Tag Archives: naturally gaited horse

Classical French dressage for the naturally gaited horse: why a high and light position?

Did you know there is a BIG difference between asking the horse to raise its head and neck vs pulling the reins back to force a high position?

Why a High and Light Riding Position

By Jennifer Klitzke

Living in the Northern Midwest without an indoor riding arena provides many months of book study. This winter I took a deep dive into Baucher’s second manner.

Many of the books I have been studying were written by Classical French Dressage Master Francois Baucher (1796–1873), his students, and others who have studied and applied Baucher’s second manner. During this era, ambling gaits were considered a fault and not developed like we do today with our naturally gaited horse breeds. Does this mean classical training doesn’t apply to our horses? I don’t think so. If you ask me dressage is more than trot.

My two favorite books regarding Baucher’s second manner are: Racinet Explains Baucher by the late Jean Claude Racinet and Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse by Faverot de Kerbrech. Some of what I have been reading affirms my training, while I have also discovered more to apply.

Now that Spring has produced suitable riding weather, I couldn’t wait to get out and begin applying my studies. For this post, I’ll focus on a high and light position. There is a big difference between the rider asking the horse to lift its head and neck to find balance vs the rider pulling back on the reins to force a high position. I have been teaching my horses a high and light position for years, thanks to Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl’s DVDs and books. However, my winter book study has challenged me to encourage my horses to reach an even higher position than I had been asking―provided my horse maintains relaxation and lightness.

Asking for a high and light position

For years, I had been asking my horses to lift the head and neck for the purpose of relaxation, lightness, and balance. I have always introduced a snaffle bit from in hand exercises. Then from the saddle at a halt, followed by a slow walk, and then proceeded by a slow gait.

High and light, balanced square halt — A high and light, balanced square halt

For me, balance and relaxation are key to smooth gaits.

Anytime the horse loses relaxation, lightness, or balance, the horse is brough back to a halt to regain relaxed balance. Then the horse returns to the walk or smooth gait. Whenever more tempo is added before the horse is trained in relaxed balance, the horse tends to lose relaxation and/or balance. That’s why starting at a halt is best and gradually adding tempo. For me, balance and relaxation are key to smooth gaits.

A high and light, balanced Tennessee Walking Horse Spanish Walk

My book studies taught me a few more benefits this high and light position offer the horse beyond relaxation, lightness, and balance. Asking the horse to lift its head and neck high and light in relaxation causes the horse to engage the chest and abdominal muscles to raise the wither and bring the back to a neutral position, and it engages the hindquarters. This high and light position teaches the horse balance to best carry the weight of a rider.

A high, light, relaxed and balanced riding position

Effects of forcing a high position

When the rider forces a high position by pulling back on the reins, it isn’t helpful for many reasons:

It causes the horse to hollow its back
The under-neck muscles bulge instead of rounding the top line muscles
The hind quarters don’t engage
It develops the wrong muscles
It makes the horse less able to produce a smooth gait
It is more difficult for the horse to carry a rider comfortably
It compromises the long-term soundness of the horse
Plus, it’s unsightly

Watch the video below and see how teaching your horse a high and light position with a snaffle bit helps the horse find balance and elegance. Plus, it helps the horse develop naturally, smooth evenly timed gaits!

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Improving Full Range of Motion

December 8, 2024 Jennifer Klitzke

Dressage for the naturally gaited horse offers many benefits include improving the full range of motion.

Dressage for the naturally gaited horse introduces many unique exercises that offer many benefits include improving the full range of motion, helping the horse find balance over the body mass, developing engagement of the hindquarters, abdominal muscles and chest muscles, and improving symmetry.

One of the best benefits dressage exercises offer the gaited horse are that they diagonalize the footfalls to break up pace for a four-beat smooth gait and break up a lateral canter for a truer three-beat canter.

