are interested, below are others posts I’ve written about how I have applied Legerete with my naturally gaited horses:

USA Legerete with Linda Kaye Hollingsworth-Jones
Resolving Resistance with Legerete
Ecole de Legerete comes to the Midwest
Beginning Lessons in Legerete: Following Hands
Educating the Mouth: Why Working In Hand Makes Training Easier

Taking an honest look in the mirror has been humbling. Yet, it has been profoundly rewarding for my horses’ sake. 


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