Let’s go galloping

Learn all about the fastest pace

Gallop’s the speediest gait your pony can do. He takes longer strides, pushes harder off the ground and his hooves stay on the floor for less time. Galloping can be heaps of fun but you need to be able to stay in full control while doing it. We’ve got the lowdown on how to ride this awesome pace.

Four by four

Gallop’s a four-time pace and your pony will always have at least two legs off the ground, with a moment of suspension where all four are in the air. It’s a different rhythm to canter which has a three-time beat. Ponies are almost completely airborne when they’re galloping which is how they get their speed up so quickly – it really does feel like they’re flying!

The perfect place

If you want to take your pony for a blast, you need to find a suitable place to do it first. Some things to consider are…

Length You need somewhere long enough that he can open his stride, without having to come to an abrupt stop when you reach the end.

Ground conditions It could damage your pony’s legs if you go full speed on hard or uneven ground, or through boggy terrain.

Incline Stick to flat terrain or gentle hillwork. He could lose balance downhill.

Bends Look for a straight strip to use as galloping round corners could unbalance your pony – and you don’t want to come face to face with a cyclist or dog walker coming the opposite way!

Some super-fun places where you can gallop your pony are: