Lawn mowers, mosquitoes, flowering trees, song birds in chorus, and the return of hay fever—in March!
Midwest March heat melted previous high-temperature records. Perhaps the March heat is what inspired my mare’s record-breaking heat that showed up the day before our western gaited dressage demonstration this season.
Up until last year when she turned seven, Makana had been a saint 95% of the time. That’s when I began to notice a change in her behavior. Saint one day and erratic the next. It was nearly impossible to get her moving forward.
At first I thought it was my riding position, then I explored saddle fitting issues, tried some supplements, and changed her diet. The one thing I hadn’t considered was a change in her hormones, mainly because I can never tell when she’s in heat. She shows no physical outward signs.
Makana and I had a terrific time riding through the mild winter temperatures, until March, the day before our gaited dressage demonstration at the Western Dressage Clinic. The day before the clinic I had my record-breaking worst ride ever! Explosive, distracted, spooky, unwilling to turn or bend to the right, I couldn’t believe this was the same horse I had been riding all winter! Getting after her only made her behavior worse, so I asked for my saintly husband’s help.
Dan grabbed his helmet and said, “How about if I get on? I’ve never experienced what you’re describing.” He calmly climbed on and walked her around singing, “Rawhide.” Makana mellowed out within a few verses. Was it the song? Not likely, but my husband’s approach made a profound difference, and he taught me an important lesson. He patiently wooed Makana out of her frenzy by inviting her into relaxation. My approach of reacting to her behavior by getting after her only stirred her up more. Ding-dong!
So, at the Western Dressage Clinic, I didn’t sing “Rawhide,” but I did apply Dan’s approach as I dealt with Makana’s marishness and it worked. No explosions; no erratic behavior. My mare could have been more forward and paid a little more attention to me over that handsome demonstration gelding, but I didn’t react to her marishness by getting after her. I kept redirecting her to relaxation through long and low stretching, leg yields, shoulder-in, hauches-in, rein back, transitions between the working walk, flat walk, running walk, free walk and canter. In fact, we even rode through first level, test one!
The success of Dan’s approach really doesn’t surprise me. After all, he knows how to gently love me out of a rather marish day and turn it into smiles and sunshine.
Video: Western Dressage Demonstration: NWHA First Level, Test One
As a “thank you” gift from the clinic organizers, Makana received her first bag of “Mare Magic.” I’ve heard good reports and will keep you posted.
I am a huge fan of before and after. I love shows like The Biggest Loser and Extreme Home Makeover, because I love seeing transformation. So, at the end of each riding season, I like to reflect upon where my horse and I have been, how we have improved, and what we plan to tackle next. I believe that life is an ongoing journey of learning—even for older folk like me.
I came from decades of dressage riding a non-gaited horses whose head and neck remained stationary at the trot. Then I became acquainted with the exaggerated head and neck nodding, ear flopping, and teeth clicking of the naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk. Fascinating.
This brings up the BIG question: How do you ride a head-nodding horse with contact? Do I follow the natural head and neck motion with relaxed hands? Or do my hands remain fixed and the horse adjusts its nod? The more I sought out an answer, the BIGGER my question became.
Riding a horse with contact involves teaching the horse how to accept and follow the snaffle bit while the rider follows the natural head and neck motion of the horse. This takes a sense of feel, timing, and technique of the rein aids to maintain a soft dialogue with the horse’s mouth while moving the horse forward from the hindquarters, through a relaxed back, fluid shoulders, and head and neck of the horse to a dialogue of contact between the rider’s hands and the snaffle bit while at the same time following the motion of the horse in a balanced riding position. A well-fitting saddle that allows the horse to move freely and comfortably is also essential.
In dressage, riding on-the-bit and establishing a round frame are requirements, but according to the late Lee Ziegler, a well-known and respected gaited trainer and clinician, riding the Walking Horse in a round frame can produce fox trot and hard trot just as hollowness can create pace, step pace, and rack. Lee also pointed out aspects of conformation which relate to a horse’s propensity to pace, four-beat gait, and trot. In any case, Lee encouraged her students to ride their gaited horses in a neutral or neutral-slightly round position.
I’ve certainly witnessed the transformation of a pacey horse brought into a four-beat gait through a lowered headset and roundness, but if the latter is true, is it possible to ride a Walking Horse “on-the-bit” and in a round frame while maintaining a flat walk and running walk?
In May I audited Larry Whitesell’s gaited dressage clinic and asked him how to ride a naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse at a flat walk, on-the-bit without restricting the head nod. He said, “You can’t.” Larry went on to say that if a horse nods its head, it must be bracing its back.
Really? I explained that the head nod is a signature attribute of the Walking Horse, and Larry said that the energy of engagement needs to be expressed somewhere. I believe Larry has something to this–although it is not to silence my Walking Horse’s head nod–but that my horse may be bracing her back.
