Galloping

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Parkranger

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The trotting post made me think about the times I've been on a hack and the other people in group don't ever ever gallop their horses.

After getting into bad habits I do tend to only get Ty gallop occasionally so that he doesn't always associate hacking with galloping.

So why don't people let their horses have a good blow out?
 
suppose there is a variety of reasons, maybe the rider is scared, the horse isnt balanced enough, they worried they are going to hurt their horses legs, the horse isnt fit enough............xx
 
I wonder this too. For me a hack isn't a good hack without a gallop (thats proably why Chex is so badly behaved
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). Nothing like clinging on with blurry eyes from the speed-induced tears, whilst hoping you stop before hitting the gate
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. But seriously, I don't know how people can not gallop!
 
There's nothing I love more than a good stretch of ground where you can have a fabulous gallop.

I feel that thats one of the times when you say to your horse:
Despite all the schooling, all the artificial things we ask of you here's what you were born for - a good gallop!!

Ive known some people who nearly never gallop their horses, I feel that they are missing out and not only that so is the horse. Obviously if there's health impacts thats a different matter.
 
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So why don't people let their horses have a good blow out?

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Because they are scared of them
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i think horses definalty enjoy it! i used to know a woamn that showed her horses in hack classes and she would never gallop them in case they hurt themselves. thats why its better to show hunters lol! nothing beats galloping across the beach, havent done that for ages. i would rather gallop than jump i think xx
 
I thought it might be cause they're scared of them. Nothing wrong with not galloping but I know that when we have a good blow out we both feel so much better...... x
 
Its very sad but we dont really have long enough tracks for a gallop - mine has a long stride - i think we'd be at the end before we had time to start!
 
It is probably the evil confidence issue that some / most of us suffer from at some point in their equestrian career
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I cantered my girl the other day and let her "go" up the hill, and boy did she shift - only for a few strides mind I like to be in control as much as possible!

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I think it is usually fear as well that prevents people. Also, lack of opportunity. My nearest 'decent' galloping place is about a 40min hack away.

Although to be fair, some horses are rather faster and more difficult to stop than others LOL
 
Gosh, we are so lucky where we are. lots of places to have a decent gallop when the ground is OK. I love letting them go - and they love it too! Have to be careful with mine not to do it all the time or he just becomes a pain in the backside every time his feet touch grass! But he is the sort of horse who will gallop full pelt whether in company or alone, and would run his hooves off rather than lose a race if I let him!!
Think most people who don't gallop, don't because of confidence issues, or possibly injury worries. My boy would be a much less happy horse if he didn't get the occasional blast though!!
 
I used to love galloping out on hacks. But the tracks I used got into a state with rabbit holes etc. so it was no longer safe. Now I dont hack at all (too many bad incidents on the road!) so never get the chance.

Even if I did hack, a lot of the time the ground isnt soft enough especially at this time of the year. I dream of a galloping track..... that would be so nice!
 
there be galloping and there be galloping

if the going is spot on racing 'good' and not rutted, deep, etc and it's slightly uphill then certain places we will let the horses 'stretch out' - which is a controlled stretch - i.e. start off at hand canter, bum in saddle and gradually up the length of stride but not the tempo of the pace specifically, getting bum up out of saddle as the stride lengthens and the horses outline lengthens and lowers to the ground

depending on riders/conditions it'll either be a half speed or a 3/4 but we never go full pelt. The control element is there as well and we never do that twice running in the same place so the horses don't get to try and take charge

also obviously nowhere near any roads and half speed is enough for the horses to have 'fun' and also to clear out their lungs
 
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there be galloping and there be galloping

if the going is spot on racing 'good' and not rutted, deep, etc and it's slightly uphill then certain places we will let the horses 'stretch out' - which is a controlled stretch - i.e. start off at hand canter, bum in saddle and gradually up the length of stride but not the tempo of the pace specifically, getting bum up out of saddle as the stride lengthens and the horses outline lengthens and lowers to the ground

depending on riders/conditions it'll either be a half speed or a 3/4 but we never go full pelt. The control element is there as well and we never do that twice running in the same place so the horses don't get to try and take charge

also obviously nowhere near any roads and half speed is enough for the horses to have 'fun' and also to clear out their lungs

