he  components  of  the training pyramid may appear confusing                        
     and may not at first seem like they could apply to gaited breeds.            
     However, as mentioned before, any breed can benefit from learning
     to achieve lightness, balance, and communication. 
The Jacksons believe that dressage "turns people into riders."  The Jacksons firmly believe that regardless of the horse,
all riders want the same things: rhythm, suppleness, straightness, and impulsion.  Dressage is a way to achieving this universal ideal.
   
In order to start teaching gaited horse owners just how valuable and useable the training pyramid and dressage is, they started Dressage En-Gait in 1998, with the help of Champagne Watchout.  Jennie Jackson uses Dressage En-Gait to teach people how to enhance their horsemanship and training goals with dressage.  One advantage she offers with Dressage En-Gait is that the training improves a gaited horse's ideal broken lateral gait through dressage.  A horse who paces, a two beat lateral gait, such as a Walker, can develop his broken lateral running walk through dressage.  Another advantage to dressage cross-training is that even a trail horse needs to learn to side pass over a pole or be supple enough to listen to its rider when necessary. 
   
When it comes to incorporating gait into dressage, many people still scratch their heads over how a gaited horse can be trained to do a "traditional" breed's sport.  Dressage En-Gait serves as a means for improving any gaited horse's performance, but it may come as a surprise to know that the unique gaits of gaited breeds can replace "trot" on tests to allow gaited owners to enjoy the same competitive results as any other dressage rider.  For example, an extended trot in dressage, which is a working trot with increased impulsion and length of stride, would be the running walk in gaited dressage.  A working trot would be a flat walk.  Cantering, including cantering maneuvers such as the Canter Pirouette, remain the same, as well as the medium walk, collected walk, free walk, and extended walk.

According to the Jacksons, the main rule to remember when riding a gaited horse dressage is that a diagonal moving horse, or the horse that trots, will be judged on traditional tests at a competition and gaited horses, who are mostly 4-beat broken-lateral gaiting breeds, subscribe to a different test. 

The Jacksons accept that gaited horses are not Warmbloods, but do understand that a gaited horse is just as capable doing dressage in gait as a trotting horse can performing a diagonal gait.  Some gaited horses are taught to trot and then are shown in dressage, but discerning the difference is important in attempting to mold the gaited horse to the sport of dressage. 
   
In the vein of promoting the gaited horse in dressage and educating riders about the differences in gait, one of the most outstanding, and recent, accomplishments is the Jackson's invitation to provide a five to six day demonstration on gaited dressage at the World Equestrian Games, to be held for the first time ever in the United States at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, from September 25 - October 10, 2010.  The FEI, the elite upper-level registry of dressage in Europe, personally invited the Jacksons and Champagne Watchout to promote the versatility of and breakthrough acceptance of the talented, athletic gaited horse and the fact that dressage is extremely beneficial to any horse and rider. 
   
After basics have been learned, gaits refined, and an improved connection established, many gaited horse owners and their newly balanced, willing partners may want to step into the competitive field of dressage.  Many options are available for the budding gaited dressage horse, following guidelines that are based on the rules for all USDF competitions which cover all levels below the FEI levels.  Minor, customized exceptions include the specific gaits that were discussed previously and turnout, such as allowing saddle seat attire.
   
One competitive option is that gaited horse breed associations offer gaited dressage shows at several levels, from statewide to world.  Levels start at the Intro Level, which involves two gaits, and progress to Third Level, involving three gaits.


Photo by Shelley Giacomino


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Photo by Shelley Giacomino
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