Tips for gallop on command in the show ring?

[showpony]

Hi all...
What let us down in the show ring last wk was our gallop...tbh its not a pace we have practiced that much... So musing on the most effective command.. practiced in the arena the other day couple of half halts before the long side , then exagurated outside leg to kick on! got there in the end but looking for some tips . have lesson in an open field tomorrow to practice before show on Sunday.

 

[The wife]

Have you got a fairly open field to practice in? All of ours are taught to extend first in the school and if safe will go up the headlands/fields and asked to gallop, although rarely need the extra encouragement. Usually find a forward seat-think slightly cross country, ease off on the reins, give the head, a few clicks and let the Pace take you. It probably won't be a pretty picture the first few times but as they gradually get the idea, the frame will start to lower and extend properly. Hills are fantastic for teaching lowering of the frame in a gallop, although it doesn't need to be a true gallop per se ie) flat out, more to show coverage of ground which is needed with say a hunter or cob. Personally though in a hunter class it's the make or break with me. I get tingles when I see and hear the extension down the long side and will forgive a lot if an animal can perform it well.

 

[Todmiester]

Ive taught all of mine in big open fields, with a companion. Start with a canter and just up the speed of the experienced horse and keep up. Then canter a circle come off the bend and ask. Some horses start their gallop on the corner, others prefer to accelerate on the straight. After a number of strides sit up and ask to slow down

 

[be positive]

Is this for your show or when you are going round together? if the latter the best tip from watching the pros on the less forward horses is to be very aware of how the steward is running the ring, normally you go round on the right rein, change to left in canter have a circuit of canter left then the second circuit is the gallop.
So if that is what is going to happen when you are on the first left circuit wind the horse up a bit just after you have gone past the judge and open it up slightly as you go behind then bring back to you, this should get it sharper when you really ask as you go past the next time, you may need to adapt this but it worked for mine, just don't do it if you have a strong or fizzy horse as you may go too far and get it anticipating too much.
You want the gallop to gradually extend so when practicing ask for a little more each time rather than one burst, sometimes going on a little then steadying for just a few strides then going again can help the penny drop that you really mean it.