I’m just starting eventing my horse, and he doesn’t really know how to gallop. I’ve done some of the straightaway kind of galloping but he gets excited and fast, and starts bucking sometimes, so I think he would be better to do some gallop work in more of a controlled environment where he feels safer and is more confined. I’ve galloped horses in large arenas before, but am not sure if mine is acceptable. I know my current ring isn’t, but am building a new one very soon, which is planned to be about 200x150. What would you say is the minimum size of an arena for galloping? (It would be controlled galloping, not full speed or anything, just enough to give him a bit of an idea of how to use himself without getting overly excited by his surroundings)
I appreciate any input (or input on teaching him to gallop in general!)
Do you have an empty paddock about 2 acres in size? That should be enough of a straight way to open up a little, while retaining respectful boundaries. If he even thinks about being silly or too strong, circle before he gets out of hand. Do lots of trotting (20+min) and one or two canter sets (3min, 350mpm) first to get him a little tired and less fresh. Don’t try galloping until he can trot/canter in the open with control.
Best way to teach galloping is take him fox hunting.
I agree with Badger, that’s probably the best way, but it wouldn’t be my first choice for a horse who gets worked up like the OP says.
Maybe going out with a more experienced buddy for him might help? And definitely get him comfortable out and about at a trot and canter–once he gets comfortable with that it shouldn’t be too much of a leap to get a little gallop going.
Do you mean a true gallop, or just a stronger canter? I cannot imagine it possible (or advisable to try) to gallop in an arena that size or even double the size. Practice going from casual canter to strong canter and back again in a small field to establish control and adjustment, and build up to actually galloping.
[QUOTE=Badger;8480111]
Best way to teach galloping is take him fox hunting.[/QUOTE] :eek::eek: No way I would knowingly take a horse that bucks while galloping out in the open fox hunting. Apparently you’ve never been bucked off in the middle of the field. Besides being embarrassing and dangerous it hurts!
Hire a jockey.
My trainer took my young Arab out on the local trails which had a one mile up hill trail and taught him there. “Horse needed it”.
Since we were not eventers nor fox hunters we didn’t need it.
But it was probably the best topography to use.
Despite what people think…you do not really gallop eventing until you get further up the levels. The speed at novice on xc is just a working canter. While I agree that you do sometimes need to teach a gallop…I would not practice in an arena. Work on making his canter more adjustable. And work “gallop” when out of the ring and probably not until you are schooling xc.
To reiterate what BFNE said-
Through Novice, the XC speed is slower than the “Time Allowed” speed in Jumpers. So, Yes, you can school that speed in the ring.
But what is most important for XC is riding out of the ring, over terrain. Start with walk and trot, and gradually build up. But no need to go any faster than show jumping speed.
[QUOTE=EventerAJ;8479996]
Do you have an empty paddock about 2 acres in size? That should be enough of a straight way to open up a little, while retaining respectful boundaries. If he even thinks about being silly or too strong, circle before he gets out of hand. Do lots of trotting (20+min) and one or two canter sets (3min, 350mpm) first to get him a little tired and less fresh. Don’t try galloping until he can trot/canter in the open with control.[/QUOTE]
I don’t have a 2 acre paddock specifically, but my horse does board in a pasture that is about 180 acres, so that’s why it’s a little hard to keep him under control sometimes. I can do large circles in the field and will definitely try that! He most often tends to buck when he’s going on a straightaway and then turn him to circle, probably because he doesn’t want to go back the way he came. But I’ll definitely try the trot and canter sets, thank you!
Thank, although I do not plan on taking him fox hunting anytime soon, as he does buck and has not learned how to gallop steadily yet. I will however take him to a hunter pace in February, that way I can choose the pace and how much/ if we gallop.
[QUOTE=Dutchmare433;8480123]
I agree with Badger, that’s probably the best way, but it wouldn’t be my first choice for a horse who gets worked up like the OP says.
Maybe going out with a more experienced buddy for him might help? And definitely get him comfortable out and about at a trot and canter–once he gets comfortable with that it shouldn’t be too much of a leap to get a little gallop going.[/QUOTE]
Thank you! Yes, I definitely want to do more canter and trot work out in the open, and am realizing perhaps trying to gallop now may be not the best. Galloping with another horse, however, tends to make him more problematic because he has a fear of being left behind, and I think doing some solo work would be more beneficial at this point, but will definitely try that once I am confident he will no longer buck.
My thought would be to make it a job like anything else for a bit. You may need to put something (or someone?) on him to ensure that he doesn’t get behind your leg and get his head down to buck - what depends on what he’s wearing now. A bit with a tad more bite to it, a german martingale, something like that. You want to be able to snatch his head up and kick on without wearing out your arms - he’ll win a pulling match every time.
