Gallop!

[Crazyhorse]

Hi all

I have been riding for a bout a year and a half and can walk, trot , canter etc but wondered how to get a horse to gallop?
I have experienced the feeling when a couple of the horses I ride who have spooked/bolted but this was unintentional!!

Can any one help

Cheers

Vicky:D

[galadriel]

It's hard to do in an arena, because a gallop is so much more forward, the strides are so much longer, and your turning radius gets enormous.

If you can find a big field or something, essentially you ask the horse for canter and then ask for more. I've taught mine to go from halt to gallop with the countdown: "5-4-3-2-1-GOGOGO!" ...but that's because it's useful breaking out of the starting box cross-country.

I find that if you encourage them verbally, or they have someone else around to "race," they will get into a nice gallop pretty easily. Mmmmm, fun. Need to get back to the nearby state park; haven't had a good gallop since Sept--nowhere at my new place to do it.

[Bel]

If you've got a big enough area, just get the horse up to a canter then ask it to gallop ether by giving it a nuge or with your voice. If your give the horse it's head most horses just take off ( atleast every horse i've ever ridden has). Before you even think about galloping make sure your horse knows to slow down when asked. you don't want to had a great gallop ruined by not being able to stop at the end of it.

[western]

well i would have a nice large fieild to gallop in that way if you have a problem that you cant get gallop as quick then you have lots of time. what i do is canter then keep nuging his sides and cluck that makes my horse know to go faster.

[Caitlin]

My horse always gallops if I ask him to canter up a hill! I can bring him back easily, so I usually let him have it :). Perhaps a slope would help :D

[HORSELOVER24]

it is hard to do in an to do in a small space and maybe to try to ride a horse that would fit u good and can trust so u know that they won't spook! u should try galloping in a open field

[Lindsay]

I have to disagree (sorry:( )with teaching your horse to gallop while going up a hill, that is a very good way to start a very bad habit. I would agree with the others about galloping in a field. I had a TB who was acccustomed to galloping up hills. It encourages a horse to be lazy. Also this is dangerous if someone less experienced were to ride your horse. Hope this helps

[Tootsie4U]

galloping in general is a risky thing to teach your horse. If this is a lesson horse, you should really get the barns consent before doing it. You could really ruin the horses' training so just be careful ;)

[Kittywan]

ive been riding for nearli 3 years and havent learnt to gallop yEt *the shame..*!! hopefulli this weekend doe coz ive booked in for a hack over a golf corse n big empty fields :) !!

crazyhorse where bouts in london are u from and where do u ride??

[Crazyhorse]

Hi

I'm kinda inbetween London/ Middlesex and Live in Harrow. I ride at Suzannes Riding School in Bushey/Harrow Weald.

Where abouts do you ride ?

Vicky