Tag Archives: walking horse over stride

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.

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, French Dressage for Gaited Horses

Following Arms & Rubber Band Fingers

Following the Head and Neck Motion

Many gaited riders choose to ride still or to ride with a long floppy rein. So, why follow the natural head and neck motion of the gaited horse with relaxed arms, shoulders, hands and fingers? If dressage is your riding style, here’s something to consider.

Following the Head and Neck of the Gaited Horse with Relaxed Arms & Rubber Band Fingers

By Jennifer Klitzke

When I returned from my Seattle vacation last Fall, I was excited to try out all I learned from Nichole Walters, a student of Classical French Dressage Master Philippe Karl. I was especially curious about following the natural head and neck motion of my naturally gaited horse with relaxed shoulders, arms and hands.

Granted, I rode non gaited horses at Nichole’s farm. Yet a trotting horse walk expresses an even four-beat gait. The head and neck nods naturally with each step. This is where Nicole encouraged me to relax my shoulders, back, and arms so that I would follow the horse’s motion.

It got me thinking. This seemed like a direct take-a-way for how I ride my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and fox trotting horse. It was critical that I learn to follow the natural head and neck motion while maintaining a light, even contact.

After publishing the video: Following the Motion of the Head Shaking Horse, I received a great tip from someone on the Naturally Gaited Facebook page. Along with following the natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms, a women encouraged to open and close my fingers with each head nod. This is what I call “rubber band fingers.”

I began giving this idea a try with both my naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse and my fox trotting mare.

Along with following the natural head and neck motion with relaxed arms and rubber band fingers are leading my naturally gaited horse into:

  • Relaxation: relaxed in the mind and relaxed in the jaw and back which will help break up pace.
  • Balance: so my naturally gaited horse will carry equal weight on all four legs and not be heavier on the forehand or leaning on the bit.
  • Rhythm: that my naturally gaited horses tempo is even, steady, forward, and not rushing.
  • Engagement: that of the hind leg steps deeper under the body more than trailing behind the tail.
  • Straightness: so that the shoulders are carrying equal weight and the horse isn’t leaning on the inside shoulder or bulging the outside shoulder.

I am seeing great results from combining these elements. My naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse’s head nod is more defined and regular in timing with the hind leg steps. Her rhythm is more even, and she seems more forward and engaged from behind.

Video: Following the Motion of the Head & Neck

I hope you find this video helpful. Please let me know your thoughts by completing the contact form.

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Dressage for the Gaited Horse

TWH Medium Walk or Flat Walk

The naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse has many walks. Some are smoother than others. How can you tell the difference between the medium walk and the flat walk? Both walks are natural even four beat gaits with a head nod. How can you improve the quality of tempo, rhythm and stride length?

Here are my thoughts…

How the medium walk and flat walk feel from the saddle

For me, telling the difference between the medium walk and flat-footed walk versus the flat walk and running walk is in how the gaits feel from the saddle. The medium walk and flat-footed walk have a lot of motion to follow with my lower back and the alternating movement of my hip joints with the belly sway of the horse. While riding the flat walk or running walk there is very little motion to follow. The flat walk and running walk are smooth as glass to ride and enjoy!

While watching a rider on a Tennessee Walking Horse, notice the rider’s pelvis. If there is a lot of motion, the rider may be riding the medium walk or the flat-footed walk. If the rider is still and the horse’s head nods with each hind leg step, the rider is likely riding the flat walk or running walk.

Makana Tennessee walking horse flat walk flexed poll bareback
Naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse flat-footed walk looks like a flat walk, right?

Many TWH riders don’t differentiate between the flat-footed walk and flat walk, but I do. I have noticed a Tennessee Walking Horse can appear to be in a flat walk with wonderful stride length, even four beat foot falls, and a head and neck nod in timing with the hind leg steps. Only the gait is hard on my back because there is a lot of motion to follow with the lower back.

The flat walk and running walk have very little motion to follow so it is smooth and comfortable to ride. I don’t get a sore back from the flat walk or running walk, but I do when I ride the medium walk or flat-footed walk. While these gaits appear to look the same, they don’t feel the same to the rider. Therefore, this is why I make a distinction between the medium walk and flat-footed walk versus the flat walk and running walk.

