A year ago, I acquired a three-year-old unstarted gaited horse thanks to the help of a friend. Today this four-year-old and I are riding dressage solo through the woods. Here’s a review of this colt’s first year under saddle with dressage.
A Year in Review: Dressage with an Unstarted Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
Mary and I have been horse friends for many years. Then COVID closed the world and drew everyone apart. The internet helped us stay connected, at least 1D. It is hard to ride horses that way, though. Thankfully, my horses are near.
Only, my horses are getting up in age. So are we, according to my husband.
While my husband has been set on downsizing and golf courses, I am way too young for retirement. I know many who still ride non-gaited and smooth gaited horses into their senior years. That means I’ve got at least one more horse to raise. After all, whacking a ball with a stick hasn’t been my gig. (Dreams of gaiting the manicured greens, on the other hand, that’s my jam!)
“No. No. No!” Said my husband every time I brought up the idea of another horse.
On October 7, 2021, “No. No. No!” didn’t stop me. I went to see him anyway. His name was Marvel, a three-year-old, unstarted Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse gelding. I had a feeling about him. It became an even stronger feeling when I saw him. Kind of like seeing the puppy at the Humane Society, only x 10.
Just how would I convince my husband to change his mind?!
Meanwhile, my Facebook activity tipped off Mary. Likes and comments about horse rescues and rehoming gaited horses caught her eye. Unaware of my husband’s resistance, she offered to help with the rehoming fee. Turns out, her willingness to help, was enough to sway my husband’s “No. No. No!” to “yes.”
Elated, Marvel arrived October 16, 2021. It would be up to me now to prove this decision was worth pushing off his downsizing golf course retirement dreams.
Marvel(ous) Milestones
Recap of our first year starting a gaited horse under saddle with dressage
Introducing the bridle and working in hand helped Marvel learn to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact while learning stretching exercises at a halt and then in hand at a walk. This became excellent preparation for saddle training. Learn More: Introducing the Bridle and Working In Hand
Marvel and I learn communication through lunging. First with a halter and lunge line, then with a snaffle bit and halter, then with a saddle no stirrups, bit and halter. Later we added the stirrups. Learn more: Lunging a Gaited Horse
Six months of lunging and in-hand training a gaited horse paid off when I began saddle training. Pictured is my first time sitting on Marvel’s back. Learn More: Starting a Gaited Horse Under Saddle
Fun to visit with Mary and watch her and Marvel interact.
Working the walk to develop quality smooth gait.
Marvel enjoys exploring. (Thank you, Mary for taking this beautiful photo of us!)
My husband has witnessed the joy Marvel has brought the last year and realizes he doesn’t have to live on a golf course to golf (and we can push back retirement for another day)!
Enjoying a smooth bareback ride with my 17-year-old barefoot naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse.
All horses have natural gaits. So, what is the difference between a horse with natural gaits and a naturally gaited horse?
What is a Naturally Gaited Horse?
By Jennifer Klitzke
As a dressage rider, I help my horses develop their full range of motion and symmetry for quality gaits in a state of relaxation and balance for long-term soundness. My first 20 years as a dressage rider, I rode horses who naturally produced gaits as walk, trot, and canter. I rode and trained Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, and Mustangs. After riding the sitting trot for 20 years, I learned about naturally gaited horses that don’t trot at all!
Difference between horses with natural gaits and naturally gaited horses
All horses have natural gaits. Gaits they are born with. Not all horses are born with naturally S-M-O-O-T-H gaits as flat walk, fox trot, tolt, saddle rack, and other ambling variations. Naturally smooth gaits are what define a naturally gaited horse over a horse with natural gaits.
There are many breeds of smooth naturally gaited horses: Tennessee Walking Horses, Missouri Foxtrotters, Paso Finos, Peruvian Pasos, Icelandics, Kentucky Mountain Horses, Rocky Mountain Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, Standardbreds, and more.
The smooth gaits of the naturally gaited horse are what drew me to my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana. Her friendly, meet-me-at-the-fence, in-your-pocket personality surprised me. I learned this is common with many naturally gaited horse breeds.