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Sorry but I think to go flat out occasionally is good for both horse and rider.......I can always pull my boy up from a flat out gallop.....each to his own though
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I haven't galloped my boy for years simply because there isn't anywhere near me that's long enough or good enough going.... we do extended canters, but my boy used to race and at full gallop he covers ALOT of ground very quickly and is flat out like a greyhound so wouldn't do it unless the going was perfect
 
I have to agree that its the fear element that stops riders galloping, but also the safety factor. I think I galloped my old horse once, maybe twice in a year because he would just take hold and go and that wasnt safe for anyone and it scared the Cr*p out of me!

However on my new lad we both love it. We have total control - even when we are flat out - and it does us both the world of good to clear out our minds and our lungs! My lad is an ex racer and clearly loves it but we are very lucky as we have gallops at the yard so I can use those whenever I want, but we also have good hacking with plenty of spots for a faster jaunt
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I am also very lucky in the fact that my lad doesnt lose his mind if we go to the gallops, he doesnt seem to associate them with going fast.. but he is a bit special
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So I can walk, trot, canter or gallop without blowing his brains
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ahh - but you can ride
I don't always have good jockeys out with me !!

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Well I can sit there and get flies in my teeth if that counts as riding!
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Seriously though - it's better for people to do what they feel comfortable with than feel they have to do something......
 
I do.

My best gallop on my boy was only a couple of weeks a go. We went on an Endurance training ride. There was this biiiiig field and we decided to have a whizz.

One horse set off ahead of us and the other was just a tad in front of us.

This was the first timne I ever felt his "turbo" he was galloping along and was getting frustrated that this other horse was just in front of him. Then out of nowhere "turbo horse" kicked in and zoomed in front of him. LOL. It was a lovely feeling. Very powerful.
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Wow, you are lucky.

I have recently discovered a 'canter track' about 15mins from my yard. All uphill and about 100yards long - ground is resonable... a bit stony but not too bad. That is the nearest thing we have though for galloping.

I let my horse gallop up it because she just loves to run and has cast iron legs. I went with a mate the other day and I was like 'ready....' and then we were gone.
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But I know lots of people at my yard who just like the odd 'sedate' canter on a nice quiet verge and that is it.
 
Definatly more that riders are scared of them.I was riding a horse once and let it out for a right old blast, I was riding wirth someone else at the time, and she mentioned how her owner has never ever let her go like that.Whoops!!
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So I then had to take her for a canter and ensure she didn't gallop off!!
 
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A dressage wanabee once said to me ...

"My dear, we dont gallop, we extend"

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LOL!!

Well with my young boy he is just getting used to hacking so I dont do anything but walk/trot and the odd very steady canter on a hack, I want him to grow up not associating hacking with blasting around the countryside!

When he is a bit more experienced Im sure I will ask him for more and let him stride out, but at the moment we re aiming for obediencew and control, I dont want him switching off and thinking go go go!

Older boy who is 18 just takes off, or tries, to , take off at a gallop whenever the mood takes him LOL, but that is partly due to a girl who rode him last summer and she used to find it 'fun' when he did it, and let him do it, not much fun for me correcting it now though!

But, If you can gallop safely then go for it.
 
I gallop, I dont do it often though as we not really got many places to do it, And usually have people crash into us, But I Let him go in a field the other day and omg he flew, It feels mad having a 17.3 just galloping along underneath yo.

He has got soo much power it was great, he doesnt feel fast as hes got big strides but we left all our friends so i guess he might be a tad on the fast side
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I love galloping though its just nice to have a good blast every now and again, get away from all schooling and things. xx
 
I don't think that the Painted Pony does gallop
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She's very restrained and even in the field when the others are hooning around she's doing this floaty slow canter, in fact, she even bucks in slow motion.
 
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