During the lunch break I asked Larry for feedback regarding a recent video of a First Level dressage test we rode. He said, “Your horse looks happy and is where she needs to be at this level, but your horse is on the forehand.” Video: First Level Test 1>
The forehand? Gaited clinician Gary Lane and a few Walking Horse friends had also pointed this out. So, what does it mean when a Walking Horse is “on the forehand”? Does this mean that my horse is too long and low? Do I need more forwardness? Certainly, we need more engagement from the hindquarter, but how do I achieve it, how do I capture it into the bridle, what does it look and feel like, and how do these questions relate to riding my head-shaking horse on-the-bit with an unbraced back?
I spent the riding season exploring answers to these questions. In April Makana and I were honored to be one of the demonstration teams for clinician Gary Lane at the MN Horse Expo. After he had given us an “A+” on our long and low work, Gary offered insights to help my horse get “off the forehand.” He asked me to raise my hands slightly, squeeze with my calves against the horse’s sides, and release my grip on the reins. This is what he referred to as a half halt, and it resulted in a more elevated head and neck, lightness of the forehand, and a deeper head nod.
In May, I brought these questions to Makana’s former owner. She has gone on to be a Cavalia-quality horsewoman with her PRE-Andalusian mare. She stopped by and provided a few answers to these questions. She has a wonderful blend of gaited horse training, classical dressage, and natural horsemanship application. She gave me pointers on forwardness, connection, and lateral exercises.
In June, Makana and I traveled to Proctor, MN with our questions to the B.L.E.S.S. Your Walking Horse Clinic. The clinician, Bucky Sparks, offered several answers which helped me get a feel for riding with contact in a round frame while allowing my horse’s head to nod. My horse had a noticeable over track and a four-beat flat walk. I was relieved to know that it is possible to ride in roundness without breaking into a hard trot.
Bucky also helped me teach my horse to bend through the ribcage while asking for shoulder-fore, shoulder-in and haunches-in. These bending exercises began to unlock her braced back and add to her roundness and contact on-the-bit.
I also realized that forwardness and rushing are not the same thing. Forwardness can help produce balance, but rushing will cause the horse to fall on the forehand. My horse had learned to evade stepping deep from behind by taking shorter and quicker steps. I have no idea what smooth gait she had invented, but it wasn’t a flat walk or a running walk!
By slowing Makana down, I am able to establish a deeper step under her body on a long and low frame. Then when the deep steps are established, I can slowly raise my horse’s head and neck while maintaining the same deep steps. Then I can transition to flat walk for a few deep steps and transition back to a deep stepping walk.
A couple weeks after that, I met the President of the Western Dressage Association of Minnesota at a women’s horse gathering. She grew up with Walking Horses, and she noticed that my horse seemed to stop with contact. Keeping my horse moving forward has been a big challenge. I just assumed I had a lazy horse. She encouraged me to keep my arms at my sides and open and close my fingers with each head nod. This encouraged my horse to nod as she moved forward into the contact.
Ah-ha, perhaps my closed hands had been cuing Makana to slow to a stop!
Then in October at a women’s horse gathering, instructor Judy Conger explored saddle fit with my horse. We switched from my gaited western saddle to her Black Rhino western saddle that has a dish-shaped tree and is more flared in front. To my amazement, there was a noticeable improvement in Makana’s willingness to travel forward and through the corners without stopping. My western saddle hindered her shoulder movement, especially in turns. I took this awareness with me and now place my dressage saddle behind my horse’s shoulders. This has also made a difference.
Finally in November, I audited a Biomechanics Clinic taught by author and clinician Mary Wanless. Watching this clinic brought the words of her book “The Natural Rider” to life. The practical take-aways have made a difference in my riding position which has impacted my horse’s way of going.
There were many transformations this riding season. Did I lose a hundred pounds or have to “move that bus”? No, but I’ve gained many transforming answers to the BIG question. And I’m happy to report that it is possible to ride a head nodding horse at a flat walk with contact.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
It’s interesting how experiences prepare us for what’s next. I never imagined I’d be showing dressage after a 16-year break on a horse that doesn’t trot!
Preparation for What’s Next with My Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse
By Jennifer Klitzke
I never got into this “gaited dressage thing” to show. In fact, I only wanted a smooth horse to ride that would be gentler on my aging body.
In 2007 when I bought my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse Makana, dressage is how I trained her. It’s all I knew. Yet riding dressage on a Walking Horse is so different than on a trotting horse.
Tennessee walking horses do unusual things I had not encountered with trotting horses. The faster they travel the smoother they get, their head and neck nods with each step, their ears flop, and their teeth sometimes click.
That’s when I joined a local Walking horse association to learn more about riding this unique breed.
Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at a Gaited Dressage Clinic with Bucky Sparks
Shortly thereafter, I took my Makana to a gaited dressage clinic with Bucky Sparks. Later that year, I rode at a Larry Whitesell gaited dressage clinic.
Larry Whitesell demonstrating and explaining shoulder-in in-hand with a rider.
