[sandy2u1]

Sometimes, when my horse and I gallop, I feel like we are just one. I just feel like I am moving with him. Some days though, like today, I felt like a bouncy ball, about to bounce out of the saddle at anytime. I was riding at my own barn so everything was the same as it normally is. I know it's impossible to say exactly what I was doing wrong without pics or video, but I was hoping you could give me ideas that I can try. So basically, what I'm asking is, what makes a person bouncy at the gallop? Today we had a very nice little trail ride (the first in 3 weeks due to horrible weather), so I was really encouraging him to move. I had to keep slowing him down though, because I was bouncing so much. So what makes a person bouncy during galloping?

 

[Mickey4793]

Hmm, never heard of bouncing as a way to describe the way galloping feels.
Are you coming off of his back a little when you gallop, or are you sitting?

 

[riccil0ve]

Are you trying to sit the gallop?

I always two point, or at least go up into a half seat to get my bum off my horse's back. It's easier to go faster when I'm out of the way. Maybe trying to sit it is what's making you bouncy?

 

[sandy2u1]

Are you coming off of his back a little when you gallop, or are you sitting?

yes, I'm sitting

I always two point, or at least go up into a half seat to get my bum off my horse's back. It's easier to go faster when I'm out of the way. Maybe trying to sit it is what's making you bouncy?

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But I thought the gallop was supposed to be rode sitting and moving with your horses movement. I have sat it successfully before. The bad part about it was yesterday when I was doing all that bouncing, I noticed two guys sitting on their porch watching :lol:. Maybe I'm just rusty because I haven't had Major above a running walk in a couple of months because of snow, ice and mud. His running walk is like gliding on air so it doesn't require a rider to get in rythem like other gaits do.



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[riccil0ve]

I've never heard it was supposed to be done sitting... wouldn't jockeys then sit during races?

I'm sure there's nothing wrong with sitting it, it's just not as comfortable for me and when my horse and I go for a run, we really run and she can move a lot faster when I'm in my two-point.

 

[MN Tigerstripes]

Maybe you're not sitting deep enough into your seat or putting too much weight into the stirrups? I usually gallop bareback, but I know that those two things can result in bounciness when cantering in a saddle.

 

[riccil0ve]

I couldn't edit my last post, so here goes again, lol.

If you're trying to sit, this is usually what fixes problems in other gaits. Are you gripping with your knees, your thighs, your hips? If you're gripping, it locks up the joints and muscles in your legs, hips and core and you won't be able to freely move with your horse. This is a likely cause if it's been awhile since you were last able to run. Also, are you leaning forward? That could be affecting your center of gravity, making it harder to stay in the saddle. Make sure you keep your shoulders back.

 

[sandy2u1]

I've never heard it was supposed to be done sitting... wouldn't jockeys then sit during races?

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Good point Ricci :lol:. I have never done two-point...I might try it at a walk first and see how I do. For now I'm gonna stick to sitting at the gallop.

Thanks everyone for your tips. I'm going to give them a try today. We are having another beautiful day (three in a row woohoooo) so I'm heading to the barn now.
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[Marecare]

There is no problem at all sitting a gallop.
You do have to move your pelvis.

What is more than likely happening to change the smoothness of the gate is that your horse is disuniting in the rear(wrong lead in back).

Many horses change leads in the rear trying to find what is comfortable for them and this throws out the balance of both the horse and rider.

Have a horse person watch you and see what is happening with the rear legs.

 

[sandy2u1]

Today's gallop was much better for me. I only really opened him up once because he seemed kind of tired. That is probably because he has had so much time off and yesterday when I rode I asked for a lot. Tomorrow it is going to rain, so it will be Tues. or Wed. before I try it again. I did what you all suggested about leaning back, sitting deep in the saddle and making sure I wasn't griping with my legs and I didn't bounce at all. Marecare, I will have someone watch who knows about leads and make sure he isn't getting in the wrong lead, but it was much better today, so maybe it was just my poor riding.
Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[riccil0ve]

I'm glad you made it work for you today. Just keep it up and then you won't have to think about it at all. =]

 

[sandy2u1]

Thanks Ricci. Our run today was so much more fun because I didn't feel like I was going to fall off. It's amazing that such small changes made such a huge difference.