Galloping for the first time!

[amanda1788]

Hi, I'm not sure if I have posted this in the right place but I really want to try galloping with my horse, but have never done it before and wondered how you know when you're ready to gallop?
Also what is it like to gallop? Is it very easy to stay balanced?
Thanks

 

[jumpthemoon]

It doesn't feel much different from canter - just faster. The only real difference is that canter is a three time pace (one foot lands, two feet land together, the last foot lands) whereas gallop is a four time pace, so all four feet hit the ground at different times. How long have you had your horse and have you cantered out hacking yet?

 

[pnap]

It's bloody great fun - if you're thinking of it you're probably ready. I think it's easier to gallop than to sit to canter cause you're out of the saddle. I'd do it on my own first time but maybe have someone on the ground just in case - if you have more than one horse galloping they can sometimes feel like having a bit of a race - and do it uphill then they tire more quickly and are less likely to buck etc with excitment.

My first gallop on a horse rather than ponies was with a 17.3hh black Grade A showjumper which my new instructor assured me I could handle - at the tender age of 11! He decided there wasn't much on him so took off flat out down the field pulling up short of the 5 bar gate between him and the main road!

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

I can remember the first time I galloped, i was about 9 and off school for some reason. I went down the stables and my much adored and admired riding instructor took me on a hack as a treat down the bridle path. When she told me we were going to gallop, I was absolutely scared stiff LOL. but when we pulled up I had this totally innane grin on my face and my instrutor took one look at me and said
"hmmmm, I had a feeling you would love it". I smiled for about a week. Couldn't do this anymore though

bloody H&S

Easiest thing for a first gallop is to make sure your stirrups are at jumping length and start by cantering in jump position. Once you are 100% happy cantering in jump position you're ready to gallop. Stay behind a nice experienced horse if possible and just gradually speed up. Horses that love to gallop will sort of 'drop' as they going into the new gear so you might feel as if your horse has suddenly got an inch or two closer to the ground. Echo having your first gallop up a hill though as it saves any worry about pulling up! Have fun, you are going to LOVE it

 

[bex1984]

Agree with going up a hill! I've only galloped my monster once (his canter is very fast and manic anyway!!) but that was up a hill and following my friend's stoppable pony - I did get rather a lot of mud flying in my direction though! Loads of fun! Oh...and I fall off a LOT, but I didn't fall off when galloping

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh...and I fall off a LOT, but I didn't fall off when galloping

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll vouch for Bex when she says she falls off a lot

If they had falling off competitions she'd have a house full of trophies - she's the best!

As long as you can stop, you'll be fine

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

Its loads of fun.

Get ur bum out of the saddle and let the horse go. I had a gallop on sunday, the ground was great and the sun shining!!

God i love riding.

 

[ajf]

Galloping is great, but teaching some horses to gallop is a bit scary!!!!
My now speed merchant was a showjumper (canter stride v short) and just took him in a field and kicked, didn't understand, so got mum and sis on others and told them to go! we went faster but it took him a while but now hes such a fast horse with AMAZING acceleration (if ya get caught of guard u get very left behind

black pony in siggie)
Titus though who was bred to P2P, u woulda thought he'd pick it up, but we taught him way to many manners!!! So again told Caz to go and hers and I just kicked and kicked and it was so SCARY!!! he was so wobbly and i really did fear for my life the first time, but hes now amazing!!!!!

 

[ajf]

Oops forgot to say have fun, I know ya will!!!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

You will know when you are gallopping as horse will drop a few centimetres and also the pace will become incredibly smooth like they are on wheels not legs! and the clumsiest beast often becomes as agile as a deer and smooth as silk to ride.

Have fun!