Following seat in gallop

[Bhigh]

I ride western however I like to read dressage/jumping articles because I find it does a better job explaining aids and horse movements.

My question is in a gallop/ run if you are riding in a light seat what is your hip motion in order to follow the horse’s movement?

For example in the walk it’s an alternating hip going forward, the trot one hip drops independently of the other and the lope the inside seat scoops.

I haven’t been able to find an article that describes the following seat motion in a gallop/run for the most part all I can find is articles describing the 2 point seat.

Does anyone have a good description for me?

[Scribbler]

I dont find a big difference between a forward canter and a hand gallop and a big blast run. I ride all of these in a dressage deep seat or a forward seat two point in jump saddle or sitting jump saddle as my mood, the terrain, my back, and the horses balance that day combine. It’s much easier to two point in silicon breeches!

All forms of canter and gallop are 3 beat with a dominant lead though a true gallop has some more air time. If your butt is on the saddle you will scoop towards the lead. If you are in two point you will lose some of the scoop feeling.

BTW the full out run is not really a dressage gait, and it’s not even used in h/j. It’s more an eventing or fox hunting gait. Well, or a trail riding gait if you find the perfect safe path!

[Xanthoria]

A true gallop is 4 beat!

[Xanthoria]

[Scribbler]

That’s true, but you still ride it like a canter.

The OP is talking about going from a lope to a gallop. That’s a much bigger difference than a hand gallop to a gallop.

[findeight]

Might try investigating the influence of hip angle, your butt should never be very far out of the saddle and your hips relax and follow the motion.

Rather then trying to explain there are many degrees of hip angle between full seat, forward seat and two point with little variation in where the seat actually is, just tell you to go online and watch Mclain Ward who I consider a master. Also watch Equitation Medal Finals, clinic videos and read up on Hunt Seat Equitation. There are some excellent books out there with pictures.

Its a subject that is so much easier to see then try to explain in writing. Its also a concept many trainers today seem to find too sophisticated to teach and train. Fact they are clueless.

[McGurk]

Find a copy of Centered Riding; it has a great, detailed description of how your seat should follow in the canter.

A very quick, undetailed description - at the three beats of the canter, your seatbones move back, forward, more forward and then hold for the period of suspension. It is not a symetrical movement, the seatbone on the side of the leading leg is more forward or “leads.”

It is helpful to count the beats of the canter while learning this, Centered Riding clinicians have participants practice the following movement on the ground, which makes for an interesting sight. (I try not to be crude when teaching, so that leaves out many of the more colorful accurate descriptions, but I have said “If it feels like you’re doing something naughty, you’re probably doing it right.”)

[Willesdon]

I’ve been riding for ever and have been taught in so many different ways and styles, however, a wise person once said “Riding is simple, it just isn’t easy”. Over these many years I have found counting the beat of the gait is really very helpful. Counting a beat automatically puts your body movements into a rhythm and then you and horse can move together. I find that far easier than visualising hip movement or defining angles. ‘Dad dancing’ is funny precisely because he throws himself around and misses the beat.

[Scribbler]

Yes, you need to be in sync with the rhythm but also the horse needs to be balanced. My horse can give dozens of different canters from sucked back on the forehand prongy behind, impossible to ride, to true collection, to bouncing on the spot, to relaxed forward, to big canter to hand gallop to full blast. If we could get this consistently in the arena she’d be a super adjustable jumper!!

I’m not sure how much h/j seat compares to Western which OP rides. Most h/j would be in half seat or two point at speed. But in a Western saddle you need your butt in the saddle with horse moving under you. If you brace and tip forward in a Western saddle it’s messy.

[Willesdon]

@Scribbler

… If you brace and tip forward in a Western saddle it’s messy.

Oooooh yes!!!

[RAyers]

A full gallop is 4 beat with a suspension phase where all feet are off the ground. The horse literally will drop closer to the ground by a hand or 2. There is no hip motion in the 2 point. The motion is taken up in the knees, ankles, elbows and hands (you run with a half or full cross in the reins).

[Scribbler]

You can of course also run on a totally loose rein and yes they flatten out. It’s a different feeling for sure but it’s still in the canter family just like the OPs Western jog is in the same trot family as a full scale dressage extended trot but feels very different.

[Bhigh]

Thank you for this response this is what I was looking for!