Training develops the horse’s smooth gaits
All horses need to be trained in order to develop quality gaits and full range of motion. The same is true for naturally gaited horses. While the smooth gaits are inherent with the naturally gaited horse, the smooth gaits need to be developed through consistent training.
There are many ways to train a naturally gaited horse to develop the smooth gaits. My method of training is dressage. Through a balanced riding position and effective use and timing of rein, leg, seat, and weight aids, the rider communicates with the naturally gaited horse. Learn more:Why Dressage for the Rider
Dressage teaches the rider how to lead the naturally gaited horse into:
Relaxation of mind and body
Balance
Rhythm
Forward movement without rushing
Connection
Symmetry
Collection
In dressage a snaffle bit is used. There are no artificial gadgets, gait enhancements, or weighted shoes with pads used. The rider teaches the horse how to accept a light contact with a snaffle bit. Learn more: Why Dressage for the Naturally Gaited Horse
Training a Naturally Gaited Horse using Dressage
Naturally gaited horses are more than smooth
People who acquire a naturally gaited horse often focus on developing the smooth gaits exclusively. I know I was at first until I discovered my naturally gaited horse is born with more gears than horses with natural gaits. Through consistent dressage training my naturally gaited horse has been trained to perform the full spectrum and scope of gaits on cue.
My naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Makana has always been ridden barefoot (without shoes). Through developing Makana’s full range of motion and quality gaits on cue, she produces collected through extended natural gaits: counted walk, collected walk, free walk, working walk, medium walk, extended walk, flat foot walk, flat walk, running walk, piaffe, trot, fox trot, saddle rack, flying pace, and canter. Learn More:Naturally Gaited Horse Gaits
Video: Naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Collection of Walks
Video: Naturally Gaited Horse Collection of Walks
Naturally gaited horses are versatile
Naturally gaited horses make great trail horses. Their smooth comfortable gaits allow the rider to cover more terrain in a shorter amount of time and their bodies won’t pay for it later.
Even more, through consistent training, naturally gaited horses are versatile. Dressage training has made it possible for my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse to compete in dressage, jumping, endurance, cow sorting, trail obstacles, and competitive trail, more. Learn more: Versatility of the Naturally Gaited Horse
Naturally gaited horse photo gallery
Flat Walk (rein self carriage)
Running Walk
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk with contact
Tennessee Walking Horse Running Walk
Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat footed walk
Saddle Rack
Counted Walk
Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Piaffe
Cantering the naturally gaited horse
Flechi Droit (stretching outside neck muscles)
Quality rein back
Teaching the naturally gaited horse a quality trot on cue can improve the smooth gait.
Showing Dressage with a Gaited Horse
How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. (Makana age 19.)
Shoulder in on a circle with Makana, my 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
Gymnastic Jumping with a Gaited Horse
Cow Sorting with a Gaited Horse
Endurance
Encountering the moose at the gaited trail trial (2011).
Obstacles
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Jambette offers great stretching benefits for the naturally gaited horse. It teaches the horse to extend the foreleg and lift and chest and shoulder for greater mobility and range of motion.
Jambette and the Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
The first time I saw jambette was in 2016 when my French dressage instructor was finishing up a training session with her upper-level mare. Jambette teaches the horse to extend a foreleg on cue while at a halt. It is the precursor to the Spanish walk. The Spanish Walk adds a walk step between the jambette. The jambette and Spanish walk offer great benefits for the naturally gaited horse’s shoulder mobility and chest muscle development which improve scope and range of motion.
Marvel is a three-and-a-half-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse / Spotted Saddle Horse gelding. I’ve been working with him for five months in preparation for spring saddle training.
The jambette and Spanish walk are upper-level movements I hadn’t considered teaching him at this stage. Yet combining his playful curiosity, high intelligence, and winter boredoms, Marvel had other ideas.
Jambette isn’t something I had set out to teach Marvel at three and a half, yet he told me otherwise.
