Who gallops their horse just for variety in what you do?

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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As opposed to gallop for fitness/ eventing.

When I say gallop, I really mean max speed? Just for fun?
I took Meg on a ride today, then back through the farm. Just for fun I let her go, and boy, did she go! Mach 90mph!! It was such fun, but I so rarely do it - what about you?
 
Yup, once I got brave enough with him I used to let share horsey really go for it. No reason other than he loved it (I didn't to start with!) and to mix things up a bit. Did try to be careful abt ground conditions/other people & animals though.
 
Yep I do, we do lots of fast canter/ slow gallops (not much choice, if we're going its always fast lol!) and occasionally I'll just let her really go. She just loves to run, but I'll only let her do it when she's fit enough, I don't think she's got the hang of self limiting behaviour, even at the wise (!) age of 17......

She takes so much holding on a normal ride (not strong, but you have to be very diplomatic) that I let her REALLY go on a very rare basis. Can't resist it forever though! But I do worry about her legs etc, she's not as young as she once was. :)
 
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Yep I do, he loves it :) also he is generally easier to control if he is allowed to have a good gallop occastionally. Also I ensure I start to pull up before end, I don't like horses to just stop at end of field, I want to be the one to stop!
 
I'm lucky enough to have some gallops about 1/2 hr hack from the yard, we have been up there a few times, Axel loves it!
He's amazingly fast, in fact if he wasn't so good at dressage I'd put him in training as an arab racehorse lol!
 
If my little Arab is wanting to go I usually let her have a good blast to get it out her system :D And who am I kidding, I love the speed :p
 
I love to gallop, just for fun :p :D

The pic in my sig is where I got to gallop up the gallops at Cheltenham racecourse :D amazing!
 
I do out on our trails now and then - there are some nice long hills that she just loves to pound up and it feels wonderful!

Only problem is, she now feels that every time we're out there it's an excuse to run. She's not really getting the idea that we do it when it's MY idea. :p
 
Very rarely - there isn't anywhere to really open up safely although we have fantastic hacking. Only do it if we XC schooling and there are specific areas where I can...
 
Im afraid I dont very often because I can't take my welshie on the road because he's rubbish in traffic but we have two lovely big fields adjacent to the yard. Two problems, one he has slight ringbone but is sound so the ground has to be soft and two, he get soooo excited that I end up round his neck before we even get to start galloping because he's performing so much (he's 20 :)), but yesterday I was so fed up I stuck the pelham on, curb chained him up and I think I found the key because I had a lovely ride around both fields, no plunging, was able to trot without him taking off and was able to let him go flat out along two sides of the one field. He loved it, well so did I! So I'll be doing more of that!!
 
yes every now and then am lucky enough to be able to use the huge fieds the farmer has just cut the straw off, last week my friend who rides my slow cob said she wanted to ride my nutty cob, to cut a long story she ended up on the floor and i had a very wet saddle, so tomorrow she will be back on the slow cobby mmmm
 
I gallop for fun. As much as is safe and sensible. I don't take unnecessary risks...

I do however whoop, and have been known on trustworthy ponies to sing my heart out with my best friend as we bombed along.

I think it is the best feeling in the world, galloping along on a pony who is enjoing it just as much as you!

Those who don't get the chance/choose not to gallop are missing out in my opinion!
 
I do it for endurance work ... but mostly just for fun. I let all of mine go at their max speed, individually or as a group, but am very lucky to have access to wonderful tracks!
 
E_Lister said:
I gallop for fun. As much as is safe and sensible. I don't take unnecessary risks...

I think it is the best feeling in the world, galloping along on a pony who is enjoying it just as much as you!

Those who don't get the chance/choose not to gallop are missing out in my opinion!
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Definitely! I only wished I had more places to gallop. It's just such a great feeling. Generally I have a gallop 3 or 4 times a week when I hack.

The riding centre where I bought my horse do fantastic long rides on the common with two or three good gallops...the horses love it but I'm sure it scares the pants off some of the riders!
 
I do :) but I can't go too often as he gets a little "joggy" and over-enthusiastic, but we both love it! I think they all like to really let loose sometimes, mine love galloping together (and racing :p), like a herd instinct thing. Good for fitness too.
 
used to frequently on matrix- for a12hh welshie he could really shift it :D
havnt had a really long blast for a while now, pony i ride has navicular so have to be very careful with her, mostly just have a couple of fast canters, depending on the ground.
but a good short burst of speed is pretty good :D
 
Awwww Toffee would cry reading this she loved a good blast accross the fields. I have never understood why people dont like galloping their horses. Suppose I have always had ponios and nothing too serious so a mad gallop is a laugh for horse and rider???
 
Whenever safe out hacking (ie on ground i can see there's no rabbit holes etc in)

And once every week or 2 we go up the field for several gallops. Steep hills, so he is pooped after that :D

Good for both my soul and his, we both love it and i think it helps keep things interesting. I do like that it's good for fitness too, especially the hills. And i love how happy and bouncy it makes him :) Very lucky to have that field rented and as of yet unused for anything else. There's about 4 different tracks and a couple of small XC jumps.
 
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