Cantering on road your opinions

[MadBlackLab]

Passed some hunt members on road earlier and two were trotting and two were cantering their horses on the road. I personally don't agree to cantering on the road cause of damage it can do to the horses legs. What your views (I mean controlled cantering, not bolting or running away)?

 

[Bay TB]

I wouldn't intentionally canter on roads! We'll always wait to hit a softer track or field before cantering on a hack.

 

[Mince Pie]

I think it depends on if your horse is shod. If the horse is unshod then I think a controlled, steady canter is better on the joints than a trot. But you do have to build up to it!

 

[ester]

even if shod I think a controlled canter can be better than a spanking trot out hunting- particularly if you own a rather 'slammy' breed like a welshie

 

[be positive]

I would not canter on the roads in normal circumstances but out hunting it is often easier for the horse to canter, they will sometimes get really strong and fight if held in trot but happily settle in a steady canter so then I would let it rather than keep pulling it back.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Agree with the general view, obviously not for prolonged periods but when they are unshod they wont slip, which is the danger with steel shoes, road work has to be built up over maybe three months.
Traditionally hunt horses come in in August and walk on the roads for 6 weeks, up to two hours per day. This was once the only the only way to ensure the majority would be sound by the end of the season, obviously things have changed, with walkers in most big yards, but big hunt horses still need a lot of work and the legs are expected to be hard as iron.
People are shocked when I say I have had a wee canter on the road up a little slope[barefoot] but it is not as if he has been pulled out of a field after a summer off.

 

[biggingerpony]

Out on a hack I wouldn't (well not intentionally!!).. Out hunting I probably would for short periods

 

[MadBlackLab]

I would not canter on the roads in normal circumstances but out hunting it is often easier for the horse to canter, they will sometimes get really strong and fight if held in trot but happily settle in a steady canter so then I would let it rather than keep pulling it back.

This describe how the cantering horses look and I can see the reasons behind it thank you

 

[AmyMay]

Yes I've done it out hunting as it's often preferable to a hard slamming trot.

 

[ElleSkywalker]

I don't like it but....... my pony can be a swine & try & do a super fast trot so I would rather her canter at a steady, often slower than her trot pace, for a bit till she settles than scrap with her resulting in her ppounding more in objection to being made to trot slower iyswim

 

[Holzdweaver]

My boy is cantered on the road as part of his fitness regime, he hasnt got shoes on and so i feel fine doing it. If i didnt, he would barely be able to canter at all as i have to box to a school and there are hardly any off road tracks round here. Im only allowed to school in the field if its very, very dry. He gets built up to it over the course of a few months, same as i would if i was fittening a horse on any surface.
The roads we canter on have pretty good visibility, one stretch about a mile and a half long (obviously dont canter the whole lot!!) we can see for miles and have tons of warning before a car approaches, its a shame the verge has such huge drainage ditches else id use that too.

 

[The wife]

Never (intentionally) while hacking but yes very much so out hunting. Would much prefer a steady balanced canter on the road to a hard trot. It makes me grimace a little when I see some absolutely hammering down the road in trot on exercise but that's each to their own

 

[Buddy'sMum]

Nope, no cantering on the road for me, even though mine are unshod.
Took me a long time to get used to shod horses blasting past me on the road on pleasure and endurance rides. Actually, I lie, I'm still not used to it.

 

[kerrieberry2]

my mare used to break in to canter on the roads all the time but I would always have to bring her back into trot!! shes the sort of horse that wants to trot if I want to walk, to canter if I want to trot, to gallop if I want to canter and to bolt if I want to gallop!! even now at the grand old age of 28 her bones and feet are totally fine! even after chucking me on the floor and galloping for 5 miles down country lanes on her own (fully shod) but I think I've just been very lucky with her! there is no way my baby will get away with it once he's backed!