wohoo, fun plans for sunday - gallops! advice please

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showpony

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Its been an awful wk, am out with some back and hip probs. Back in saddle this weekend and we are hoping to go out to the gallops with a friend . Looking for tips, now my mare doesn't like being left behind and does get very excitable but she is just a baby.
I will stick a martingale on her so I have something to hang onto if necessary, lol:)
 
Are we talking a proper racing gallop here, or galloping in open contryside? If the former, you should be OK - just make sure you warm your horse up properly before hand (there is usually a pen to do that in) and then start off quietly upsides, hack canter and gradually put your foot on the throttle. If open countryside, good luck! but again start slowly if you can. I think that a neck strap is always useful, in what ever situation. Hope it goes well.
 
showpony said:
Thanks for reply. Its a proper racing gallops:)
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It will be lovely, and just what you need to get the old muscles working again - that is of course unless you are galloping against some old handicapper who has not seen the gallops for a bit and goes tally ho (speaking from experience here - the horse had been out of training for 4 years - but saw the fibresand and the running rail, and went yipee.....but we did stop at the end......just!)
 
Ask if your horse can be in front. My horse is fine as long as he is the leader and if you are going with others and your horse wants to be in front ask your friends if they will let you lead and not pass you out. For canter and gallop ride in a light/two point seat and if you want to go flat out I would recommend that you lean low over his neck and hold the main with one hand and keep your lower leg properly underneath you and give yourself enough room at the end to come back to a canter and trot. A proper gallop is the Best Fun Ever.
 
showpony said:
Hahaha, love it " breath, hang on and enjoy" is going to be my new motto! Don't know re sand, better find out!
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:D He he. " breathe, hang on and enjoy" is already my motto - but i'm happy to share it :D:D

I did the beach run last July and was picking sand out of my eyes and teeth for two days after :p - not fun though if you're behind and getting a face full - if the gallops have a lot of sand then take pair of goggles/shades just in case.

I'm hugely envious - I'd love to take my lad onto some gallops - better not though he's already got delusions of grandeur after outpacing an ex-racehorse on our last hack - ponies :rolleyes:
 
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