Cantering on hard ground?

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Gorgeous George

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Is it ok to have a little canter on the ground at the moment out hacking as I am aware it is pretty hard due to the serious lack of rain? I am always mega careful as George does have windgalls and I don't want to stress his legs unnecessarily but I'm wondering if it would be ok to have a little canter when we hack (2-3 times a week)? We have a farm ride with mown field edges so there is a good covering of grass but the ground is obviously pretty hard underneath.

I'm not talking about a gallop just a short gentle canter, it's just that I seem to have rediscovered my cantering on hacks confidence :) and I don't want to lose it - but of course I wouldn't dream of doing something that would be detrimental to George.

Thanks :)
 
I wouldn't canter on the ground with how it is at the moment, it's like concrete!!

However, I'm sure lots of people would.
 
I've not been cantering on it with my 15yo TB. Maybe if there's a good covering of grass and you're going veryy veryy steady then maybe, but i wouldn't :) xxx
 
I'm lucky as iv got a wood chip canter so can carry on with fast work as normal. And is watered reg at the mo to keep the dust level down. I wouldn't canter in the fields as they are no. Although I did hear a vet say once that cantering is less stressful and less jaring on the legs than trotting on the road!!!!
 
I would, with no problematic leg conditions (F has windgalls but he gets them in the field in this weather, and cantering out doesn't make them any worse) but I suppose I am biassed, being lucky enough to have a choice of grassland to ride on: theres always somewhere not as hard as the rest.

I think its your judgement call, GG :) based on how he seems to cope with it. I think if you're sensible and read your horse, and don't go over the top, I really don't think the odd short canter will be a problem, and as you say, it will be nice to keep your confidence levels up. :)
 
I've also heard the 'fact' that cantering on a hard surface is actually less detrimental than trotting because it doesn't jar the legs. Also, as the vet we have said (though not to us) that even galloping on a hard surface is something horses were built to do in a sense. In the wild, they'd go from walking alone munching grass to gallop if need be, better than being eaten I guess... Therefore in a way it's less stressful than things such as dressage, which is rather unnatural (especially when you think of how long a horse would be asked to do flatwork for).
If there's a good covering of grass, I'd think it'd be fine to have a brief canter :) After all, my lad cantered a few hundred meters down the road last night - no, not intentionally - and he's fine :P
Seriously, as much as I love my horses, I do think we almost treat them too well....
 
It is a judgement call - and yes I agree probably no worse than trotting on the road, it would depend on grass covering. just after hay has been cut you sometimes get a bit softer ground, also I feel a bit better about a short stretch up hill.

I don't canter on this ground with my boy. I'm so careful these days about taking it steady on hard ground. There are some sandy woods I use for canter work.

I'm not sure if its worth it though because the idiot still gallops round in the field!!
 
I would- short bursts of slow and steady will put no more pressure on his legs than trotting on the roads....... and horses till leg it round the fields on this ground without damaging themselves!
 
I wouldn;t, but then I don't like trotting on the roads either! Take your chance as soon as it rains!
 
Just like you, I too have just discovered my confidence again for cantering out in the open
so I know how you feel! yesterday I rode on a couple or grassy tracks around fields and some of them where the grass has near enough worn away the ground is like concrete so the most I did was walk, but where there was decent grass cover I had a bit of a trot and a short canter and I'd be happy to do the same again. I think you just have to use your own judgement. I certainly wouldn't want to hammer my George's legs just for the sake of my own fun, It's just a shame he doesn't have his own best interests in mind when he's galovanting around the field with his mates lol!
 
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