Also, a warmup period will help you familiarize yourself with the horse’s personality and signals. This will help communication with the horse throughout your ride. Make sure to take some time to get comfortable with the arena footing. Also, check for any obstacles in the arena or any distractions or things that could spook your horse outside the arena, such as tarps or other horses.
Get your horse to canter in 2-point. Once it is steady, urge your horse to go faster into a gallop. Use your leg pressure and the reins to encourage your horse to go faster as you transition from a canter to a gallop.
Your weight needs to be rooted in your pelvis rather than your shoulders. Keeping your weight low will allow you to maintain your balance more easily. Keep your heels down and your toes up. Staying in this position will help to keep your weight balanced and back on the saddle. This is also a safer position if your horse stops suddenly.
Your abdominal muscles should be contracted, so you don’t push your lower back out. This will help keep your back straight rather than allowing it to round forward. When trying to picture how your body should be positioned, think of someone who is downhill skiing on moguls. If the gallop positioning doesn’t turn out the way you would like the first time, don’t be discouraged. A perfected gallop takes balance and practice. Not to mention patience.
Your upper body and head will remain stable while your arms and legs will be absorbing the movements of the horse. If you are doing this correctly and your horse stumbles, you will sit down automatically and get deeper in the saddle rather than pitching forward towards the horse’s neck.
Practicing standing up in the stirrups will help you build up the muscles you will need to hold this position while the horse is galloping. You can also drop your stirrups and hold a seated trot. This will help to strengthen your legs and help your 2-point.
Perfecting your 2-point positioning will likely take a lot of practice. You will need to get used to the proper body positioning and the energy it takes to hold that position. A horse may be able to gallop for a long amount of time, but you must be sure you’re prepared for this. Always remember that not only does the horse become exhausted, but the rider as well. It is just as dangerous to push yourself as it is to push the horse because your exhaustion could easily lead to you losing control.
A good riding instructor can typically be found by searching online or through your local riding club or horse organization.
Wearing safety equipment is especially important when learning a new technique or riding skill, as you are more likely to get injured when doing something new. Avoid using equipment that is too old. Some items lose their safety rating after a few years, such as helmets.
A riding arena is not large enough to practice galloping in. You must find a bigger space. Consider going to a good-sized hill, as it is safer to gallop uphill. One reason for this is that it is harder for the horse to trip while going uphill. Although most horses will stop on their own before the edge of a cliff or anything like that, you don’t want to take any chances.
This is assuming you aren’t riding bareback.
