Is galloping beneficial?

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Peter7917

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One of the nags is an absolute dream if he's only been cantered for a few weeks. On the buckle, doesn't pull, just lovely.

If he's had a good gallop then he turns into a complete pain in the ass, jogging, strong, throws his head about when asked to slow down etc.

Does anyone ever avoid galloping to maintain a well mannered horse? Does galloping make your horse a jackass or do you find it makes no difference? Can galloping about 'undo' schooling?
 
We don't get to gallop as there isn't anywhere nice close by. However I think its good for our soul !
When we get to go on a bit on the moors though (which is rare) they always come back quietly - totally depends on the horse of course.
If galloping undid schooling then the eventers wouldn't have much luck - but again depends on the horse.
I suppose it also depends on what you mean by galloping - if its a mad race then yes I would expect horses to get wound up unless it was a controlled gallop.
 
My TB used to love a good gallop once every two weeks or so. It was like it cleared his head and settled him. For him he just enjoyed a good blast to blow away the cobwebs. I hadn't thought about it to be honest but if you have a hunter then yes galloping is a benefit to their fitness work but if you just have a happy hacker or something that doesn't need to gallop then perhaps don't?
 
It blows the mind for one of mine so I wouldn't do it if we had to hack back along roads - I used to hire a race track. The other is well mannered and he loves it. I do it because we enjoy it :)
 
Galloping doesn't wind our three up at all.

We don't gallop them that often, usually three quarter pace to condition their lungs and help with fitness.

Excessive galloping on less than perfect ground can't be good for the legs, I generally only do it on good grass and occassionally if the sand at the beach is perfect :)
 
I only ever gallop in a place that's big enough to not have to worry about pulling up. Nothing worse than that 'Oh $hit, we're coming to the end of the path and I can't stop!' moment.

Conversely, nothing better than chucking the reins at them and letting them run.
 
If you want your horse, for you or a future owner because there is always the possibility of a change in circs, to be able to hunt or show under saddle obviously you need to. If you want a safe but forward going happy hacker you probably need to.

For something that will only ever sj/do a dressage test or two/toddle with novices not so much.

Personally I think most occasionally enjoy it / benefit from the fun and would aim,by default, to get to a stage where I could control horse after hacking in any of the four paces. After all you probably don't give up canter long term because it can be exciting!

Having said that in most circs there is no benefit from rushing so if you don't have anywhere safe/with whatever company, or lack of, that suits best I wouldn't see it as a great loss.
 
Depends on the horse. Galloping gets the blood defnitely pumping because, in the wild, they will only gallop really to avoid danger or have a jolly good time - its the sort of gait you have to commit to!
 
Mine is unrideable without a good gallop at least twice a week. His brain get all fried and he can't concentrate unless he's had a good blow out.

And neither can I haha!
 
I was once told "never let that horse know how fast he can go". I make sure if I ask for gallop, there is plenty of room to say, " and more please". So many horses today, don't know what it is to be tired. Not a criticism, just a sign of the times, lack of good hacking etc. The first time I did the New Market ride, I remember the explosion of speed. It was amazing, but to actually know it was safe to ask for more,.. there are no words, it truly was like flying. So I suppose my answer, is, yes it is beneficial to both, but only in the right surroundings. :)
 
Pie almost never gets to gallop... He can't do it sensibly - even after many many years of schooling and lessons. When I first got him he had been charged around with no schooling and all he could do was jog and gallop. Problem was they hadn't taught him to stop..... Nowadays he is pretty much reformed but put him on the moor and let him gallop and he forgets all the schooling and bogs off - and he's scarily quick!!
 
I never gallop at top speed.
Good 3/4 speed, around 650-700m/minute is plenty of speed for me and work for the horse to get fit eventing.

I'm too concerned for their legs to be going completely flat out unless we're on very nice, purpose made grass or surface gallops.
 
Until you have ridden a piece of work on a finely tuned racehorse you won't know a true, powerful gallop. The lowering of the body, the lengthening of the stride and the sheer volume of power that is thundering away underneath you is something to truly behold!
 
I think it's beneficial occasionally, to blow away the cobwebs as it were!
I can definitely tell when my boy hasn't been allowed to have a good blast in a while, as he feels a little stagnent. However, on the other hand, I can tell when he has done too much fast/exciting work as he becomes an absolute prat to try and ride (jumps with 2ft to spare, launches into canter as soon as you put your leg on, shoots sideways at speed when spooking despite not usually being spooky).
 
EKW said:
Until you have ridden a piece of work on a finely tuned racehorse you won't know a true, powerful gallop. The lowering of the body, the lengthening of the stride and the sheer volume of power that is thundering away underneath you is something to truly behold!
Click to expand...

Not a race horse. An arab. Never known anything like it. Amazing!
 
Peter7917 said:
One of the nags is an absolute dream if he's only been cantered for a few weeks. On the buckle, doesn't pull, just lovely.

If he's had a good gallop then he turns into a complete pain in the ass, jogging, strong, throws his head about when asked to slow down etc.

Does anyone ever avoid galloping to maintain a well mannered horse? Does galloping make your horse a jackass or do you find it makes no difference? Can galloping about 'undo' schooling?
Click to expand...
I have had my new horse nearly a year and have not galloped her yet, IMO she is too young to and I am not risking her legs till she is at least 7.
 
Depends on the horse. My previous horse was a right PITA if he didn't get to go for a good gallop once a week / couple of weeks (and it had to be a proper, no pulling back just letting him go one for it to count), he just seemed to settle afterwards. He did have to be either in front or on his own for this to work though (or at least behind a horse going just a little faster than he actually wanted to go so he didn't feel the need to try and overtake).

Current horse is very mannerly to canter in a controlled manner alone and in company but can get strong if allowed to go flat out and he then does get a bit daft and forgets what nice, sensible walking is! (Throwing the reins at him if we're on our own seems to fix this)
 
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