How Jambette began with my Gaited Horse
In February 2022, I finished rasping the rough edges around Marvel’s front foot using the hoof stand. His front leg extended straight and forward. The next day I placed Marvel in the cross ties, and he began extending his front leg as if the hoof stand were there. The first time he did this, I thought it was rather humorous. The next day he did it again. After several days in a row, I knew his curious behavior was more than a fluke. Then Marvel began to extend the other front leg.
By golly, Marvel is teaching himself the jambette. Who am I to tell him, “No dude, the textbooks say this is an advanced movement and you need hold off a few years!”
What is my alternative? If I were to discourage Marvel, he likely would resort to pawing like Makana does. Pawing is an annoying habit which I haven’t had success curbing. So, if Marvel takes delight in an exercise that is beneficial to his body, I began putting cues to the jambette. Each time he offered a stretch with the front leg, I say,”jambette,” and touch his shoulder. Now Marvel offers jambette on cue and with each foreleg. (And I join his dance line routine, too!)
Jambette right and left legs
Then Makana, my 17-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, began offering jambette in the cross ties, too. She must have been auditing Marvel’s shenanigans in the cross ties (or Marvel has been coaching her on the sidelines). Good thing, jambette has now replaced her years long annoying habit of pawing in the cross ties!
Jambette to Spanish Walk
The next step is to incorporate jambette with forward walk steps to develop the Spanish Walk—an exercise I have longed to teach a horse. Again, I have been in no hurry to teach the Spanish Walk, but if Marvel says otherwise, who am I to stop him.
Watch: Jambette and Spanish Walk
Marvel’s two favorite things so far: liberty and jambette with steps of Spanish Walk. Yes, naturally gaited horses are versatile, personable, talented and intelligent.
After all, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana, taught me counted walk and piaffe. Naturally gaited horses are multi gaited horses and can learn jambette and Spanish Walk, too!
From jambette to steps of Spanish Walk with a Tennessee Walking Horse.
I finally found a young gaited horse. Just where do I start with training? How fast do I bring the horse along? What age is best for starting a gaited horse under saddle?
Here’s my story…
It has been a thrill getting to know my three-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse/Spotted Saddle Horse gelding, Marvel. He’s been at my place for a few weeks. In this time, I’ve come to know Marvel as an observant, curious, bold, friendly, intelligent, sensitive, responsive, expressive, humorous, and game for anything (so far anyway) youngster.
Some horses make me smile! (Okay, maybe all horses, but some make me laugh!)
Trailering Home
Back to the day we picked Marvel up. He had never been in a trailer. Opportunity #1: starting an unbroke gaited horse. We planned to take our time. Relaxation was the key. No pulling or forcing. Just asking and rewarding.
We tried many approaches to trailer loading:
Loading his dam into the trailer since Marvel had a great relationship with her
Leading Marvel into the trailer by walking ahead of him to give him confidence
Walking next to him and letting him walk himself
Encouraging Marvel to lower his head and neck and sniff the ramp, and placing one foot on the ramp and rewarding him; then placing his other front foot on the ramp and rewarding him; we got stalled there
Taking a big loop and walking forward into the trailer
Using a crop to encourage forwardness into the trailer; the crop was new to him, so I clucked first; if no response, I clucked and tapped on his hindquarter and as soon as he stepped forward I ceased the cluck and tap
Using a lunge line behind and around him to encourage him into the trailer
Bringing down the energy, using grain as a motivator, and step by step, slowly and surely that did the trick. It seemed that Marvel had to choose for himself to load into the trailer. He wasn’t going to BE loaded. So trailer loading will be something to work on at home.
Once loaded, Marvel trailered quietly for his journey to his new home
Breaking a Horse or Starting a Horse
Okay, so after a few weeks. Is Marvel broke yet? In what way? For me as a passionate dressage rider/trainer, there are many steps along the way to being broke. I am fortunate in that Marvel was family raised from birth, just like Makana, my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse mare. To me, being handled since birth makes training easier.