Indeed, my worlds were colliding.
In 2008 the Walking horse association pleaded for more entries at the Washington County Fair. They were worried the Tennessee walking horse classes would be eliminated unless more people entered.
“Well, okay, we’ll give rail class shows a try,” I said.
Jennifer Klitzke riding Gift of Freedom at a TWH breed show in the 3-gait Trail Pleasure Rail Class
It wasn’t ribbons that kept us returning to Walking horse shows. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse came alive in the show ring. She seemed to enjoy the people and other horses, so we’ve kept it up.
Our first gaited dressage show in 2010.
Now that I was officially riding dressage on a gaited horse and showing in rail classes, I entered my Tennessee walking horse at a local schooling dressage show the fall of 2010. We were the only gaited entry, and because of this it drew the attention of two women who owned gaited horses. We exchanged phone numbers and began to trail riding at state parks. Makana seemed to enjoy the fresh air, arresting scenery, and varied terrain as much as I did.
Encountering the moose obstacle at a Gaited Trail Trial.
Trail riding prepared us for the next step. If it weren’t for the dozens of trail rides we had been on with the women I had met at the schooling dressage show, I would have never considered riding the 2011 Gaited Trail Trials which proved to be the most fun I’ve ever had on horseback!
So what’s next? I’m tinkering with the notion of eventing my gaited horse now that we have started gymnastic jumping.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.
I’ve never had so much fun getting lost as I did yesterday at Sand Dunes State Forest (North) with my husband riding on a beautiful fall day. However, yesterday’s limited daylight ate up his golf time, so he opted out of the Walker’s Triple R show to play a couple rounds before cold and darkness envelop us.
So I squeezed into my “big girl pants,” as my friend so often says, and loaded and trailered Makana to the show by myself, rode two tests without a reader, as the solo gaited dressage rider, and even managed to record video! (I set the camera on a post that recorded our second ride winning ride.) This year’s horse adventures have prepped me well for showing solo.
Judy and Mike Walker organized another well run schooling dressage show. They must have divine connections, because this year’s record rain held off during all three shows. We had perfect weather, no bugs, and the same friendly crowd. In fact, a couple people from the Western Dressage Association of Minnesota even volunteered to record my first winning ride on video. (Thank you Laura and AnnMarie. I will never forget your kindness!)
The two lessons I had last month really paid off. Makana stepped deeper under her body without rushing, we maintained a leg yield at a flat walk without breaking, my position and hands were quieter, my fingers followed her head nod, and we placed first in both classes as the only gaited dressage team riding among warmbloods, Friesians, and Arabians.
Now if I can figure out a way to increase Makana’s energy at a canter, we’ll be set for next week’s dressage show at Rocking R. Only next week, I may be the only gaited dressage rider, but I won’t be showing solo!
If gaited dressage isn’t enough of a paradigm shift for many traditional dressage riders, what about gaited western dressage? Being a good sport, I rode my naturally gaited Walking horse mare in her western outfit at the last horse women’s gathering at Judy Conger’s farm. Our special guest was Karen Meyers who is the president of the newly formed Western Dressage Association of Minnesota. Turns out, Karen grew up with Tennessee walking horses and showed them in the 1970s when the classes were the main draw at the Minnesota State Fair horse show.
Knowing this, I couldn’t help asking Karen for feedback on how to establish contact with a western curb, improve the head nod, and develop the flat walk (western dressage style). Karen suggested that I take up the slack and shorten my reins to have a light contact with the curb bit, hold my arms at my sides with a 90-degree angle from my shoulder to my hand, and keep my arms and hands still without being stiff. My hands are positioned as if I’m holding two ice-cream cones and my fingers slightly open and close with the head-nod motion. Make sure the curb chain has 3-4 fingers between the chin and chain so that it encourages the horse to move without feeling punished or stopped by the bit or chain.
Instructor Judy Conger helped me establish a more correct western dressage position. It kind of feels like if someone punched me in the gut to fill out the arch in my lower back, and then the feeling of pushing my inside anatomy down into the saddle while sitting tall, and stretching my thighs down and back. (Now if I can remember to breath, stay relaxed, and for goodness sake, SMILE!)
Putting together tips I learned from last week’s lesson with this week’s feedback from Judy and Karen looks something like this:
Begin with long and low on a loose rein to get the horse stretching and stepping deep under its body.
After 10-15 minutes, then gradually begin taking up contact and transition to a flat walk without losing the deep steps.
Return to long and low if the horse begins to rush with scampering, small steps.
Mix in transitions from flat walk to halt and rein-back to an immediate forward and engaged flat walk.
Throw in some canter both directions with transitions to walk or halt.
Good luck if you keep your body in that contorted position (and extra bonus points if you remember to breath and smile)!
Who knows, maybe I’ll be riding Makana gaited Western Dressage style at the next Walker’s Triple R schooling dressage show held Sunday, September 25. Entries will be taken through Wednesday, September 21. See you there!
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