For All you gaming folks.....

I have just began gaming with my horse ( we usually do performance classes, english/ western pleasure/ equitation). He can trot and canter through every pattern perfectly ( keyhole, pole bending, figure 8, international flags, 2 barrel flag race, and texas barrels). The problem is, when I ask him to gallop, he just doesn't. Sometimes he just remains at the same pace, or bucks.
I have ran him before ( just around the arena and on trails and such) so I know he can gallop.
He is responsive to leg cues and has a relatively soft mouth.
What can I do to encourage him to gallop during gaming patterns?

Thanks

He seems like he doesn't have much confidence in that gait...
Or it could be lack of muscle...
And, it could be your fault. You could stiffen up or hinder his movements.

I'm new to gaming, so what could I be doing wrong? Should my weight be shifted forward or back? He doesn't have lack of muscle, we've been training year round. How can I help him gain more confidence in his gallop?

Thanks!

You could do more galloping in the round pen/lunging, or where you've galloped him before.

You should be leaning forward with your bum out of the seat. You have to be careful not to lean TOO far forward though, of course.

Thank you so much!