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Naturally Gaited Horse

What is a Naturally Gaited Horse

What is a naturally gaited horse
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

  • Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk (loose rein self carriage)
    Flat Walk (rein self carriage)
  • 2021 naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk on a long rein
    Running Walk
  • Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk with contact
    Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk with contact
  • Tennessee Walking Horse Running Walk
    Tennessee Walking Horse Running Walk
  • Makana Tennessee walking horse flat walk flexed poll bareback
    Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat footed walk
  • Gaited Horse Saddle Rack on a Loose Rein
    Saddle Rack
  • gaited horse bareback riding counted walk
    Counted Walk
  • Naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse bareback piaffe
    Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse Piaffe
  • Cantering the naturally gaited horse
    Cantering the naturally gaited horse
  • flechi droit
    Flechi Droit (stretching outside neck muscles)
  • naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse rein back bareback
    Quality rein back
  • June 2017 Fred Kappler Clinic
    Teaching the naturally gaited horse a quality trot on cue can improve the smooth gait.
  • featured showing dressage with the gaited horse
    Showing Dressage with a Gaited Horse
  • flat walk
    How dressage improves quality smooth gait over time. (Makana age 19.)
  • shoulder in on a circle with a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
    Shoulder in on a circle with Makana, my 20-year-old naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse.
  • Gaited horses over fences
    Gymnastic Jumping with a Gaited Horse
  • naturallygaited-soting-cows
    Cow Sorting with a Gaited Horse
  • Endurance riding with gaited horses
    Endurance
  • encountering the moose at the gaited trail trial
    Encountering the moose at the gaited trail trial (2011).
  • Trail obstacles
    Obstacles

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Dressage Exercises for the Gaited Horse

Jambette & the Gaited Horse

jambette and the naturally gaited horse

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!”

Marvel jambette in cross ties

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!

Makana jambette in hand

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!

naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse piaffe
From jambette to steps of Spanish Walk with a Tennessee Walking Horse
From jambette to steps of Spanish Walk with a Tennessee Walking Horse.

What are your thoughts? Please reach out and send me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

Gaited Horse Training

Starting an Unbroke Gaited Horse

Introducing communication with a snaffle bit

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.

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
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.

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Balance for Gaited Horses

Second Thoughts About Long And Low

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 at a Mary Wanless Clinic
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.

dressage for the gaited horse and rider
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.

Watch: A Balanced Free walk on a Long Rein

Free walk on a long rein in a balanced position.

Watch: A Balanced Free walk on a Loose Rein

Free walk on a loose rein in a balanced position.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you. Please reach out and share your story by sending me a message. Or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and follow our community on facebook.com/naturallygaited.

The Versatile Gaited Horse

Bareback Riding on a Gaited Horse

Does bareback riding offer benefits for the naturally gaited horse?

Here’s my story…

Bareback Riding on a Gaited Horse

By Jennifer Klitzke

With the exception of a couple summers of riding lessons, my early riding years were as a trail guide at a local ranch. Paying riders rode with the few saddles on hand while the guides rode the horses bareback. Us guides also introduced the horses fresh from auction to the trail system. Would they be string keepers or return to auction? I hoped for a lucky draw and learned riding balance out of self-preservation.

Five years later, I purchased my first horse (and a saddle). Where I rode, there were two riding styles: dressage and hunter jumper. More people fell off hunter jumper style, so I picked the safer alternative.

Years later, remembering my fond experiences leading groups through the winding woods including white wintery wonderlands, I gave bareback a try with my then third horse, a Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding. In a split second I met the frozen ground in an ouch. That’s when I learned some horses are cold backed. Bareback riding is not an option for all horses.

So, I returned to the security of my saddle and tucked away those fond youthful bareback memories.

Bareback riding on my gaited horse

Fast forward 20 years when gaited horses entered my life. The idea of riding bareback drew flashbacks of airtime to a bone-crunch landing. Until one white wintery morning when hoar frost sparkled like a crystal forest in the sunshine. Memories of my youthful trail guide days grew stronger. Would my now grandma body be willing to give bareback riding a try? My smooth gaited horse Lady was a safe choice. That’s how my friend rode her before Lady became mine.

Wibble. Wobble. At first, I felt unsteady. No stirrups for support. It was like my first-time kayaking. I just needed to take a deep breath, relax and find my balance. Then take in the surrounding beauty. With each smooth step Lady took, I became more confident, and I felt youthful again, if only for a moment. Without the saddle, Lady’s body warmed me as we rode through the white winter wonderland.

Watch: Riding bareback on a gaited horse

Riding a gaited horse bareback through a frosty winter wonderland.

