Show cob Gallop!

[supercowpony]

Ok, so I'm a bit confused about what the judge looks for in a show cob's gallop?

Do they want to see an actual gallop? or is it really just an extended canter?
Some shows I've been to the rings look much too small to get a proper gallop out of.
And is it even possible to practice a 'proper' gallop in a 20 x 40 m arena? Or do most people practice out hacking.

Also, should I lean forward in the gallop as I would do out hacking, or should I sit in a normal position?

I see different things everywhere, and though I'm sure there are plenty of ways to do it correctly, I don't want to pick one which is incorrect.

thanks!

[watchbank]

Sometimes its not always possible to get a good one in and i think if a judge is worth anything they will relise that before anyone even does a show. All i do is push mine a tad faster on the last straight before we slow down to a trot, sometimes shes easy to push into a good gallop other times its just a faster canter - depending on her mood. Good luck

[vikki85]

Good question, I'd like to know the answer to this too. I can usually get a few good actual gallop strides from my mare in a show ring but wasn't sure if they are actually looking for a proper gallop??

[LEC]

Show cobs should show a good gallop, if the ring is too small then do and extended canter. Better to not gallop and be able to stop before the corner than fall over or not stop at all! However if the ring is big enough go for a gallop provided you can stop! I practice out in the field or on the beach, your horse needs to learn to gallop properly and use its hind legs. In a paddock this is difficult. Also go into a slight raised seat and tip slightly forward, your horse will find it easier to gallop this way and you wont bobble around, gallops pretty hard to sit to! Hope this helps.
Good luck!

[CarolineNelson]

Speed in a small ring isn't safe, however, the animal must show that it has the ability to lower and extend.

Manners and good balance in a Show Cob are vital, so the increase and decrease in pace must be practiced as well as just on the straight.

You will be watched not only on the straight but leaving, on and aproaching the turns at each end of the long side of the ring.

An experienced judge will see potential even if the size of the ring and safety conditions do not allow more than, let's say, half a dozen - eight strides.

Yes, you can certainly practice the above both in a school and out on hacks.
Make the gallop balanced and controlled, but it must be FUN (in a mannerly way) for your cob.

[supercowpony]

thanks for all the tips! Well we can do a reasonable extended canter so I'll get working on that. And I'll practice mannerly transitions into and out of gallop on hacks too as I think that will be the area that needs most work!

[elmere]

Yes I would just sit up slightly out of your seat and lean a little giving the reins, I hate it when jockeys come too much out of their seat and they start flapping the reins about it just looks messy but I also dont think its fair on the horse when they dont raise out of it at all.

[CarolineNelson]

Feb 27, 2012 11:59:35 GMT elmere said:

Yes I would just sit up slightly out of your seat and lean a little giving the reins, I hate it when jockeys come too much out of their seat and they start flapping the reins about it just looks messy but I also dont think its fair on the horse when they dont raise out of it at all.

If I may, I'd say only 'give the reins' once your cob can really tell the difference between 3rd and 4th gear. Until then, use them lightly to maintain balance (without hanging on/holding the head up, that is)

Use different gradients to help your Cob learn balance and only 'lean a little' as you might going up a gentle hill.

Remember that the gallop is a four-time pace (like walk) so there IS very much a differerence between gallop and the different variations in canter, a 3 time pace.

And, don't 'row a boat' - as the poster here has said, keep still, keep your arms and elbows still so you aren't flapping the reins, which, besides looking unsightly, will lose all balance.

Finally, one of my pet hates is a very vocal rider attempting to 'encourage' their animal to gallop - eg: Shhhhhhhhhhhh, grrrrrrrrrrrrrronn etc!!

It must be slick, professional looking (if I may dare to use the word without being shot !)

[supercowpony]

I won't shoot you!
I don't think I'll need much vocal encouragement at all! If he was very very tired, I might have to click at him, but considering a full days hunting still leaves him with enough energy to jog miles back to the horsebox hopefully we'll be ok.

thanks so much for all the really helpful advice. Before I really felt like I was stumbling in the dark.

[CarolineNelson]

Feb 27, 2012 13:26:04 GMT supercowpony said:

I won't shoot you!
I don't think I'll need much vocal encouragement at all! If he was very very tired, I might have to click at him, but considering a full days hunting still leaves him with enough energy to jog miles back to the horsebox hopefully we'll be ok.

thanks so much for all the really helpful advice. Before I really felt like I was stumbling in the dark.

If he's hunted, he will a) be properly fit and b) he (indeed, you both) will have experienced the thrill of horses galloping together so he'll have a good idea what it's all about.

Mind you, he needs more 'decorum' in his show gallop than in the hunting field, but it is really great that you both have had that experience.

So many people and their horses just grind senselessly round and round a school; after a while the horse struggles to see the point in changing to 4th gear.

I'm not against occasional schooling in a school by the way, but, as the old saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Good luck with your cob, you seem really keen to get it right.

[supercowpony]

Nice to know I've done some things right already.
I do try and keep him fresh by doing a variety of things. I don't even want to do too much showing with him, as I don't want him to lose his sparkle.

Thanks for the luck! I'm always needing it

[iluvmyponies]

Feb 27, 2012 11:59:35 GMT elmere said:

Yes I would just sit up slightly out of your seat and lean a little giving the reins, I hate it when jockeys come too much out of their seat and they start flapping the reins about it just looks messy but I also dont think its fair on the horse when they dont raise out of it at all.

Totally agree with this, but I have to admit, it makes me giggle! When people come really far out of their saddle & start flapping their reins all over the place...& the head tilt too! That really annoys me!

Make sure that if you do have the space to show a gallop, don't push straight off the corner & have no steam left by mid-way down the long side, the most extended part of your gallop should be the centre section of the length. The first section should show extention, the middle section should show the full extention/gallop, & the last section should show extention again, before steadying to a canter at the corner.

Hope this makes sense, i'm useless at explaining things.

Modified for spelling.

[CarolineNelson]

Ilovemyponies, for just 17, you have indeed explained it very well!
I'd like to add the word "BALANCED" to everything you have written - in particular, to the last bit, the return to canter on the corner.

[supercowpony]

that's really helpful ILMP. thanks
I will get practicing! hopefully can convince my yard owner to let me practice in one of the fields as the arena is definitely too small.
I'll be galloping (in a decorous manner) around, muttering 'balanced' under my breath the whole time

[iluvmyponies]

Feb 27, 2012 19:34:24 GMT CarolineNelson said:

Ilovemyponies, for just 17, you have indeed explained it very well!
I'd like to add the word "BALANCED" to everything you have written - in particular, to the last bit, the return to canter on the corner.

My date of birth must be wrong on here, i'm 15! Haha Thank you.

Glad I was of some help supercowpony. Yes definitley, as caroline said, keep 'balanced' in mind, especially if it has just tipped it down for the past 3 hours & they ask you to gallop all together in the ring! (I was not impressed by this one bit! Mud was flying everywhere )

[supercowpony]

haha! My horse is a hippo so sure he'd love that. His not so secret ambition is to be a bay thoroughbred.