A poll got me thinking-Are horses really born to gallop?

J

_Jazz_

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because TBH mine have all seemed to prefer eating, sleeping and playing in that order. Other than at my request the only time they' gallop ' is if something spooks them in the field, and then it's only a half hearted canter. Whether fit or not, stabled or not, they're always pretty much the same
Thoughts?
 
Mine likes to gallop, not sure she is a horse as she isnt really food orientated either! she loves nothing more than going fast!

She is 14hh an dnot particually fit (but not unfit either!) I went for a hack in the woods with my friends Very fit 16.2 horse! she over took ehr at full pelt gallop twice!!! only difference was my friend had control and i didnt!!!
 
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i think they are born with the ability (although not necessarily the desire!) and its whether that ability is tapped or not.

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Yes, someone once said ' A horse is a giant fermentation tank that can go very fast in one direction'

Mine are/were the former
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, although when asked my old TB couldn't half shift
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Well mine was certainly born to gallop...he can't get enough of it! He'd gallop a whole hack if I let him! He doesn't tend to run when he's spooked he tends to gallop when I ask for canter
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Mine is - but he is TB so technically bred for it. He definitely prefers eating grass, but given the opportunity on a ride, he will always gallop!
 
I reckon they like a good gallop now and again... e.g the mares when they were turned out for the first time yesterday evening went mental. Of course the joy of EATING quickly overran the joy of FREEDOM but they had a pretty good fly about first.

I've seen the geldings playing together in the field as well and they seem to enjoy charging about letting off steam, play fighting and mucking about.
 
Yeah Ty is a lazy git in the stable but give him a patch of grass and he loves a good gallop.

He does have two speeds though - gallop (and when he's in the mood) bloody fast gallop - that's when you know he really wanted to gallop!
 
Ours gallop up the field..round the field...they trot and canter too. The mare likes to gallop circles, she's a fitness freak!
 
Chex loves to gallop - he's quite often seen galloping round and round his (13 acre!) field while the others graze. Its amazing watching him go truly flat out across the field, the speed is just unreal! On hacks he wants to gallop constantly
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. So I don't think they are born to gallop, but they're definitley born with the ability and clearly enjoy it!
 
its just a natural survival instinct. the purpose of galloping was to outrun predators, however, in these days and ages, they are pretty predator free. even when they spook they dont gallop usually as its not chasing them.

its probably also just a personality trait too. some humans love sprinting and running, others (like me) get out of breath walking to the shops and dont enjoy a good run at all! id much rather eat, sleep and walk too!!!
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haha
 
I think they all are. Some deeper down than others! PF has it just below the surface!
Except Peruvian Pasos, who, I'm reliably informed by my vet and F, CAN'T gallop properly and trip themselves up!!
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I wonder how they'd get away from a mountain lion?
 
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I think they all are. Some deeper down than others! PF has it just below the surface!
Except Peruvian Pasos, who, I'm reliably informed by my vet and F, CAN'T gallop properly and trip themselves up!!
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I wonder how they'd get away from a mountain lion?

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LOL
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Just for you PF........Peruvians! I know how much you like them
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If anyone thought their horse dished, watch these, it's a breed trait!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EXfCwRwzsk
 
Most horses enjoy a good gallop and buck to get it out of their system, and some of the more willing horses on hacks will love a good blast. But to my imaginings, I'd have thought that they have the stamina and ability to gallop for quite a long time for the wild. To escape predators and when the herd moves to new turf. Would i be right in thinking this?

Kat xx
 
I think so but migrating herds of large herbivores use slower speeds that gallop.

Small carnivorous horse preditors tend to fatigue relatively quickly so if for example a big pussycat hasn't caught the horse in a few minutes, it's whacked basically. That's why pussycats are good at sneaking up on things and horses are good at keeping their personal distance from things. Pussycats have better acceleration so if they can get close enough the horse is dinner, but if the horse's big ears and naturally wary personality spot the kittycat before it gets too close and they both set off running togther, the kitty can't close the distance in time even though it's top speed is greater than a horsey. So the horsey wins because of stamina, it can keep going for longer but we're still only talking several minutes flat out.
 
My foals love to gallop! The mums just eat and doze, but the foals have a routine of run about as fast as they can until they are knackered, have a long, refreshing drink at the milk bar and then crash out for half an hour. Then they wake up and do it all over again
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"Would'nt be the same if they could'nt run away from predators, would they?"

Well the alternative strategy to running away is to be indestructable in various ways so hedgehogs and hippos don't get much grief from the cat fraternity. Neither would be much good for SJ though.
 
I think it depends on the horse. One of mine needs the tiniest excuse to gallop flat out round the field, whereas one of my other ones is a crap galloper! His preferred pace is definately his trot. I think all horses have a pace they favour.
 
lol GT!

Mine is a speed- and adrenalin-junkie. When turned out he gallops flat out until covered in sweat, then catches his breath and starts again. Keeps this up for over an hour. Not stressed, perfectly happy, just loves to gallop!

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My mare loved to gallop when being ridden, any chance she got, she'd "spook" at things out hacking as an excuse...

but muuuuuuuummmm, there was a dragon in the hedge!! honest, it had big horns and everything!!!
 
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