After that frosty bareback ride, I gained enough confidence to try riding my smooth gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana, bareback, too. Thankfully neither of my naturally gaited horses were cold backed like my Trakehner/Thoroughbred was.

Bareback dressage?

Spring sprung, and I couldn’t wait to begin our dressage now that the ice and snow had melted. After a couple months of bareback riding, I wondered if dressage would be possible without a saddle. We gave it a try and sure enough, we were able to do every exercise bareback: Counter bend turns, flechi droit, shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out, renver, half pass, and more. Plus, we rode the full range of walks, smooth gaits, canter, and even piaffe bareback!

bareback riding a naturally gaited horse at a running walk

Eight ways bareback riding benefits naturally gaited horses.

1. Bareback riding offers closeness and connection

Bareback riding provides greater awareness and feel of how my horse is moving beneath me. I enjoy the closeness and connection we have for more timely adjustments to my riding position and rein, leg, seat and weight aids.

2. Bareback riding allows for better alignment over my horse’s center of gravity

Since there is no saddle between me and my gaited horse, riding bareback makes it easier to stay aligned over my horse’s center of gravity. Saddles often slip forward, backward, or to the side which place the rider in an unbalanced position. Riding bareback is easier to feel whether my horse is balanced or too much on the forehand, as well as hollow or lifting the back and wither.


3. Bareback riding helps lead to a correct feeling of balance

The sense of balance I feel riding bareback raises new questions for when I ride in a saddle. If my saddle slips behind my horse’s center of gravity, then we are no longer in balanced alignment. What happens to my feeling of balance? It gives me a false feeling of my horse being on the forehand when it is actually me being out of balance with my horse.

This was a huge light bulb moment for me I didn’t realize until I began to ride my gaited horses bareback. It is so important that the rider is balanced over the horse’s center of gravity, so riders are getting the correct feeling of balance.

Cantering bareback on a gaited horse.

4. Bareback riding improves rider position

Riding bareback has helped me find a balanced position over my horse’s center of gravity. I feel so much more without the saddle. I feel her breathe. I feel her back lift or hollow. I feel the lift in the wither when the shoulders engage.

It is important that I don’t ride on my horse’s spine. This would be uncomfortable to my horse. Instead, I need to support my weight in my thighs. This doesn’t mean clamping my thighs together to stay on. This would communicate a half halt or halt to my horse. If I intended to go forward while in a clamped position with my thighs, I would be sending mixed messages to my horse and produce stiff and braced movement⚊likely pace or step pace.

Instead of gripping with my thighs, I hold my weight in my thighs and move my hip joints with each belly sway to encourage free forward movement. When I desire to halt, then I still my pelvis and lower back.

Tennessee walking horses can piaffe, too!

5. Bareback riding has no stirrups to press into

Riding bareback removes the stirrups to press my feet into. This is beneficial to the horse. Too much weight in the stirrups places more pressure on the horse’s spine. This encourages hollowness and can lead to pacing or hard trot.

6. Bareback riding makes smooth gaits possible, too!

I wondered if riding bareback would influence smooth gait. I haven’t noticed a difference. In fact, riding bareback, I am able to stay aligned with my gaited horse’s center of gravity better. It seems we are more consistent in our smooth gaits for longer periods of time.

The flechi droit is a great warm up exercise to stretch the outside neck muscles while keeping the shoulders and body straight.

7. Bareback riding improves rider confidence

Clearly my riding confidence has improved since facing my apprehension and giving bareback riding another chance. I actually prefer bareback riding over riding with a saddle now. Bareback riding has expanded my riding position and riding with awareness in so many ways.

Bareback riding has:

  • Improved my riding confidence
  • Improved my balanced riding position
  • Strengthened my core
  • Improved my connection and communication with my horse
  • Improved my sense of feel
  • Improved my riding awareness of cause and effect
  • Improved a partnership of trust and harmony with my horse
Tennessee Walking Horse Flat Walk (loose rein self carriage)
Flat Walk (self carriage)

8. No saddle-fit issues with bareback riding

By riding bareback, I don’t have saddle-fitting or saddle-slipping issues to deal with! This is a wonderful benefit for those of us who have had trouble finding a saddle that fits our gaited horse. When riding bareback, the shoulders aren’t pinched, the girth doesn’t get chaffed, additional weight isn’t added to the horse’s back. However, it is my responsibility to be an easy load for my horse to carry with a balanced riding position and distribute my weight in my thighs.

Now to find a saddle that fits and doesn’t slip. Awe, heck, just ride bareback!

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

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