Then go out and in the field but close to home and make him canter. Not out-of the tack gallop at first, just canter. Do circles, loops, big serpentines. Don’t worry too much about leads just make your turns big and gentle, and keep going. Insist that he be connected and listening. If he feels like he’s winding up go back to trot and do some lateral work, some trot halt trot, anything to keep his brain engaged on what you’re asking. When he gets it together, go back to canter.
As he gets the idea that just because he’s not in the ring it doesn’t mean that he’s allowed to goof off and yahoo, you’ll be able to go from a sitting-in-the-tack canter to a 2pt canter, and then to a longer more flowy stride, and eventually a real gallop. But he can’t gallop if he’s high and tense and wanting to buck (well, he can but it’s not a good gallop and it’s not comfortable for either horse or rider!)
And THEN go foxhunting! 
Another vote for BFNE. By the time, if ever you move up to the point, of really needing to gallop, your horse should have learned that it isn’t a good idea to go to bucking. Most of them begin to pay attention to what is coming next.
[QUOTE=kalidascope;8480142]
Do you mean a true gallop, or just a stronger canter? I cannot imagine it possible (or advisable to try) to gallop in an arena that size or even double the size. Practice going from casual canter to strong canter and back again in a small field to establish control and adjustment, and build up to actually galloping.[/QUOTE]
Well, I have most definitely galloped in an arena before, and it is very much possible. You don’t need to go full speed to be galloping, and my horse (or more technically pony) is only about 14 hands, so his stride isn’t tiny, but not huge either. I’m not suggesting asking him to go as fast as he can, just to be galloping right on the brink between cantering and galloping. The problem with a field is, the only one I have is 180 acres, and no smaller enclosure other than the arena.
It is safer to gallop up a hill. The steeper the better if you think you are going to be out of control.
all you need is to make the canter adjustable. work on big and small, long stride and short, compact and open - think of every word possible in the world used to describe the difference in stride lengths and then employ them.
i like to do BIG down the longside, or diagonal, short on the short side. do this enough and you will have an elastic and adjustable canter. you do not need to gallop really until you’re past prelim. a real gallop is completely different than the speeds you go BN, N and T.
there are many reasons i wouldn’t try to gallop in a ring and the biggest one is the amount of damage a gallop can do to the ring’s liner/footing. not to mention it can be pretty concussive on the horse’s tendons to do the small circles at big speeds.
I don’t think galloping (or cantering) in an arena is going to help with the behavioral issue you’re having-- it’s more likely excitement about being in a wide open space. It may actually go away on xc when there are fences to focus on. I also like to start them going up a good hill-- not just to teach the gallop but with any horse I don’t know well/ don’t trust (i.e. the average OTTB).
The point isn’t whether it is possible to gallop in an arena…it just isn’t necessary or good for your horse or training. It is very hard on their joints and not something that will really advance your training for eventing.
THAT is all we are saying. Focus on improving your horses dressage. Work on the canter…moving forward, coming back…being adjustable. THAT will help with your xc more than careening around in a “gallop” in a ring.
The issue you described is NOT with galloping…it is with rideability. THAT has nothing to do with speed…you are just noticing it at that point but I guarantee that the lack of rideability and adjustability is there all the time…you just are not asking for the level of adjustability the rest of us are talking about so you do not realize you do not have it. So you need to work on the rideability in the ring…and then out in the open. It isn’t about galloping.
[QUOTE=saje;8480404]
My thought would be to make it a job like anything else for a bit. You may need to put something (or someone?) on him to ensure that he doesn’t get behind your leg and get his head down to buck - what depends on what he’s wearing now. A bit with a tad more bite to it, a german martingale, something like that. You want to be able to snatch his head up and kick on without wearing out your arms - he’ll win a pulling match every time.
Then go out and in the field but close to home and make him canter. Not out-of the tack gallop at first, just canter. Do circles, loops, big serpentines. Don’t worry too much about leads just make your turns big and gentle, and keep going. Insist that he be connected and listening. If he feels like he’s winding up go back to trot and do some lateral work, some trot halt trot, anything to keep his brain engaged on what you’re asking. When he gets it together, go back to canter.
As he gets the idea that just because he’s not in the ring it doesn’t mean that he’s allowed to goof off and yahoo, you’ll be able to go from a sitting-in-the-tack canter to a 2pt canter, and then to a longer more flowy stride, and eventually a real gallop. But he can’t gallop if he’s high and tense and wanting to buck (well, he can but it’s not a good gallop and it’s not comfortable for either horse or rider!)
And THEN go foxhunting! :D[/QUOTE]
Thank you! That is very helpful, and I will most definitely work on more large canter and trot circles out in the field. His bit is a French link loose ring snaffle. So it is not harsh in any way, and I typically have fairly soft hands. I’ve considered a bit of a stronger bit, but he has a sensitive mouth and does well on his current bit for the most part. The only martingale I have is a standing one, but nothing fancy. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them, because, as you guessed, my hands are usually hurting from the pull when doing canter working in the field. And then I’ll definitely keep the foxhunting in mind :winkgrin: Thank you so much, I really appreciate your input!!
