hard ground

I have been trying to decide weather to try my horse on a no Bute painkiller to try to make him more comfortable as the ground hardens up and I was wandering if anyone has tried it and if it has worked for them. I have a 12 year old ish who events at 70cm but hoped we will step up to 80cm soon...

What’s everyone’s opinions on running cross country on hard ground. We are entered into a hunter trial this afternoon (80cm) with little to no rain all week, I walked the course yesterday and thought the ground was ok. It was firm and dry but that is to be expected, I personally didn’t feel it...