Canter on tarmac - do you?

Not on purpose...! My mare is lighter on her feet than when trotting though, so if the ground is a little harder than I'd like (not a regular road) then we do have a bit of a canter which is nicely steady (most of the time!)

The only time we went a 'little' quicker than 'steady' was when we were being chased by a deranged escaped pig! Tia hates them with a vengence, and she was wearing her sports boots at the time (on a Trec) so the safest thing to do was get the hell outta there! We outran the pig. :D

I was very meticulous at hosing her legs off at the end of the ride and applied cooling gel, vet on hand said not to worry too much, and the next morning, she was sound at the trot-up.

Have cantered out hunting on OH's horse, but he is barefoot....
 
Absolutely not.

And why would you want to? Why not find some softer ground to canter on?

Perhaps you should teach your child some of the basics of horse riding and consideration towards her pony's long term soundness and manners, so that strangers (whether "fat") or not don't have to?
 
Mithras said:
And why would you want to? Why not find some softer ground to canter on?
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1. Because 1/4 mile of soft hill is not available.

2. Because the soft land that I can ride on is easily damaged by overuse and not available while growing hay/silage and does not belong to me.

3. Because I don't think it does a barefoot horse any harm at all.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have access to good places to canter, Mithras
 
Yes. I do out hunting all the time. Better than a spanking trot for ages. I've got road nails so don't slip. Generally out hacking I don't but have had a few strides of unplanned canter down the road.
 
not through choice, my horse has bolted on roads with me and 12 yrs ago, dumped me on the floor and galloped off down country lanes for about 5 miles on her own! and she now has a massive crack from top to bottom on one of her back hoofs! so defo wouldn't choose to do it! she was shod at the time!
 
I always marvel how 14 year old girls are old enough to be rude (to the extent that the majority of what she said couldn't be put on the forum,) but are then classed as 'little girls' when some one dares to suggest that they may have been less than perfect!
 
I tried it today on my barefoot horse today, but he sounded like he was landing so heavy, when in trot he goes nice and steady and you can hardly hear his feet hit the floor. Dont think i will make a habit out of it due to his legs.
 
I would be more concerned about my 14 year old's attitude towards a member of the public and her foul mouth than I would about what a random woman thinks about cantering a pony on the road.
 
Billie1007 said:
I would be more concerned about my 14 year old's attitude towards a member of the public and her foul mouth than I would about what a random woman thinks about cantering a pony on the road.
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I agree. I expect the "fat" woman was only concerned with the ponies welfare and was probably trying to impart some wisdom to two teenagers who would appear to not know any better. I was always taught that cantering and fast trotting on roads is very bad for horses and I still believe this. It is sad that nobody is open to learning anything these days and I suspect these two girls should maybe take a step back and think that maybe somebody older may know better than them.
 
I generally don't as the roads I ride on have a fair bit of traffic and visibility not great,so not worth the risk to mine and others safety.

*If* I was to ride anywhere quiet enough though I probably would.Ponio is barefoot and nimble on his feet;)

Wouldn't dream of it on a shod horse,Risk of concussion and slipping at speed too great IMO.
 
If I tried to canter my mare on the road I would most likely die! :o

That being said, both my horses have at some point charged off on concrete at full pelt, and no damage has occurred (other than a minor bruised sole on my old pony), so I don't tend to worry about it causing any damage.

I wouldn't be comfortable cantering a horse on the road unless it was absolutely necessary (ie in some sort of emergency!), due to the risks with traffic.
 
pip6 said:
As a thought, in endurance races (I'm not talking pleasure rides or pleasure ride classes at endurance rides) it is common to see horses cantering on roads. It is thought kinder to joints to do a light springy canter than a fast trot (they also have a lower heart rate in a steady canter than fast trot). Most endurance horses who reach advanced level are athletic, not heavy built large horses, which in itself reduces concussion. Endurance horses also go on to have long careers, the sire of my girl still came 3rd in 100 mile race aged 19, & last years national champion was 21 (horse that is, rider is younger!), both have clocked up thousands of competative miles, let alone all the additional thousands of training miles. No navicular, no concussive injuries, not fallen on roads, both shod (very few serious high level competitors are barefoot, tends to be low/middle distance who do this). It's about conditioning, balance, the way the horse is built.

If there is no traffic (just because dangerous situations can develop faster the faster you are travelling), ponies are in control, can come back instantly, ponies not overweight (which naturally increases joint issues), balanced & used to regular work on hard ground, then it shouldn't cause damage. Indeed a spanking trot up the hill would be worse for them.

