Yes, that’s exactly why I dislike it as a test. It’s the only one you can fudge. Though technically speaking, “hand gallop” has a specific definition that isn’t “tiny bit bigger canter”, but…
2 Likes
We edited some posts to tone down some personal commentary and language (and removed a couple of posts addressing the removed content).
10 Likes
Regarding Jessica in 2008 <Brian Williams voice>, I was there. On that particular day, it worked for her, and it worked well. As I recall, in a previous year, maybe at Harrisburg, I believe she had a rather spectacular crash and burn at the hand gallop jump when it did not work as well. Luckily for her, she had both the time and the resources to bounce back from that attempt, and come back to win both finals before she aged out. And to her credit, she is still not afraid to gallop at a jump when the situation calls for it, and it has served her well in the jumpers over the past decade.
That being said, there is a bit of a gray area on the hand gallop jump. A smart rider who knows the horse, and the strategic aspects of the class, might decide to hedge their bets a little, depending on the situation. I can understand why people might not like the hand gallop test because of that factor, but like any test, it provides an opportunity for the rider to flop or shine, depending on their ability and showmanship.
As I said in an earlier post, I have not seen any of the second round trips from yesterday, so I have no opinion on how that played out. However, I know that top group is made up of very good riders, and any of them could have won if things had gone their way. Congrats to all of them!
I still haven’t seen enough second trip videos to have an opinion on yesterday’s horse show, but it seems to me that you could judge a hand gallop two ways. One is whether the horse is showing the land speed of a hand gallop, 14-16 mph- and there’s an argument to be made that a large-strided horse at a working canter is already showing 14-16 mph and that riding the canter on such an open stride has shown the test. The other is to disregard the land speed and look for a significant upward change in pace.
I tend to think that the latter approach is usually better because a true hand gallop is not always appropriate or safe for the next question- think about a hand gallop being called for in a 2’6" class. I do not want my low children’s horses executing a proper hand gallop at a speed bump and going end over teakettle when their riders miss so if they step up a notch and canter at 11 or 12 mph, to me they’ve shown understanding of the test and avoided scaring the judge.
I can see a judge accepting a big-strided horse showing an open working canter as a hand gallop, even with little apparent change in pace, if they went by the land speed metric, and I do think that’s a legitimate way to judge the test if you’re consistent about it. You’d need a monster-strided horse to pull that one off and justify it, and while I haven’t seen his second round, Efendi does have that kind of step.
4 Likes
Watched the whole thing and loved Sam - Lovely rider and well deserved
Unless I’m missing something, only one person in this entire thread has spoken of Sam and his riding in a way that I genuinely felt was personally disparaging, and that individual was told so by others PDQ. The vast majority have agreed with the top three as pinned. I mean, it’s an online forum, so everyone’s an armchair quarterback, but isn’t it okay to say that you’d like to have seen this or that? I feel as though it’s possible to say such a thing while simultaneously saying a person is a lovely rider and deserved to win on the day.
For what it’s worth, I never did not could I ever ride at that level. My totally amateur card would have looked the same way at the top.
3 Likes
I agree, Renn.
When I was “The Saddler West” in the 1980’s, I measured lots of people for custom coats. I became very aware that measurements alone were not sufficient to tell the seamstress/fabricator how to make the coat; one disparity is that there are several different ways that arms come out of the shoulder, and that affects a lot of things. Some of which are: how your coat fits, how you stand, hold yourself, etc. My arms are set in a forward position on my shoulders, which makes me look like I am collapsing through my back. If I try to “sit up straight” I look very awkward and stilted. Perhaps Sam is built the same way. Perhaps, for him, the way he sits on a horse IS “sitting up”.
We are all different — and should not judge those different from ourselves by our own standards.
2 Likes
While I understand you have an opinion, I don’t understand why you chose to express it with such hostility.
I think that you are assuming an awful lot when you denigrate the experience and/expertise of the members of this forum. While Supershorty may not care to respond regarding her qualifications, anyone who frequents this forum can tell you that she is well qualified as a rider to have an opinion (and has excellent position over fences) 
.
It diminishes your argument when you make assumptions about people. I’m guessing that you are unaware that there is more than one person on this thread who has their “friggin judges card”… We enjoy reading their opinions, which I must say are always professionally and kindly given.
There was only one poster on this thread who was actually unkind to the Maclay winner, and IMHO there is no reason that the merits of the hand gallop as a test in equitation classes shouldn’t be discussed by the rest of us.
7 Likes
Is a hand gallop not a 4-beat while a canter is a 3-beat?
I don’t think it’s rude to question placings when technically the question asked by the judges wasn’t answered. If you blow a counter canter in a test you get dropped right to the bottom. If they ask for a hand gallop, then they should score those that don’t do the hand gallop as not completing the test properly because they didn’t. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Either score it properly or don’t ask the question in the first place. It’s not fair to those that take the risk and complete the test as asked.
1 Like
No a hand gallop is technically a very fast canter. It’s just a step below breaking into a true four beat gallop.
How come that grey horse can win with it’s tongue hanging out ?
It’s equitation. The rider is judged, not the horse.
6 Likes
I have to say, I absolutely loved the new Chronicle play by play person’s theory that he was sticking his tongue out at the other horses because his trip was so good. He did the same thing at the end of the test. He knew he nailed it! :lol:
6 Likes
Your confusion is understandable.
Neither the horse’s form over jumps, nor it’s gaits, are judged in equitation. The rider’s ability to guide the horse, placing it properly at the jumps and thus producing a smooth even trip while maintaining a good seat, hand, and leg position is what is being judged . Thus when the horse chips in at a jump, takes a flyer (long spot), swaps leads unasked, or fails to hold a counter canter it is considered to be the fault of the rider, due to the ineffectiveness of their aids and eye for the distances.
Of course the rider has an advantage if they are riding an obedient, well schooled horse, but the ability to ride well and effectively, in good position, is the criteria.
1 Like
Had the tongue out of the mouth been symptomatic of a horse who was resisting incorrect hands or evading the aids, the rider could have been penalized, but as the horse showed relaxation during a harmonious performance it could be disregarded.
4 Likes
The whole thing is ridiculous, contrived, vaudeville.
Please explain your thoughts?
2 Likes
Because the grey (the horse Sam rode) won with his tongue hanging out???
Sam is a lovely rider and a true horseman. A friend of mine rode with his parents for several years and they too are lovely horsepeople. I didn’t think that needed to test after the second round, given the placings it seems the judges weren’t sure about some of the others, and a correct and conservative trip by Sam was enough to give him the win.
1 Like
lol - okay!!
2 Likes
