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Photo of Ivory Pal by Cheri Prill   Tennessee Walking Horse  Issue August 2010
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God created some pretty amazing creatures … horses are at or near the top of the list.  For me, it’s the Tennessee Walking Horse [TWH].  I’m the proud owner of 4, all of whom are special, each in their own way.  But Cotton’s Golden Generator aka Q.Tee [see inset] holds a special place in my heart.  He came to me as a high-strung, inquisitive golden bundle of energy when he was five months old.  Then, as a coming 2 year old, he survived a major illness.  Over the past 7 years, with much patience and training, he has become a seasoned veteran of trail rides, rail shows and more.  “Q” has always been a good listener, a faithful companion [even staying beside me when I didn’t stay in the saddle], given me a shoulder to cry on when I needed it, been a producer of a large quantity of quality fertilizer and, most of all, a willing partner in all my equestrian related activities.

As I my sixth decade approached, I felt the need to review my life and decide just what I’d not done that I’d always wanted to do.  As a result, my “bucket list” started taking shape.  By chance, I watched a dressage program about a musical freestyle competition.  To me the horse and rider were so attuned to one another that they appeared to be dancing.  That did it for me; I knew what I wanted at the top of my bucket list:   I wanted to “learn to dance  …  with my horse”. 

“You want to WHAT?”  Incredulous family and friends exclaimed.  “Are you crazy?  You can’t dance with your horse!  Gaited horses don’t dance!”  My response:  “It’s what I want and somehow, someway I’m going to do it.” 

After making the decision to undertake this crazy idea, I started doing research to learn what was needed to accomplish my goal.  That proved to be more difficult I imagined.  Investigation revealed that dressage for gaited horses was considered “quirky” enough that “purists” scoffed at the idea.  USDF [United States Dressage Federation] does not recognize TWH or other gaited breeds as dressage athletes. 
Once the basic research was completed, it became apparent that a long term plan was needed.  I decided to use the “step” method. 
•Step 1:  develop a plan with a goal; 
•Step 2:  find a classically trained dressage instructor/trainer who’d be willing to work with an older student and a gaited horse; 
•Step 3:  dedicate  the time and energy needed to do the “homework” required to attain the ultimate goal;
•Step 4:  compete in a dressage competition

With Step 1 initiated and partially completed, I, by chance, happened onto the Delta Dressage Association (DDA) webpage [a Memphis, TN area organization].  To my surprise, DDA was offering a paid membership to DDA as well as other perks to the first gaited dressage competitor willing to enter and complete a test at their show.  I contacted them and was told that they would allow anyone with a gaited horse willing to compete at their show to choose any level of test as long as they met the USDF rules for competition [i.e. tack, especially bitting and attire].

That did it for me … I’d found a place to compete, now on to Step 2 … find the teacher.  This proved to be easier than I expected.  A local equine center belonging to friends, had just hired a riding instructor/trainer whose specialty was dressage and Friesians.  I learned that he was trained in classical dressage and wanted to establish in the Western Kentucky area.  I went to the center and observed him interacting with horses and the folks who boarded their horses there.  His interactions were “okay” with the two-footed creatures but with the four-footed ones he was SUPER!  The next day, I made an appointment for myself and Pushin’ The Magic Button aka Baby Button [see inset], a then 5 year old Tennessee Walking Horse/Spotted Saddle Horse.  Q.Tee was too young for under saddle training at this time.  That appointment proved to be a turning point for me and Button.  I was grilled by and we rode for the “Master”, my nickname for him, before he would give an answer … were we going to be accepted?  Then it came.  Yes, I was accepted as a student, but my horse was not.   The Master had never worked with gaited horses before and wasn’t too sure he wanted to!  After a great deal of talking, he finally agreed to accept the challenge.  Big changes were on the horizon for Button and me!  The challenge wasn’t just for the Master and Button; I was included too.  Buttons’ lessons were to be separate from mine.   I would be riding a schooling horse for lessons, not my Button.

The day of my first lesson arrived and that’s when reality set in.   I discovered that after nearly 50 years of being around horses, I didn’t know as much as I thought I did.  Dressage proved to be a very rewarding learning experience.  Not only is the language/terminology different, but so are the rules, the tack and the grooming.  Last but not least, the expectations of this instructor were very different from any I’d had before ... he expected PERFECTION!  And no lesson was finished until he was satisfied with my performance.
After multiple sessions in a classroom setting to learn the essentials of dressage:  before and after riding care, tack, bitting, and terminology; the actual riding lessons began.   An experienced, well trained Friesian was used as a schooling horse.  If my position was not correct or I did not cue him properly, he wouldn’t do what I thought I was asking him to do.  First, I was required to walk, trot and canter, under the close scrutiny of the Master, while the horse was on the lunge line. Until he determined that I would/could cue the horse correctly, then follow his instructions to the letter, I was not allowed to advance to the next task.  I was required to perfect each lesson task I was assigned.  “On the buckle” was a phrase I dreaded hearing.  It meant I was to immediately stop the horse, place my hands on the withers, hold the reins at the buckle and wait.  When I heard those words I knew I was in for a stern lecture.  The more I heard that phrase, the more saddle time during the lesson was given.  Lessons lasted anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours.  Posting was the most difficult and caused the longest, most tedious and tiring lessons.  Those lectures became more intense if I mentioned that gaited horses didn’t need a posting rider.  That’s when I heard “you cannot maintain your seat if you do not learn to ride correctly”.  So, I learned to post; as a result my seat improved and I became more secure in the saddle.

Several months of weekly lessons continued until the day the Master announced, much to my surprise, that I’d be riding his Level 4 stallion rather than my usual schooling horse.  I thought the test he called for me was a practice test.  NOT!!  It was my “graduation” test.  After I’d completed it, he asked me to dismount.  Hugged me and congratulated me for a good ride and gave me the score for the test I’d just ridden.  He then informed me that basic lessons were completed and that my next lesson would be on my own horse, Button, who had recently completed his 90 days of basic training.  

Photo credit to GenieSS, Inc.