Dressage en
Gaite in Maine
Who is Jennie Jackson?
A
Jennie Jackson “Dressage en Gaite’’
clinic was hosted by Teresa Elvin
at her Whispering Woods Stables
in Augusta, Maine on the 20th thru the
22nd of June. Jennie’s name is not familiar to many folks here in Northern New
England as Mrs. Jackson is based out of
Cookeville, Tennessee in the heart of
gaited horse country. Originally from
the West Coast, Jennie and her husband,
Nathanael, moved to the South to take a
stand against the cruelty of the pads and
chains forced onto the “Big Lick” horse
to produce a high-stepping, artificial
gait. They entered their flat-shod stallion,
Champagne Watchout against the “Big
Lick” horses in the World Grand Championship to show the correct form and
beauty of a natural Tennessee Walking
Horse. Although they did not win, or even
14 • Walking On
x
place, that show marked the beginning
of the turning of popular opinion against
the Big Lick which has culminated in the
Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act
that is currently moving through Congress.
Jennie has been involved with horses
since she was a child. Her involvement
with gaited horses, particularly the
Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH), spans
decades. Her interest and experience with
horses includes (but is not limited to):
Western, English, Versatility, Pleasure
Driving, Side Saddle, Jumping and Trail
Riding. Her passion for Dressage and the
gaited horse led her to found Dressage
en Gaite; that is Dressage As Applied To
The Gaited Horse. Champagne Watchout
is the highest ranked gaited horse in
dressage and Jennie and Watchout were
invited to participate in the 2010 World
Equestrian Games at Kentucky Horse
Park as the representative for the TWH
breed and demonstrate Dressage en Gaite.
I have personally ridden ݥѠ