How many of us let go and let them choose the pace?

AmiRobertson

AmiRobertson

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I am talking about those moments on good safe ground where you just say come on let's go :) and you put all your trust into your horse!
I am moving back to an area with loads of these spaces :) and for me there is nothing more rewarding than handing my life over to super pony and knowing she will look after me while we whoop our way across the countryside :)
I know it's not entirely correct in horse riding but it's such a lovely feeling!
 
Fantastic feeling and any time I can will do with my lovely boy, he is only young but we have done a lot of work together and trust each other - he is a Chestnut Arab but the most chilled boy going.
 
Lovely :) I do so much work with my girl and I realised today that we haven't had a good blast in weeks maybe months because there is just nowhere safe to do it! And I am definitely looking forward to it. That moment just before and you are both thinking exactly the same thing :)
 
I tend to like to feel like I'm in some sort of control, but when it comes to my boy and stubble fields I really don't have a choice in the matter lol! He will walk and trot beautifully and when you ask for canter the 1st few strides are lovely then it's all bucking and kicking and squeling if I don't just let him go, yet he's so polite in a grass field! Strange horse!

I must admit tho, it is a great feeling letting them have a good old blast!
 
I live near forestry and my conne is a turbo charged pocket rocket and any opportunity to go outside of his 'show ring' paces is dually taken if he can get away with it! If he wasn't a hairy native he'd surely be a pony racing prospect. Fortunately he knows when he's taken advantage and will stop on voice command but has to pull my arms out for a bit first!
 
Bobbly said:
I live near forestry and my conne is a turbo charged pocket rocket and any opportunity to go outside of his 'show ring' paces is dually taken if he can get away with it! If he wasn't a hairy native he'd surely be a pony racing prospect. Fortunately he knows when he's taken advantage and will stop on voice command but has to pull my arms out for a bit first!
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i have a little cob like this !!! has to pull my arms of then stops to "whoa" !!
 
hell yeah!! although not for a while as since leaving the farm i haven't had the chance, used to like nothing better than letting the big girl let rip across one of the big fields :D we'd start with a sensible canter and then you just get the feel that shes up for it so you just say get on and we get lol. i have been known to stand in the stirrups , go one handed and yell yeehaaaa pmsl
 
Moved my mare to winter grazing one before last. We went out and I got lost, was starting to get dark. Put trust in her and let her take lead, sure enough she got us home in one piece!
 
I don't tend to with my 18 year old as I worry about him over doing it and hurting himself or having a heart attack. When we gallop he usually tries a swerve to the side and then a tank off going hell for leather if I let him.

He does spend a fair bit of time galloping around his field sometimes for no particular reason I can identify so he is probably fitter than I give him credit for.
 
Lol yes, he's quite lazy really so we'll get a nice working hunter type gallop, he only goes for it if you ask him to :p
 
My loan mare was a stunning chestnut ex-racer.. unintentionally 'let her go' up the bridleway once..she went from 0-60 in about 3 seconds. Was amazing AND we managed to stop! I lost her Thursday.

My welshie I've had 8 years and as long as I'm prepared for the excitement bucks at the start yes we have a hooley to blow away the cobwebs! My mum's 4 year old, when presented with an open space will do a lovely steady canter..! If you get off her back and push on, she'll do her version of 'going' but the minute you sit back down she is like 'ooh would you like me to trot again now?' whereas my welshie grabs the bit and bang! gone :p
 
Yes :D

He's been a little more chilled out over the past few weeks, so it's been just a canter (especially away from home).

However, when he was at his old home, I used to make him walk until I said so...then just throw the reins at him and shouted "Whooo! Off you go!" and we would fly!!
 
I do! Living on the west of dartmoor there are the most amazing tracks that go on for miles, that even the local point to pointers use it for fitness work. I got into such a habit of my mare picking her pace that we sorted an agreement that if I pick the route out, she gets to pick the route back! Then changed her bridle to a rope halter and that 'let's go' means canter/gallop. A lot of people think I'm mad but reading that back I'm not actually surprised!!! Ha
 
I used to do it with Seren all the time, great memories, she could really shift it for a cob :)
Nell is a lot stronger in truth, or rather she uses it more!! I am currently building up to this point with her, we had a gallop the other weekend but it was not what I asked for, the ground and situation was not right so I had to hang on very tight, she was getting faster and faster cheeky girl!! But I am really looking forward to being able to get some good ground and the right time and let her go a bit and see how it feels with her :)
 
Absolutely love those moments, especially on a horse that hasn't always been straight forward, that moment when everything is just right and you and the horse are one
 
Never had the guts to do it with my mare till during the summer, am a series worrier about lack of brakes but went up field on my own one day with brave pants on and she was coming back to me no problem so next circuit round I just let her go, think I'd a smile etched on my face for a full week after! Boy can she find fifth gear and came right back to me with my voice.
 
If I'm out on my own I can be naughty as in the last field I enter it in walk then when he gets keen I stand up in stirrups, say go on then and he's away. Great feeling of power/ galloping hooves/ wind rushing past. One of the things I love most when riding.

Obviously make him be polite in company!
 
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Ah great responses :) so glad that others enjoy their horses in this way! Personally for me I think it's an important part of our relationship. Saffy spends so much time listening to me and responding to what I ask I think it's cricial to keep the balance plus it's just so much fun!!! Of course you need to be able to trust each other!
 
My mare has the fasted walk ever, she is only a 14.1 welsh cob but overtakes my husbands 17.1 horse every time I let her go. So walks so fast that she gets unbalanced ans her legs almost fall off :D but still keeps going. But you are right it is a lovely feeling, I don't let her walk like that very often but when you let her she is a speed walker!
 
I always think its quite a nice feeling when you're almost out of control but you know if push came to shove you could stop. I always used to think it was funny that I was accused of being a 'mad hacker' but I always pulled up before anyone else! There's a fine but important line between a blast and a bad mannered charge.
 
I do - but probably not in the way you're thinking! Every so often, when M's at his most Zen-like, we have a 'you choose' ride round the farm. He can go in any direction he wishes, through it always has to be forwards! It's fascinating to just sit and see what he decides to do...

Usually, he'll pick a direction and then go up to anything that's new, or potentially dangerous/scary for a good look. Or if something's missing (like a xc fence has been moved) he'll check that out too. He likes to pause on the way for a drink from one of the troughs and sometimes just stops at the highest point to gaze at the view. He mostly chooses walk for these outings but sometimes if he suddenly wants a canter - well that's fine too. Then after about half/three quarters of an hour of exploring, he'll decide that's enough for today and turns for home (although he often gets distracted en route and takes a detour to check something he missed on the way out).

I love sharing these times with him :)
 
There are few areas I let me horses got at a pace they want, but boy, what a feeling!!

I ever win the lottery... gallops will be the first on the list, my 3 enjoy being 'let go' just as much as I do!

The best is my TB, she gives her all, but ask for more (loose pony with novice rider in a full bolt) she gives everything, finds part of her that she doesnt usually!
 
I sometimes think that is the best and only way to learn the joy of canter. Yes, it was a RS mare and it was her great gift to me. I still remember the track, the morning, the weather, her flying along, the happiness. It is sad that once one is a proper rider, one is not supposed to ride like that. But being let go is what she likes and I do too.
 
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