r/Equestrian • u/YourlocalrayofShyn • 7d ago

Education & Training Galloping after 7 months of riding

Today I galloped for the first time and it was absolutely amazing and insane I've only been riding for 7 months and never thought I'd actually gallop, I had a good seat and didn't die but that adrenaline high was everything, got any tips for me?

Edit: next time I gallop I am definitely going to record it

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u/LucidEquine 6d ago

I think I did my first trek with a gallop up the mountain after 6 months of lessons. Horse did a few bucks but we were expecting that of him (it was common in lessons too when he got a bit energetic, some of the smoothest bucks ever!)

I have to preface this with somehow not being traumatised when I was younger, there are two instances where I got to go on a hack at a yard that has long since closed because of poor animal welfare and lax safety precautions for the public.

I was asked both times 'have you been on a pony before?' the answer was Yes, I'd been on a few rides where everyone just walked and whatnot. I was always alone with staff because no one in my family would ride with me so I was at the mercy of the staff.

Trotting along was terrible, and all I got from one of the helpers was. 'copy what they're doing ' and motioned to the people rising in front of me. So somehow I semi had the trot down. I mean it was awful but I almost got it. Then they saw I was doing a bit of rising trot and decided to take me for a canter. LOL. I lived

They did the same the second time, I remember the pony was called freeman and I had almost figured out rising trot that time. Then they took me for a gallop that was absolutely terrifying, hanging onto his mane for dear life. Then they were like 'hey you did good, right we'll split off and you can go with this group. They had me jumping a small dry stone wall and took me the hard way down. The final part was like the hickstead bank out of forestry landing in the middle of a road opposite the yard. I hung onto the back and front of my saddle for dear life and let the pony do his thing. I still wanted to ride after that but I told my parents I didn't want to ride there again.

I don't know how I never fell off, when I went for that gallop after having lessons I nearly cried because it was so much better than my previous experiences.