2021 naturally gaited Tennessee walking horse flat walk bareback with contact
Naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse flat walk looks like a flat-footed walk, right?

What is over stride and how to increase it

The medium walk, flat-footed walk, flat walk, and running walk have over stride. This means the hind leg hoof print steps over the forefoot hoof print after it leaves the ground. For the Tennessee Walking Horse, over stride ranges and if you show your horse, more over stride is prized. As a rider, I can encourage my Tennessee Walking Horse to increase this over stride by following the horse’s motion.

While riding the medium walk or flat-footed walk, I become aware of the rise and fall of the horse’s belly sway with each step. The belly sway is much more noticeable at the medium walk and flat-footed walk than it is at the flat walk or running walk. When the belly sways down, that’s when the hind leg is stepping under the body. If I want to encourage a deeper step under the body to increase length of stride, I apply and release my calf aid at the girth the moment the belly is about to sway down. I don’t apply both calves at the same time since this encourages the horse to go faster, and it shorten the stride length.

If there is no response from the horse, I will apply and release the calf and make a “cluck” sound at the same time. If I still don’t get a response, I will apply and release the calf, make a “cluck” sound, and a tap with the dressage whip on the same side. The goal is to achieve a response with the lightest aid and then help the horse maintain long and even strides with both hind leg steps. I praise my horse for every effort with a “good girl” or “good boy” and a pat.

I think there is great value in developing a solid, even four-beat medium walk or flat-footed walk with over stride before moving to the flat walk. This helps develop length of stride, relaxation, rhythm, and tempo.

In my early years of training my naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Makana, I made the mistake of rushing her into the flat walk. This produced a flat walk with a short stride and rushed tempo. The flat walk was smooth, but not the quality gait she is capable of. Thanks to my gaited dressage mentor, Jennie Jackson who coached us.

Jennie said, “Don’t let your Tennessee Walking Horse flat walk in a tight skirt!”

Lessons with Jennie helped us develop a solid medium walk leading to a bigger striding and smooth as butter flat walk one quality step at a time.

2014 Jennie Jackson clinic
Taking lessons from Jennie Jackson really helped improve the quality of our gaits using dressage.

Rider balance and its effect on the horse

Whether I am riding the medium walk, flat-footed walk, flat walk or running walk, a balanced horse will perform their best gaits. If I want my horse to be in balance, I need to be in balance.

One way that helps me maintain my balance is riding with shorter reins. Short reins don’t mean pulling back on the contact or a firm contact. Riding with short reins means maintaining a light feeling of the horse’s mouth with both reins while keeping my elbows at my sides. This helps me stay in a balanced ear, shoulder, elbows, hip and heel position over my horse’s center of gravity. If my elbows creep forward, soon my upper body begins to lean forward, and then I am out of balance. This causes my horse to fall on the forehand, onto the shoulders, and out of balance.

Maintaining my balance helps my horse stay in balance for quality gaits.

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

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Gaited Horse and Endurance Riding, The Versatile Gaited Horse

Mosquito Run Endurance Ride

naturallygaited-mosquito-run-novice-endurance-jennifer-klitzke

By Jennifer Klitzke

Minnesota Distance Riders Association (MnDRA) sponsored the Mosquito Run held at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve July 13-14, 2013. The event was appropriately named: when you see mosquitoes…RUN!

Lots and lots of mosquitoes kept me and my Tennessee walking horse Gift of Freedom (Makana) on pace at our first ten mile novice endurance ride. MnDRA sponsors several long distant rides that range from 10 miles, 25 miles, 50 miles, and 100 miles in several divisions: competitive, long distance and novice. Each ride begins and ends with an official vet check. Horses are checked and scored for hydration, soundness, pulse, and respiration. The results are calculated with the time for the final score. The goal is to safely complete the ride on course within the designated time and be rested for the post-ride vet check which is scheduled 10 minutes after reaching the finish line.