Each time I ride my naturally gaited horse; I think about an accordion player. To produce the full scale of notes, the accordion stretches out and then gathers together. Riding a naturally gaited horse using dressage is similar to develop the full range of motion. There are neck extensions that stretch the top line muscles and spine and improve stride length and over track. There are also exercises that stretch the horse’s muscles longitudinally and exercises that help the horse engage.

This post and the video below capture elements from one riding session. Me and my then 16-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana work through dressage exercises and the full range of motion to improve quality smooth gaits.

Watch: Improving Full Range of Motion for the Gaited Horse

Developing full range of motion with dressage exercises

**Flechi droit** is not taught in mainstream dressage. It was an exercise I learned when studying classical equitation. There are many benefits to learning this exercise. Beginning at a slow walk, the horse keeps its body straight and turns its neck and head 45 to 90-degrees. This helps the horse learn shoulder balance and also stretches the outside neck muscles.

shoulder in — **Shoulder in** is the next exercise I like to do with my naturally gaited horse at a low walk. It can be done on three or four tracks on a straight line or on a small circle shown here. It is a wonderful exercise for suppling, balancing and engaging the horse. In this exercise the inside hind leg steps under the body mass.

**Haunches in:** After the shoulder in, I transition to the haunches in which can be done on three or four tracks on a straight line or on a small circle shown here. It is a wonderful exercise for suppling, balancing and engaging the horse. In this exercise the outside hind leg steps under the body mass.

shoulder fore on a circle at a flat walk — **Shoulder fore:** Any time my naturally gaited horse gets stiff in the flat walk, I like to place her on a 15–20-meter circle in a shoulder-fore position. This helps her find suppleness, balance and engagement in the smooth gait.

counter bend turns — **Counter bend neck rein turns:** Another great exercise for the naturally gaited horse is counter bend neck rein turns. This exercise can be done at a slow walk or in a smooth gait as shown here and in the video. The rider positions the horse’s bend to see the outside eye. Then as the inside shoulder is about to move forward, the rider motions both reins from the outside to the inside. The outside rein touches against the outside neck. This indicates to the horse to transfer weight from the outside shoulder to the inside shoulder. This exercise has wonderful benefits for the naturally gaited horse in lightening the forehand.

neck extension at a flat walk — **Neck extension** at a flat walk shows the horse stretching the head and neck forward and out to stretch the spine and top line muscles.

These exercises help the naturally gaited horse find balance over the body mass, lighten the forehand and shoulders, engage the hindquarters, abdominal muscles, and thoracic sling, and help the horse relax the mouth, lower jaw and poll, and stretch the top line and spine for full range of motion. Plus, these exercises break up pacey lateral movement for smooth natural gaits.

A slow and folding rein back to half steps and piaffe are also great exercises to improve engagement and lighten the forehand.

lateral pace canter — Lateral pace canter

Dressage exercises such as the shoulder in and haunches in diagonalize the footfall sequence to break up a lateral canter for a truer three-beat canter.

This post and video applying dressage exercises to develop the full range of motion in a variety of smooth gaits: walk, canter, fox trot, saddle rack, flat walk, and running walk.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Lightness to the Hand

November 24, 2024 Jennifer Klitzke

Why do horses lean on the bit? Is all heaviness on the hand treated the same? How does a rider learn to communicate with the horse to teach lightness to the hand? Let’s take a look.

I’m a visual learner by preference. However, to glean in depth knowledge of centuries old classical equitation, book learning is my only option since videos didn’t exist then.

One of the books I am studying is, Faverot de Kerbrech: Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse. Kerbrech, a student of French riding master Francois Baucher, offers many takeaways for those interested in learning classical equitation according to his second manner—even for riders with naturally gaited horses.

Among the takeaways is why horses get heavy on the rider’s hands and how to re-establish lightness. It has been eye opening to realize there are more than one reason why horses lean on the rider’s hand, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to restoring lightness.

Why do horses lean on our hands?

