> Ground is nice, he's fresh but not too fresh, then put him behind another > horse and encourage him to break into a gallop.
Tivar is a real laid back guy and hates to go fast. The only time he gallops is when extremely furious :). When I first give them all turn out he hurries to his favorite tree and starts rubbing on it while everyone else thunders off so I walk toward him clapping my hands and as I walk closer and closer he scratches faster and faster and then when I am about 30 feet away he will take off like a rocket, galloping like crazy til he catches up with the rest. For such a huge draft looking guy he can really move! I would hate to ride him at a gallop! his canter is very very fast and powerful and makes me a little nervous. It feels as fast and powerful as one of my bigger horses gallops. Stonewall at a gallop is terrifying and jaspar will only gallop a few strides before settling into something else. he has the most awesome floaty canter. any time stonewall has galloped has been with others and i had no control whatsoever and it scared the tar outa me! I cant escape the feeling that the horse can trip and fall and I'll be killed. I ride with some cowgirls sometimes and they like to gallop. I always ask them to let me know so I can have my horse in check before they take off but they often dont. Then recently I heard one of them fell when their horse tripped at the gallop and went down. She broke her nose, had two black eyes and some busted ribs. i dont like riding the gallop! but I smile when i watch them doing it at turnout :) Nasi is a hoot. he seems so little compared to the rest. he sorta stretches his neck way out and gets like a long streak :) When he takes off and stops there is always a great deal of head snaking and bucking haha. he thinks he is just hot stuff dont he :) Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