The mid-summer weather conditions couldn’t have been better: mid-70s, overcast, and breezy. The event drew lots of Arabians, a Spanish Mustang, and a few gaited breeds as Paso Finos, an Icelandic, and a Rocky Mountain Saddle Horse. Makana was the only gaited horse in our 10-mile novice group of five led by my friend with a handy GPS speedometer. Our strategy was to reach the two mile marker 30 minutes from ideal time so that we could slowly walk the remaining ride and give our horses a chance to pulse down for the post-vet check.

At a walk my TWH is usually faster than the non-gaited horses, but the tables were turned when the group moved to a brisk trot. Makana quickly fell behind in a flat walk. Then she began to mimic the other horses by trotting until I said, “Ah, that’s not why I brought you to this, my dear.” It took about 15 minutes for Makana to discover just how fast of a gait was needed to keep up with the trotting horses. Getting there I think we covered the full gait spectrum: flat walk, trot, canter, pace, and rack until she settled into a nice running walk. Endurance riding is exactly what Makana needs to think “forward.”

Depth of stride
Nothing improves depth of stride better than the event photographer standing in the tall grass!

Friday’s heavy rains collected many large puddles through the first two miles of woodlands which slowed us down quite a bit. When we reached the dry open prairie, we made up time at a hand gallop. This saved our final two miles for walking which helped the horses pulse down for the final vet check. That was the mosquitoes’ strategy. They waited at the two mile marker for us when they knew we couldn’t run away!

Thanks to my friend and her handy GPS speedometer, we reached the finish line exactly two hours from the start. (Now if only I could get my gaited horse to trot in hand for the vet check.) Well, maybe next time!

Endurace ride score sheet
During the vet check, horses are required to trot in hand (not gait!)

A huge “thank you” to MnDRA for hosting the Mosquito Run. What a terrific group of fun people. And an enormous “thank you” to the event photographer Bob Zimmerman for taking such fantastic photos. I doubt anyone had more mosquito bites than Bob! For more about the Minnesota Distance Riders Association, visit their open group on Facebook: MnDRA.

Naturally Gaited photo album»

Dressage for the Gaited Horse, Gaited Dressage Shows, Gaited Dressage Videos

Gaited Dressage at Rocking R

gaited dressage at Rocking R Farm

By Jennifer Klitzke

Rocking R Farms in Foley, MN ordered perfect weather for their Spring Schooling Dressage and Jumping Show: sunshine, light breeze, not too hot or cold, and no bugs.

Rocking R Farm is one of the few facilities in my area that accommodates gaited dressage at their three schooling shows each year. I’ve been participating at Rocking R’s schooling shows since 2010, and so far have been the only gaited rider/horse team entered. I long for the day when more people give it a try. The feedback received from a trained eye is very helpful!

Gift of Freedom (Makana) and I rode NWHA Training Level Tests Two and Three and received scores of 69.28% and 66.8%. At previous shows, judges have encouraged me to establish and maintain contact with the bridle, so I’ve been working at this. Perhaps I took it too far as the judge felt my horse was bracing against the contact. I definitely see a difference in the way Makana moves which brings up another question:  What do collected gaits look and feel like?

I asked Larry this question last summer at the five-day Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer Clinic. Larry said that collected TWH gaits do not track up as much as gaits shown in breed rail classes and that the head nod is less extreme. Larry said to look for rounding of the back and bending downward of the haunches—not a hollow back and a flat croup. The legs should step under the belly, not step far behind the horse’s tail, so the horse carries rather than pushes itself forward. I am very interested to hear Jennie Jackson’s thoughts on this topic when she visits Minnesota for the Dressage as Applied to the Gaited Horse Clinic held June 29-30.

On the positive side, it appears that our riding in the snow and over jumps have paid off. We received “8s” in our canter work, as well as free walk on a long rein and center line halts.

I can’t wait until Jennie Jackson gets here for the Dressage as Applied to Gaited Horse Clinic held Saturday-Sunday, June 29-30 at Walker’s Triple R Ranch in Cambridge, MN. Jennie will definitely help me establish forwardness and rhythm into contact for a round frame!

Gaited Dressage: Rocking R Farm Photo Gallery>

Video: Gaited Dressage NWHA Training Level Test Two


Video: Gaited Dressage NWHA Training Level Test Three