In this book, Kerbrech describes two reasons why horses lean on our hands. Each reason has a different corrective measure.

Lose Balance: When horses lose their balance, their weight shifts more to the shoulders and fore legs. They lose their engaged posture. Then they lean on the rider’s hands like a fifth leg.
Tension or Resistance: When horses become resistant or tense in the mouth, jaw and poll, they can become heavy on the rider’s hands.

How do you help the horse restore lightness to the hand?

Baucher two methods for restoring lightness. One for when the horse loses balance and another for when the horse becomes tense or resistant.

Teach each method from the ground while dismounted
Then apply each method in the saddle at a halt before proceeding to motion

I have been working my naturally gaited horses using these methods for a while now. We have progressed to in saddle work and smooth gait with a light contact using a snaffle bit.

From time to time each of my horses get heavy in my hands.

First, I identify the cause of the heaviness
Then I bring my horse to a halt since it is the simplest and quickest way to restore lightness and re-establish relaxation and balance

A high and light, balanced Tennessee Walking Horse Spanish Walk

Method 1: How to restore lightness to the hand after the horse loses balance

Bring the horse to a halt
Shorten the reins with the snaffle bit
With elbows at your sides, close your fingers on each rein, turn your palms upward with your thumbs pointing outward
Raise your hands upward (keeping elbows at your sides) meeting the heaviness with contact
The horse should lift its head and neck, shift its weight back to the hindquarters, and relax to the contact
Once the horse relaxes to the contact, immediately relax your middle, ring, and pinky fingers (maintain contact with thumb and index fingers)
Lower your hands to a neutral position with a light contact
Proceed to walk with a following contact

Balanced square halt — At a halt, elbows at side, hands meet heaviness with contact, lift hands upward never pull backward. This upward position positions the bit to contact the lip corners instead of pressing down on the tongue and bars.

volt — Marvel is showing lightness and relaxation on the bit with the poll (between the ears) as the highest point.

Method 2: How to restore lightness to the hand after the horse is tense or resistant in the mouth or jaw?

When the horse resists the contact and roots, relaxation is the answer with gentle vibrations.

Bring the horse to a halt
Shorten the reins with the snaffle bit
With elbows at your sides, close your fingers on each rein, turn your palms upward with your thumbs pointing outward
Raise your hands upward (keeping elbows at your sides) meeting the resistance with gentle squeeze and releases (or vibrations) on the reins
The horse should lift its head and neck, shift its weight back to the hindquarters, and relax to the contact
Once the horse relaxes to the contact, immediately relax your middle, ring, and pinky fingers (maintain contact with thumb and index fingers)
Lower your hands to a neutral position with a light contact
Proceed to walk with a following contact

What are additional tips to help the horse maintain lightness to the hand?

Riding in a balanced ear-shoulder-hip-heel alignment over the horse’s center of gravity is a great start.

Don’t let the reins get too long
Instead, shorten the reins while keeping your elbows at your sides

Clear and gentle communication

Cue with an upward motion or upward vibrations, palms slightly facing upward and with my hands slightly raised. This is for the horse’s comfort and to encourage bit acceptance. The purpose is to encourage the horse to have a positive experience with the bit for communication.

Other ways to encourage comfort are to ride with a gentle well-fitting snaffle bit, a loose nose band or no nose band. This encourages a relaxed mouth and a horse that can salivate and swallow.

Learning how to help the horse maintain lightness to the hand with relaxation and balance takes patience, consistent training, and time. It is worth the investment!

Avoid pulling back on the reins

Pulling backward on the reins especially with a low hand position, presses the snaffle into the horse’s sensitive tongue and bars. This pain leads to bit avoidance. Examples include evading the bit, going behind the bit, above the bit, rooting, and even running away from contact.

