why is it SO nice

[Alameda]

when they are tightly coiled springs, head miles away in the air (tail too) reminding you what the martingales were for, and it's a long finger chaffing battle until you think they are 'listening' and you think it's safe to go, then you realise 1. you have no brakes or steering at all and 2. it really doesn't matter because you can see for MILES and it's all yours to gallop on

I wonder if it is because it is the only time we are really united in a common cause - don't like roller coasters so it's not just the adrenalin. It's the loveliest feeling, they should create drugs that make people feel as if they are on a galloping horse!

Remember this feeling....amazing.

Also remember the 'oh fuck' feeling when you realise you need to stop asap!

I only had one of those today, as we approached a road. I think he forgets the effect it has on a rider when he stops so suddenly or worse, spins round to bomb DOWN the hill

noooooooo

want to go hunting SO BADLY

errmmm dont think its nice .... I dont like "battle" ...... that is not being "united"

However ..... do love full gallop across the top of the welsh hills....... nothing like it.

I haven't ridden now for 4 years :(

I miss the fact that i can disappear for a few hours and be carefree!

at bombing downhill! Scary!

My mare was too fussy, she would bunny hop at the bottom to bomb up the top and then chicken out at the top and prance away like a nutter, until she realised that if we go up we have to go down

no I don't like THAT bit, especially without gloves, and I bet my back/shoulder blade departments hurt tomorrow

I mean it's nice when you stop arguing with one another and unite in the common cause of going-like-fuck and you forget everything and it's just power and speed and being together

you must miss it bonkey?

I will miss the stubble fields when they are drilled any day now :(

Its almost painfull, but I just don't have the money for it anymore. :(

I have Dshitland to keep me in the horsey world for now, hopefully one day I can get back to riding. I don't even know anyone who I can steal a horse from for a hour anymore. Mainly oldies and ponies where I am.

Stubble fields?

We have a lovely hill near us that is just brilliant for a good gallop, no rabbits holes, long enough for most horses to pull up easily. We all line up at the bottom and just let them all go. I was petrified when I first had my girl but was riding with an 83 yr old chap and thought if he can then I can.

I really don't think there is any feeling like it providing you are in control - don't like the bejesus scared out of me !

it's YEARS since I galloped on a stubble field!

See I hate that feeling
But the feeling of a perfect collected trot or half pass gives me goosebumps. When everything is so so perfect you can sit and do nothing, and I feel her back come up and her begin to sit and collect.. Wow

oh that is Actual Riding

I can't do that. Did have a go the other day but horse wanted to pretend the trotting poles left out by someone else were a 2'6 course and it just all went horribly wrong and he ended up rolling in his saddle. But even if he hadn't, in the school I just don't know how to do anything, don't know how to sit. It's horrible. And it's got corners.

Umm - because, and don't take this the wrong way, you might be slightly insane?

No, I'm with you on the just letting them run and enjoying the wind rushing past your ears bit. Decent stubble fields (with some good sized stone wall drops separating them) when thirty of you have lined up to race as hounds don't come in to said fields really are almost spiritual (that and the hefty tot from the hip flask in the pause before the Master's whip starts the line out).

Corners
I used to love hacking but I don't do it now, loved spending hours on the moors
Yeah I never though I would love dressage. Very very strange, but once I got the right feeling I was hooked

heh I might be slightly insane moonlight, it's a definite possibility

yeah the corners, you just get up a bit of speed then there's a corner, and another and relax and argh, another two - I just want to spread out a bit without trying to make him bend round things. He doesn't bend, my knee skims the sand. It's like a motorbike with four legs.

This is the feeling that keeps me getting on nutter point-to-pointers and racehorses when I'm really far too old and timid.

Personally I prefer a feeling of elevation when their hocks are well under and the weight on them to "head in the air". Now that's a spring! They feel a hand higher and it feels as though you are dancing.

I'm also very about your martingale comment.

I love the feeling of power when you ve got them working through and can get their hocks underneath, sitting collected trot its my favourite when you can feel all that power beneath you
But saying that i still enjoy a good whizz around fields even though somtimes i feel like i should shut my eyes, hold on to her neck and hope for best!

Nope none of my horses gallop unless they are fully listening to me and we certainly don't do battle grounds!! They wouldn't go hunting unless perfectly mannered (ish) as it's dangerous to not only myself but other people.

Plus I'd never forgive myself if the horse got injured or injured someone else.

Yes galloping across fields is a fabulous feeling, ESP when in control and you know you can stop when you want to!!

Oh Alameda - I was just thinking the same thing this morning, I was walking out on foot with my horses - beginners trail ride - and found the most amazing stretch of stubble - only one problem - it's on the home straight! Gonna give it a go tomorrow morning if I can convince DH to be equally as insane.....if you never hear from me again you know we lost our breaks and got squashed on the road!!!

We don't 'do' galloping - ground nearly always too hard also hate the risk of rabbit holes or a random spook with the risk of being chucked off. The ground is awful round here so if we want to gallop we pay to go to surfaced gallops. Sorry to sound like a party pooper!

God some of you are miserable smug bastards. Even the most highly educated horses can get over-excited and a handful to control. They are animals after all.

Or do you all own pushbutton ponies?

I guess if you like riding an out-of-control horse it's a personal preference. I don't drive with bald tyres either.

No I don't either. But my car doesn't have a brain. Or a personality.

why about the martingale Dolomites? It was running not standing. He came with one but I never ride him in it, about once or twice a year I have a lightbulb moment when I think 'ah, this must be what all that stuff (gag etc) was for'. Don't think it's worth strapping him down all year round when 90% of the time he's a ploddy old thing.

Won't take him hunting again though, it fried his brain. Will borrow something with impeccable manners.