Galloped at first lesson

[chobers]

Hi:

I got on a horse last week for the first time since 1969. Back then I was stiff as a board and did not pursue lessons. This time I was pretty relaxed and the lesson consisted of me on my horse riding along with three young riders on their horses. We spent an hour and a half going up and down mountain trails.

The horse could tell I was clueless and started to wipe me against trees. I steered him back to the trail each time. Then he kept turning around to return to the barn and we went in circles for a while.

Finally, on the return trip, he broke into a FULL GALLOP. He's a quarter horse and it was pretty exciting. I wanted to keep going but, hey, this was my first lesson. He got to do 3 "gallops" (12 steps) before I stopped him. I really didn't want to.

Question: this stuff is terrific! When can I gallop without getting killed?

Thanks,

Steve

[lauraandharvey]

WHEN ITS CONTROLLED!:D
xx

[chobers]

Thanks for the answer. If a horse stops when you tell it to, is it controlled? He dialed it right down immediately when I said "whoa" and pulled back on the reins.

Thanks

[julia gulia]

If you were able to stop him then why didn't you stop him before he galloped off? :D

[Hippyhorse]

If you were able to stop him then why didn't you stop him before he galloped off? :D

I don't think 3 or so strides of gallop counts at galloping off, sounds like OP managed to pull the horse up quickly.
I know many ahorse that if deciding to gallop off with anovice wouldn't have stopped till they were back at the yard!

Steve in reply to your question, you will need to learn to control the horses pace i.e. not have it gallop off on it's own accord first! Sounds like you had great fun though and did very well to pull the horse up despite your lack of experience. Just keep at it and you'll soon get the hang of controlling the pace and direction more and the more confident and competant you get the more confidence the horse will havein you and what your asking it to do rather than taking matters into it's own hands(or hooves!) Also a controlled speed at any pace would be where the horse isn't going completely flat out and is still listening to you. Good luck!:D

[julia gulia]

twas tongue in cheek hippyhorse :cool:
I have a feeling that Chobbers had a huge smile on his/her face :D

[sancho]

Way to go on your first lesson!

[Hippyhorse]

twas tongue in cheek hippyhorse :cool:
I have a feeling that Chobbers had a huge smile on his/her face :D

Sorry mis understood your meaning Julia! :confused: Yes have to agree certainly sounded like Chobers enjoyed it!

[chobers]

Just to comment on a few of the things I learned from your responses:

1) Respond more quickly. I froze for a second as data ("He is starting to gallop") streamed into my head. That, combined with the fact that it was exciting, caused me to delay stopping him.

2) Don't let the horse make his own gait decisions: stop and start over, even if you were about to select that gait yourself.

3) Practice going through all of the gaits so you can select the one you want, when you want. ( I suspect there is a signal for each gait.)

I'll probably take my 2nd lesson in a week or so.

Thanks again.

Steve (chobers)