Balance and the Naturally Gaited Horse

All heaviness is not corrected the same way

It is eye opening in the way Baucher clarifies distinct applications to addressing various reasons for heaviness. Not all heaviness is treated equally. Heaviness due to a loss of balance is treated differently that heaviness due to a loss of relaxation or resistance.

These are important distinctions. Since tension and resistance require multiple vibrations or squeeze and releases with the hands, a loss of balance, requires a constant gentle upward lifting action with the hands.

While I had awareness between a loss of balance versus resistance creating heaviness in my hands, I had been applying the same cue to address resistance until reading this book. This has clarified my communication and my horse’s response notably.

As tempo increases, it is common for horses to lose balance and relaxation and become heavy on the hand

As tempo increases, it is common for horses to lose balance and relaxation. Often horses will rush onto the forehand, begin to brace, pace or run away. It is difficult to restore relaxation and balance while the horse is at tempo.

Horses need to learn relaxation and balance. It is easiest to teach this in hand, on the lunge, and then in saddle at a halt followed by a slow walk. This progression has educated me to the aids as I notice my horse’s responses to my cues. This process has improved communication between me and my horses.

It is easier to restore balance and relaxation at a halt or a slower tempo than at speed

When I began canter with one of my horses, we lost balance and relaxation after a few good strides.

I quickly learned two important strategies:

It is best to transition to a halt or slow walk and restore relaxation and balance than to attempt to restore balance and relaxation at speed. I haven’t been successful at restoring balance and relaxation at speed once it has been lost.
It is best to halt the horse after a few good strides and reward the horse. This clarifies what I desire and over time a few good strides increase to a circle and then the entire arena.

After restoring relaxation and balance, I transition from a halt or slow walk to more tempo gradually as long as relaxation and balance are maintained. Transitions within a gait, between gaits, between changes of direction and exercises are helpful ways to develop balance. Over time and consistent training, the horse can maintain relaxation and balance in tempo for longer durations of time while the rider proactively rides the horse.

Gaited horses can be a trip hazard when traveling out of balance at speed

Many gaited horses stumble. Sometimes it is due to being out of balance. Other times it is because of how they move. Most gaited horses are ridden in a four beat gait. These gaits do not have suspension. There is always a foot on the ground. This is one reason for their naturally smooth gait. Since they are more earth bound, there is a greater chance for tripping, especially when out of balance.

For safety’s sake, it is best to restore relaxation and balance at a halt or slow walk before adding more tempo. As the horse becomes more developed through consistent training, balance can be achieved in motion with fewer stumbles.

Clarifying my aids has improved communication with my young naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Marvel, and has made a big difference in his training. We are maintaining lightness to the hands in a variety of relaxed and balanced smooth gaits for longer durations.

Now, back to the book study for more gleanings as we work our way to a relaxed and balanced canter!

Additional articles and videos about teaching lightness, relaxation and balance with the naturally gaited horse

Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit

Why Work In Hand Makes Training Easier

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

Visit website: NaturallyGaitedHorse.com
Subscribe: Naturally Gaited youtube channel
Follow: facebook.com/naturallygaitedhorse

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Another Way to Ride to Smooth Gaits

June 17, 2024 Jennifer Klitzke

Ever wonder how riding position and the communication system through the leg, seat, weight and hand aids affect the horse? How we ride our naturally gaited horse directly impacts smooth gaits for the better (or worse).
If you are searching for a more effective way to communicate with your naturally gaited horse into smooth gaits, read on…

Another way to ride to smooth gaits

By Jennifer Klitzke

I have been studying dressage for decades with non-gaited and gaited horses and have been introduced to a variety of rider positions and ways to effectively communicate with the horse through my leg, seat, rein and weight aids. Some methods are hard to understand and apply. Some methods are quite strenuous to apply and maintain. There are differing methods between German dressage and French dressage. Even within German dressage there are differences of application.

Then there is my riding recipe I have been refining from best practices of methods I have come across over the years, including the naturally gaited horse world. Yet, I know there are more applications I have not yet encountered.