At three, Marvel has a short attention span. Knowing his personality, his age, and stage of training, I like starting a gaited horse by breaking it down into simple 10-minute sessions of learning until we are both ready for the time my seat meets the saddle.
Starting a gaited horse begins with many introductions.
Introducing Marvel to:
His new home and new friends over the fence
Where the water is
Coming into the barn at feeding time and into a stall
Getting acclimated to the herd and establishing the pecking order
Coming when called
Being free lunged
Being haltered and led
Being cross tied
Letting me trim his feet
Being bridled
Learning to accept snaffle bit contact and follow the hands
Marvel at his new home with his new friends (though he matches perfectly!)
Then Marvel learned about being cross tied.
And Marvel experienced being bridled for the first time.
Introducing the Bridle
I introduced the bridle to Marvel in the same way I have with every horse I have worked with. Watch this short video about bridling a horse the easy way.
10-23-21. In this video, an unbroke 3-year-old gaited horse, a TWH / SSH, gets an introduction to the bit and basic flexions.
Once bridled, I began teaching balance, relaxation, flexions side to side, and neck extension. These exercises teach him to accept and follow a light snaffle bit contact and to stretch his outside neck muscles and top line. All of these exercises will be transferred to the saddle one day.
11-14-21: In this video, an unbroke 3-year-old gaited horse, a TWH / SSH, learns the next phase of flexions that introduce following contact.
Teaching the horse balance and not to lean on the hands of the rider.
Neck extensions to the side teach the horse to follow the contact out and down and stretch the outside neck muscles.
Relationship of Relaxation
For me, building a relationship of relaxation with Marvel is the number one most important priority right now. I want to help Marvel look to me as a trusted leader. I learned early on with Makana at gaited horsemanship clinics with Larry Whitesell, that a horse will look to the rider for leadership, and if the horse doesn’t trust that leadership, it will take matters unto its own and fight or flight.
In addition to introductions to the cross ties and bridle, I began free lunging Marvel in the round pen both directions; yielding the haunches, encouraging him to turn towards me and halt.
Examples of building relationship through communication:
Creating a relationship that encourages relaxation (mind and body) no matter the distractions around us
Being aware of where his attention is while we are together and using create ways to draw his attention back to me
Establishing consistent body language and verbal cues are important while I work with him
Becoming aware of Marvel’s response to my request and body language; do I need to increase or decrease the ask with my levels of excitement or sense of calm to either motivate or relax and reward him
Marvel is so keen, aware, and sensitive to my body language. This is telling to how he will be under saddle. I have been training horses using dressage for over thirty years and have started a couple youngsters Marvel’s age.
How long will it take before my seat reaches the saddle? Not soon enough if you ask me, but I am only half the relationship. Some people start young horses at the end of their second year, give them the winter off and begin saddle training at three. Others wait until the horse is physically more mature and start them at four. Marvel turned three in June. Since I just brought him home, I want Marvel to be physically ready, for us to have a solid relationship of communication, and both of us to be mentally prepared.
Lunging a gaited horse.
Lunging a Gaited Horse: Our next progression of training including our first seven video sessions from halter to saddle and bridle.
Marvel enjoys following us around. Just look at the hind leg stride difference between Marvel and Lady. I think Marvel will have some nice moves under saddle. What do you think?
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
Second Thoughts about Long and Low for the Naturally Gaited Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
A long and low free walk is a great way to break up pace for the gaited horse. Just make sure you begin with relaxation and balance to maximize your efforts.
Long and low or free walk on a long rein
Dressage is a form of training where the rider communicates with the horse using rein, leg, and seat aids to lead the horse into relaxation, balance, and forward movement without rushing, as well as symmetry and flexibility over time to develop the horse’s full range of motion and quality gaits for long term soundness.
In dressage there are many expressions within a gait. Long and low or free walk on a long rein is one of those expressions. The free walk is a required movement during all dressage tests—Introductory through Advanced.
