The gallop is generally performed out hacking or perhaps if are able to ride in a field, rather than in a school. This is because it requires a good amount of space to get up speed and decelerate again.

The gallop is not something that involves being "out of control" as this pace can be varied and controlled just like any other. Gallop is most often ridden in a forward seat that is very similar to jumping position. To achieve this, as when jumping, you may wish to shorten your stirrups. The aim is to hover just above the saddle supporting yourself on your knees and stirrups without pulling on the reins to hold your position.

Some horses may get exciteable and strong in the gallop and in this case it can help to bridge your reins, as this gives you a secure contact. Bridging your reins means once the rein has passed between your thumb and fore finger it goes across the horse's neck to your other hand where it is held between your thumb and forefinger. You can do this with one or both reins. Keep your hands low, resting them on the horse's neck if you wish.

In order to gallop, first go into a canter and then adopt a forward seat; then use both legs to ask the horse to gradually accelerate. When you want to stop steady the pace with your reins and sit back down into the saddle. Here are some further tips.

  • Don't try to gallop if you're control in canter is uncertain!
  • Pick a good piece of level or slightly uphill ground which is straight and gives you plenty of time to see ahead and stop if need be.
  • If you're not sure you'll be able to stop practice in an enclosed field at first.
  • Don't try and go too fast. You should feel that you could stop at any moment should you need to.
  • Remember that the riding arena is too small a space in which to practice galloping!
  • Oh and enjoy it too!

If you should find that you can't stop then keep calm, sit down in the saddle and sit up straight. If the pace is too fast or unbalanced for you to sit to reasonably then stay in forward seat. Don't get into a tug-of-war with the horse by continually pulling on the reins but try short pulls on the reins, releasing in between until the horse listens. If this has little or no effect, and there is room the easiest thing to do is to ride ever decreasing circles. As the horse circles it will slow up to balance itself and then you can stop. If circling is not possible then place one hand firmly on the neck with the crest of the neck between your thumb and fingers and pull firmly on the other rein with a long pull and brief release until you have the horse again under control. If you ride sensibly you will very rarely, if ever, be really out of control.

http://www.equine-world.co.uk/riding_horses/gallop.htm



The How And Why Of Bridging The Reins
By Ron Petracek

When teaching my beginner jump student one day, her horse was becoming a bit strong over fences. Though she was sufficiently capable of handling him, she was slightly concerned as she suffered muscle weakness in one arm from an old injury. That weakness sometimes prevented her from maintaining consistent contact on both reins when she grew fatigued.

It was then that I recalled a technique that my old jumper trainer had taught me when I was a junior rider retraining an ex-racehorse—bridging my reins. Bridging my reins had then become a subconscious effort whenever I was on a spooky horse or a strong mount that pulled over fences. By bridging my reins, I had greater security and consistent contact. My hands didn’t grow harder, but they had a backup now. And the technique allowed me to maintain greater control over the position of the horse.

To bridge your reins, you hold them as you would normally but then turn your hands slightly to face thumbs briefly as you adjust your reins to the bridge. As the rein passes through your thumb and finger, it now goes across your horse’s neck to the other hand, where it also goes through your thumb and finger. Doing so on both reins now allows for a bridge. Then return your hands to the normal position while maintaining the bridge.

Bridging the reins gives the rider a bit more security with horses that try to pull the reins from their hands. A common technique used by those riding very forward cross country, bridging the reins also helps riders who have the bad habit of opening their fingers and allowing the reins to slip through their fingers or who are often losing contact for whatever reason. It helps the rider regain the contact without too much fuss and does not restrict the horse. It also helps riders consistently maintain contact when they are learning how to judge contact and when to fix it. Additionally, bridging the rein helps beginner riders maintain awareness of where one hand is in relation to the other; the technique assists in keeping the correct spacing between hands as well as keeping them from being held too high.

Riders who fuss too much with their reins can benefit from the technique as well as fussy horses who are affected by inconsistent contact.

Reins can also be bridged to just one hand so that you can ride single handedly over jumps. Doing so helps the rider maintain her own balance and helps keep her from leaning on the horse’s neck. It also helps in exercises for building independent aids, such as jumping with one hand out to the side. To bridge the reins to the single hand, hold the outside rein normally as you would, then place your inside rein over the top of the outside.

Bridging the reins is a good technique to try when you need more security or when you need to work on maintaining your hands as independent aids.

Equine Education Director
Ron Petraceks CED
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Ron Petracek - EzineArticles Expert Author
2008/02/27 16:24 2008/02/27 16:24
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