Anyone who only rides on good ground should try hacking on the south west moors. Large stones to be trodden on, stoney tracks, & several endurance rides (no race classes but advanced riders still have to make a minimum speed of 10kph overall) held over these ground conditions. Very few horse problems, conditioning, training & ability. Last years national champion was a horse living/training on Dartmoor....the 21 yr old.
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I agree with all of the above. David Marlin, very experienced endurance vet, actually did some research on this - you can probably find it if you google. Basically, a collected canter is less concussive than a flat out trot - and that would apply on all surfaces, I guess.

My endurance pony is 19 years young and still going strong. I have cantered on roads during race rides - if you have conditioned properly and know the correct preparation and aftercare, this is fine.

Please note I am not suggesting happy hackers on unfit horses start thundering up the roads :)
 
Fast walk, slow trot preferably up hill is what I do, I also like horse to be in an outline and on the aids. Our lanes get quite busy at times and although some are very quiet single track lanes we have some idiot drivers who drive far to fast along them and I need to be able to hear what's coming!

Recently I passed a girl on a bay pony, she was dressed in dark colours and had no flourescent gear on herself or the pony. Frankly she merged into the background. I do training for riding and road safety for a local PC so i stopped the car and very politely suggested that drivers would be able to see her more clearly if she wore some florescent gear and she'd be safer on the roads. Her Mum cycled up behind me and told me that it was none of my bl.....y business. i was just worried that she might have an accident.
 
tallyho! said:
Did you know the sun rises in the west?
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I do indeed. I met some kids recently who told me it sets it the west and rises in the east and wouldn't listen when I told them I was older and knew best :mad: Kids these days won't listen to anyone :cool:

:D
 
JFTD said:
It is a rather bizarre logic to those who don't hunt - why not explain it rather than just deflect the question! It's no more criticism than saying string theory is a bizarre logic if you don't understand it :D
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I will explain MY logic as a hunter, and it may be different for others, I will add that I do not see a problem with cantering on the roads at all, and feel that a collected and controlled balanced canter is a lot less damaging than a faster trot.

Out hunting when we do have roads and tracks, my aim is to keep with the first 1/4 of the field. Because I do not like fast paced trotting on roads, I choose a controlled canter to keep pace.

Out exercising I am always by myself, I am not really doing anything purposeful or at any particular speed to keep up with anything, therefore I can stick to a much slower, controlled trot without being left behind.
 
RunToEarth said:
I will explain MY logic as a hunter, and it may be different for others, I will add that I do not see a problem with cantering on the roads at all, and feel that a collected and controlled balanced canter is a lot less damaging than a faster trot.

Out hunting when we do have roads and tracks, my aim is to keep with the first 1/4 of the field. Because I do not like fast paced trotting on roads, I choose a controlled canter to keep pace.

Out exercising I am always by myself, I am not really doing anything purposeful or at any particular speed to keep up with anything, therefore I can stick to a much slower, controlled trot without being left behind.
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So you have no "principled" aversion to someone choosing to canter on hacks - merely that you choose not to (other than to keep up with the field on hunts) because you aren't in any rush on hacks? That's perfectly logical to my mind.

I'm still confused by the posters who think it's totally unacceptable on hacks but ok hunting though!
 
trottingon said:
I don't live in a hunting area so wouldn't know what the norm is amongst hunting folk, but I have never ever ever heard if anyone cantering on Tarmac (deliberately)!!!
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Me either, most people I know avoid it. Also, car drivers will not be used to riders coming up the road at such a speed, and if it was a lane, perhaps visibility wasn't great. I find it a bit off that you are offended at her saying your daughter should not canter on the roads, yet you are ok to describe her as a "fat lady", why couldn't you just say a lady in a car, without being so personal?
 
Remember folks... it's not over 'til the fat lady sings!

:D

p.s. I have a great theory on strings. Wanna hear it?
 
What have I started? :op

Well... Daughter's weren't rude to the lady, they were rude about her - which is an important difference. What they said was actually quite funny, but one little adjective got me in trouble here, so enough's enough.

They were cantering ahead of the car on a single track lane as a courtesy to reach the next passing place and let the [lady of size?] on her way (to the cake sale or whatever).

Seriously though - get over it! I'm a little overweight myself, but I feel alot lighter without the chip on my shoulder...
 
leflynn said:
I've seen our lot out hunting cantering downhill on the wrong side of the road on occasions! :)
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Can't believe you think this is funny. It could explain why a lot of people have no time for hunts.
Would you still think it was funny if it was a group of cyclists - and you met them head on in your car or riding your horse?
 
pennyturner said:
let the [lady of size?] on her way (to the cake sale or whatever).

Seriously though - get over it! I'm a little overweight myself, but I feel alot lighter without the chip on my shoulder...
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