A quality free walk shows the horse in a state of relaxation. The horse stretches forward, out and down with the head and neck into a light contact with the snaffle bit. The rider follows the natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms and follows the belly sway of the horse with relaxed hip joints. The horse walks with even rhythm, deep steps with each the hind leg under the belly for length of stride and over track.
Long and low or free walk on a long rein has many benefits for the naturally gaited horse:
The free walk is an evenly timed four beat gait that helps break up the laterally timed pace
The free walk stretches the spine and develops the top line muscles of the horse
The free walk develops rhythm and even strides which are foundational qualities in developing quality gaits
The free walk improves depth of stride and length of stride as the horse reaches beneath its belly with each hind leg step and over tracks the fore footprint
The lowered head and neck position of the free walk stimulates endorphins and relaxes the horse
Relaxation of the back reduces tension to aid in smoother gait
The free walk is a great way to begin and end every ride with a many stretch breaks within a riding session
A balanced riding position and horse balance
I’ve had the great privilege of auditing and riding with well-known clinicians who travel to my region. One of which is international riding bio-mechanics coach Mary Wanless. She challenges riders to become aware of their balanced riding position. While she teaches riders of trotting horses, the principles of rider position and balance also apply to naturally gaited horses.
Jennifer Klitzke riding her Spanish Mustang at a Mary Wanless Clinic and getting established in the A,B,Cs of riding biomechanics.
Long and low but not too low
The study of French dressage pulled back another layer of awareness for me with my gaited horses. It helped me see the difference between just letting my horse lower its head and neck as low as possible to lowering the head and neck while maintaining balance. French dressage helped me recognize that the free walk is a full body activity. You see, long and low is not beneficial if the horse in on the forehand and disengaged from behind.
French dressage encourages a neutral neck extension position instead of as low as the horse can go. A neck extension can be done at a walk, trot, or flat walk. It allows the horse a maximum stretch of the top line muscles and spine by allowing the horse to stretch out its head and neck, forward, out and down, but no lower than the poll at wither height. This helps the horse maintain more chest posture and balance.
The feeling of balance and its application for the naturally gaited horse
FEI dressage rider Heather Blitz describes the feeling of balance using this metaphor. While riding, imagine if your horse had a medicine ball which freely moves around its insides. Where does the weight of the medicine ball feel like it sits most? Does it feel like it rests in the horse’s chest or beneath your seat? The former indicates that the horse is more on the forehand and the latter indicates that the horse is more in balance with the rider.
Long and low in balance
Now think about long and low. If I were to release my horse into a long and low frame while her balance feels like the medicine ball is in her chest, what quality of free walk would we produce? My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse would be traveling on the forehand, right? She would be pulling herself forward with her front legs, chest muscles collapsed, and her hind legs would be disengaged with shorter strides. This means her hind leg steps would trail behind her tail more than step deep beneath her body and create less over track with the fore hoof prints.
Now that I’ve become aware of how it feels when my horse is in and out of balance, it is important establish her balance BEFORE releasing the reins to a free walk on a long rein.
The yellow lines show balanced alignment. The horse’s foreleg is perpendicular with the ground while the yellow and green lines at the tail shows how much of the hind step is under the body and planted under the rider. The center yellow line shows a balanced riding position over the horse’s center of gravity.
The feeling of balance
This medicine ball metaphor has helped me discover the feeling of balance and what to do when I lose it. Each time it feels like the medicine ball rolls into my horse’s chest, I begin with a half halt or transition from walk to halt to walk. If the medicine ball still feels like it is in my horse’s chest, then I transition from walk to halt, take a couple steps of rein back until I feel the medicine ball roll beneath my seat. Then in a feeling of balance, I encourage my horse to take the reins long and low into a free walk. I feel her hind legs step deeply beneath her belly beneath my riding position.
Free walk on a long rein is a great way to break up pace for a natural, four-beat, smooth gait. It also improves depth of stride, length of stride, rhythm and relaxation. Just remember to establish balance before releasing the reins to maximize your efforts.
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