Video: Rider position and effect on smooth gaits

Could there be yet another way to ride smooth gaits?

I wasn’t actually looking when I stumbled upon yet another way to ride my naturally gaited horses. In April, I was scouring Facebook for classical dressage groups. That’s when I discovered Heather Moffett is more than a fine saddle maker. I first learned of her name years ago after purchasing a secondhand Heather Moffett dressage saddle. Intrigued with her connection to classical riding, I had to learn more.

Enlightened Equitation

Turns out Heather Moffett is also a brilliant riding instructor and author. She’s been teaching her method for decades. Perhaps I had not learned of her since she is in the UK. In any case, I am thrilled how social media can connect us to people all over the world. After reviewing her website, I learned of her book, “Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse” and her Online Classical Riding Academy. She offers a free 14-day trial (plus, it is highly affordable if I choose to join).

I gave the trial a go. Then I joined the academy because there are so many videos to learn. I also purchased her book. “Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse” by Heather Moffett is a must-study for anyone desiring to learn a balanced riding position, what the hand, leg and seat aids are and how to effectively use and time of the aids. All of these elements directly impact the naturally gaited horse’s movement for the better. I haven’t come across a book that describes how to ride dressage with the horse in mind better than Heather’s book.

"Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse," by Heather Moffit — “Enlightened Equitation: Riding in True Harmony with your Horse,” by Heather Moffett

Through the video demonstrations and detailed book explanation, I am learning breakthrough applications about my riding position, effective use and timing of my leg, seat, rein and weight aids leading to quality smooth gaits. Plus, her method is rather easy to understand and apply.

I highly recommend this affordable academy and her book for anyone looking for encouraging and well-articulated demonstration videos in helping to develop an effective rider position and its effect on the horse.

I have been a student of dressage since 1988 and wish I had stumbled upon Heather Moffett’s teaching years ago. Her easy-to-understand methods have been helpful, insightful and my horses are moving better than ever in their senior years.

Makana, my 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse and Lady, my 20-something grade gaited horse are giving the Mullen mouth pelham bit a try―one of the ideas offered by Heather to help the horse relax the jaw.

While Makana is already relaxed in the jaw riding in a snaffle bit, the pelham has helped to improve her balance in walk, flat walk and canter, as well as leg yield, shoulder in, transitions, and rein back.

flat walk in a shoulder fore position — Flat walk in a shoulder fore position

Video: Following the belly sway to smooth gaits

Even more is the difference it is making with Lady who tends to hold tension in her mouth and jaw. The Mullen mouth pelham has helped her find relaxation in her mouth leading to her best quality smooth gaits.

Fox trot in a pelham — June 2024: Riding Lady, my 20-something grade gaited horse in a Mullen mouth pelham in her smooth diagonal gait.

Video: Why follow the belly sway to a smooth gait

Ride along with us as I share thought about rider position and its effect on the naturally gaited horse.

Learn more about Heather Moffett: https://www.onlineclassicalridingacademy.com

Let me know your thoughts. Sending me a message. Stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse

Why Dressage is More than Trot

February 9, 2024 Jennifer Klitzke

All horses can do dressage, even gaited horses that don’t trot. The principles of dressage produce mental and physical relaxation, balance, impulsion, rhythm, connection, symmetry, and engagement. These principles develop full range of motion, quality natural gaits, and long-term soundness over time with consistent application.
Trot is not the purpose of dressage. Non-gaited horses naturally walk, trot, and canter. Gaited horses naturally walk, canter, and offer one or more smooth gaits. Dressage improves the quality of a horse’s natural gaits whether they trot, tolt, fox trot, flat walk or saddle rack.
Dressage is more than trot!

Why Dressage is More than Trot

By Jennifer Klitzke

Coming from decades of dressage riding non-gaited horses, much of my focus was a quality trot. Before buying my German warmblood in 1988, I looked at 50 prospects for the loftiest trot I could afford. The trot defined competition dressage for good scores.

