Galloping in an arena?

[sg_eventing]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8480447]
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.[/QUOTE]

Thanks I will definitely do that! My current ring is too small to even do much with that, because the short sides are so very short, but by the end of the month, I’ll have a significantly larger one, and will do lots of adjusting strides in that! THanks!

[sg_eventing]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8480465]
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.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, but I do indeed know that adjustability is a problem we have, and that it’s not about the speed. However, galloping isn’t completely irrelevant, because that is when he gets excited and out of control. I’m working my way up, and not doing anything unwise or rushing things, I was just curious for future reference from some people who might know more about green horses than I do. And I will definitely work more on dressage, thanks!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=sg_eventing;8480502]
Thank you, but I do indeed know that adjustability is a problem we have, and that it’s not about the speed. However, galloping isn’t completely irrelevant, because that is when he gets excited and out of control. I’m working my way up, and not doing anything unwise or rushing things, I was just curious for future reference from some people who might know more about green horses than I do. And I will definitely work more on dressage, thanks![/QUOTE]

All I ride are green horses. I’ve brought several from nothing to Prelim. Do not focus on “galloping”. Work on adjustability in the ring…then out of the ring. I NEVER work on gallop on a green horse until we are running Training level. I WILL work on walk, trot and canter out in the open…up and down hills…All the time focusing on adjustability. If they get excited…we slow down, turn, get focus back. You do not work on that at speed.

If you go straight and he gets excited, do a circle…do a transition…get his focus back…do not just try to “gallop” it out. It is all working on dressage just out in the open and doing things in small progressive steps.

[sg_eventing]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8480513]
All I ride are green horses. I’ve brought several from nothing to Prelim. Do not focus on “galloping”. Work on adjustability in the ring…then out of the ring. I NEVER work on gallop on a green horse until we are running Training level. I WILL work on walk, trot and canter out in the open…up and down hills…All the time focusing on adjustability. If they get excited…we slow down, turn, get focus back. You do not work on that at speed.

If you go straight and he gets excited, do a circle…do a transition…get his focus back…do not just try to “gallop” it out. It is all working on dressage just out in the open and doing things in small progressive steps.[/QUOTE]

Again, I do know what I need to work on, and in no way plan on just “galloping it out”, but doing lots of transition work. No worries I’m not planning anything reckless at all, I know his and my boundaries and where we need to work. I definitely will remember to think about adjustability, thanks! I have galloped him before, and he’s not entirely green, just new to this kind of work (he’s an 8 y/o arab cross but with very little show experience and no event experience). Thanks for your input

[sg_eventing]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8480234]
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.[/QUOTE]

Ok thank you! Yes, the galloping isn’t necessarily for xc since we will only be competing at a BN level for a while, and I definitely am working on adjusting his canter. I know that cantering is most important here, but it’s always fun to be able to safely gallop your horse on occasion Thank you!!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=sg_eventing;8480626]
Again, I do know what I need to work on, and in no way plan on just “galloping it out”, but doing lots of transition work. No worries I’m not planning anything reckless at all, I know his and my boundaries and where we need to work. I definitely will remember to think about adjustability, thanks! I have galloped him before, and he’s not entirely green, just new to this kind of work (he’s an 8 y/o arab cross but with very little show experience and no event experience). Thanks for your input :)[/QUOTE]

I wasn’t meaning to imply that you were intending to do something reckless…just that IMO your focus is wrong if you are even THINKING about working on “galloping” (based on the issue described). It really is not needed. It is like people doing conditioning canter sets to run BN. On an arab…so not needed.

So all I’m suggesting is stop even thinking about “gallop”…and work on keeping his attention. Keeping him relaxed and focused on you out in the open. If he gets excited…circle, do a transition etc. It is more change your own mindset.

[ace]

[QUOTE=sg_eventing;8480372]
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![/QUOTE]

Is he possibly losing his balance when you try to circle, after going at a higher speed on a straightaway? Some horses will buck when they feel like they are losing their balance and about to faceplant

[Foxtrot_s]

I think the greatest thing I did for my horse was to ensure she had rhythm - she canters like a metronome, can move up, or down, but goes like a hunter in all the schooling.

Indoor would not be safe in my opinion. Too small to gallop.

It was hard winter one year and a top showjumper put her horse in the indoor to let off steam - the horse slipped on the frozen base and broke a leg. It just is not big enough to do more than a hand gallop, but perfect for training elasticity.
The corners are too tight for speed.

You will not need to gallop or will pick up time penalties (too fast); Mine did even at a controlled gallop.

[sg_eventing]

[QUOTE=ace**;8480665]
Is he possibly losing his balance when you try to circle, after going at a higher speed on a straightaway? Some horses will buck when they feel like they are losing their balance and about to faceplant[/QUOTE]

Hmm I hate to admit I hadn’t thought of that as being the reason he was bucking, thank you!! I feel like I definitely should have thought of that as a possibility, and feel bad that I didn’t, so I’ll definitely think about that and try slowing him down a bit and then bending him more slowly, giving him plenty of time to figure out what I’m asking and get his balance. Thanks!!

[ace]

[QUOTE=sg_eventing;8482905]
Hmm I hate to admit I hadn’t thought of that as being the reason he was bucking, thank you!! I feel like I definitely should have thought of that as a possibility, and feel bad that I didn’t, so I’ll definitely think about that and try slowing him down a bit and then bending him more slowly, giving him plenty of time to figure out what I’m asking and get his balance. Thanks!![/QUOTE]

Might not be the reason for bucking, but the losing balance thing has happened to me with a couple of different horses - so I thought of it as soon as I read your description

[kalidascope]

[QUOTE=sg_eventing;8480436]
Well, I have most definitely galloped in an arena before, and it is very much possible.[/QUOTE]

@sg_eventing;8480492

Thanks I will definitely do that! My current ring is too small to even do much with that, because the short sides are so very short, but by the end of the month, I’ll have a significantly larger one, and will do lots of adjusting strides in that! THanks!

So… you can gallop in the arena but not even canter strongly enough to practice adjustability? .

You are getting good advice, I hope it works out for you.

[CindyCRNA]

I have a TB who will buck if he gets out of control. My boy is learning to canter more balanced and not heavy on the forehand. A horse that is balanced and getting his butt under him and lighter on the forehand is not as easy for them to buck.

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=Badger;8480111]
Best way to teach galloping is take him fox hunting.[/QUOTE]

And LOTS of fun!!!