In 2007 I searched for my first naturally gaited horse. This time I wasn’t searching for a lofty but the smoothest gaited horse I could afford. I fell in love with a naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse filly named Makana.

Since dressage had been the only riding method I knew, that’s how Makana was trained. I applied dressage principles to develop my naturally gaited horse’s smooth gaits like flat walk and running walk, as well as the free walk and canter.

Trot is a natural gait for non-gaited horses like warmbloods and thoroughbreds. Flat walk is a natural gait for gaited horses like Tennessee Walking Horses. Understandably there are non-gaited horse shows where walk, trot, and canter are required, just as there are naturally gaited horse shows where flat walk, running walk, and canter are required.

Showing dressage with a gaited horse

Many dressage associations, breed associations, and schooling dressage shows accommodate gaited horse entries. There are many dressage tests for gaited horses that reflect their natural smooth gaits. Trot is not a requirement.

Gaited Dressage: Training Level — My first dressage show on a horse that doesn’t trot. (Six years old).

In 2010 I learned of a schooling dressage show open to gaited horse entries.

Although we were the only gaited horse entry riding with non-gaited horses, we replaced flat walk for trot. I was curious what feedback my Tennessee Walking Horse would receive from a dressage judge.

The judge’s feedback affirmed the dressage principles of harmony, rhythm, connection, riding position, and the use and timing of aids. We also received great pointers to help us improve.

Thrilled my Tennessee Walking Horse and I were on the right path, I continued to bring her to more schooling dressage shows. Showing dressage with your gaited horse isn’t a requirement to learn dressage. Yet, showing dressage provides great feedback from a professional judge.

showing dressage with a gaited horse — Showing my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse in flat walk at a dressage show. (Eight years old).

The purpose of dressage is not trot

Ironically, by taking my gaited horse to dressage shows is when I realized the purpose of dressage. Most of the judges we rode for had never seen flat walk before, yet this was not a stumbling block. The judges focused on the test requirements. They commented on rhythm, relaxation, balance, impulsion, connection, straightness, engagement, harmony, rider position, use and timing of aids, and the required movements and gaits of the test. Trot is not a dressage test requirement in the gaited horse dressage tests! Trot is not the purpose of dressage.

That’s when I realized Dressage is More than Trot!

Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk — How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. Pictured is the same Tennessee Walking Horse at the age of 19.

What is the purpose of dressage?

Dressage is the training of the horse and rider to develop the horse’s full range of motion for quality gaits, long-term soundness, and a partnership of harmony.
Learn more: How dressage benefits the gaited horse

Dressage teaches rider balance over the horse’s center of gravity and a set of tools to communicate with the horse. The rider learns effective use and timing of the hands, legs, seat, and weight aids to lead the horse into relaxation, balance, rhythm, forward movement without rushing, connection, flexibility and symmetry to develop straightness, and collection.
Learn more: How dressage benefits the rider

When I realized I could teach my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse dressage, I dusted off my dressage books and videos and became a student all over again. Together we are developing Makana’s full range of smooth gaits on cue: free walk, medium walk, flat walk, running walk, fox trot, saddle rack, canter, counted walk and even piaffe!

Check out Makana’s natural smooth gaits developed through dressage.

Dressage travels beyond the arena

That’s not all! Dressage is the language that travels beyond the arena. I bring the same communication using my hands, legs, seat and weight aids wherever we go and whatever we do: sort cows, trail obstacles, trail riding, endurance races, snow riding, and gymnastic jumping.

Gaited dressage on the trail — The same dressage I use in the arena is the same dressage I use on the trail.

Dressage has made my naturally gaited horse more maneuverable around obstacles, jumps, and sneaky cows, and she is more reliable on the trail. Plus, my naturally gaited horse has been easier on a grandma body like mine!