Cantering on Roads

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BusyBee3293

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Just seen a post about someone cantering on the roads..

I've always been taught that this is a big no no and makes sense that it could be damaging to horses legs but i am interested to know other peoples views
 
I wouldn't normally canter on a hard surface, however I do feel cantering (in a controlled manner) is better than a hard jolting trot.

The only time I have cantered on the road is when out hunting and to keep up, not a lot of choice, everyone else was.
 
If you have shoes on a horse then it's probably really dangerous, in that they could easily slip. I think lots of trotting on roads is not a good idea as it's too concussive. I've been brought up to think that cantering on roads is a definite no no, though I have done it a few times unintentionally!!
 
We occasionally canter on roads out hunting, but try to get on the verges where possible.

Some hold the theory that cantering on the roads is actually less concussive than a fast trot, but have no idea if that is true! Also this is why hunters are often fittened by roadwork, as 'hardens' their legs to it, but on an unfit horse do not think cantering on the roads is wise.

I have had two horses that have hunted many seasons, so must have experinced a fair amount of road hammering, and don't show any signs of suffering, but do have them on a joint supplement for peace of mind.
 
Only time I've cantered, is when I have no choice! The one time I hunted and the one time Ned bolted. On the hunt, it was a nice steady canter, but when he bolted it was scary, but it was only a few strides.

I was always taught not to canter.
 
I would have thought that cantering is less concussive on roads. Out hunting, on my old welsh cob, people would be cantering on roads, and he would be doing a huge extended trot which felt much safer...
 
That would be my post I'm assuming!!

Mouse is exceptionally sure footed (bearing in mind I ride Jazz who trips badly then I could cope pretty well) and doesn't slip etc. He hasn't been out of the field for weeks. He's got a section of hard standing to use whenever he likes but hasn't been able to stretch his legs.

We had a canter for all of 10 strides on a safe, slightly uphill section of road with good visibility and no cars. I would never canter jazz on the road but mouse is used to cantering on the road when I took him hunting - it's better for him to be in a bouncy canter to keep up with the hunters rather than trotting hell for leather and getting concussion in his feet.

It also wasn't intentional today. He's just a fun little pony who just wanted to stretch his legs!
 
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I will canter along side the road if the verge looks nice but not on the tarmac unless something goes wrong. That said when old dear was lorried home after a fall by the road b1 followed that lorry flat out and was only moments behind it but I didn't know if old dear would make it and was desperate to be there if it was the end.
 
Eriskayowner said:
That would be my post I'm assuming!!

Mouse is exceptionally sure footed (bearing in mind I ride Jazz who trips badly then I could cope pretty well) and doesn't slip etc. He hasn't been out of the field for weeks. He's got a section of hard standing to use whenever he likes but hasn't been able to stretch his legs.

We had a canter for all of 10 strides on a safe, slightly uphill section of road with good visibility and no cars. I would never canter jazz on the road but mouse is used to cantering on the road when I took him hunting - it's better for him to be in a bouncy canter to keep up with the hunters rather than trotting hell for leather and getting concussion in his feet.
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Yes, no harm meant it just intrigued me :) i have only ever when i havent meant to but i see the hunt doing it all the time
Also, people i used to ride out with would trot literally sooooo fast i could never keep up but i always tried to keep him in trot, however reading the posts it sounds as though a steady canter would be less strain that the crazy trot i would have to do to keep up...
 
BusyBee3293 said:
Yes, no harm meant it just intrigued me :) i have only ever when i havent meant to but i see the hunt doing it all the time
Also, people i used to ride out with would trot literally sooooo fast i could never keep up but i always tried to keep him in trot, however reading the posts it sounds as though a steady canter would be less strain that the crazy trot i would have to do to keep up...
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Sounds like they don't care much for their horses legs. Trotting on the road isn't brilliant for them - either ask them to slow down, or find other people to ride with. Cantering would be a better plan than trotting flat out though :)
 
Eriskayowner said:
Sounds like they don't care much for their horses legs. Trotting on the road isn't brilliant for them - either ask them to slow down, or find other people to ride with. Cantering would be a better plan than trotting flat out though :)
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Ive moved yards now, i fancy trying out hunting so thats the next quest
 
Canter my barefooters on the lanes quite often in winter, to be honest it's safer for them than cantering in the bogs that we have as bridle paths at the moment and much the same as cantering on rock hard ground in summer and belting round the field as they do, without shoes there's less concussion to be fair hence it's never bothered me.
 
Barefoot horses can canter as much as you want on roads no problem. The shock absorbers in the feet work fine.
Shod horses will damage their joints and leg bones, the steel shoes stop the hoof from absorbing the impact as they should.
 
Boysy said:
Canter my barefooters on the lanes quite often in winter, to be honest it's safer for them than cantering in the bogs that we have as bridle paths at the moment and much the same as cantering on rock hard ground in summer and belting round the field as they do, without shoes there's less concussion to be fair hence it's never bothered me.
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I choose tarmac to canter my barefoot horses because it is a more reliable surface. Its flat,without hidden rabbit holes,bogs and logs and I can see and avoid stones.
I only every do a few strides.I also school alot out hacking so transitions to canter from walk,halt and rein back are terrific tools when you do not have a school to do circles.
 
I only have once and that was by accident - the canter was sideways as there was a very scary man with a guitar... :rolleyes:

However, I have seen driving horses cantering on the road plenty of times - maybe to get momentum for going uphill?
 
Cantering is actually less concussive on the legs on hard surfaces than trotting is so it is actually fine for barefoot horses but as others have said, it isn't safe to do it with horses who wear shoes as they might slip. The only time I have done it is out hunting - and not through choice!!
 
I went to a BD organised vet talk, with a very good vet - where the vet first said that a lot of dressage folk would probably be shocked/offended by his next comment... and then said that he recommended a small amount of canter on roads/hard surfaces. His theory being that if you never effectively put the legs under increased strain, you aren't actually 'hardening' them all all. Bit like to increase your fitness you have to push & do more, or you don't actually get fitter. :)
 
I trained my point-to-pointer to win by trotting up lots of hills (on the roads) but actually cantering him might have been better (ish) a couple of winters ago when we had snow, I galloped in up the roads and it was a lot less expensive than paying gallop fees.........I think a lot depends on how your horse canters - i.e. is he a horse who prefers hard going to soft, and its action predetermines that.
 
Pale Rider said:
Barefoot horses can canter as much as you want on roads no problem. The shock absorbers in the feet work fine.
Shod horses will damage their joints and leg bones, the steel shoes stop the hoof from absorbing the impact as they should.
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It was always drummed in to me that you should never canter on roads, then i remember a few years ago, a report said it was better to canter on roads than trot hard and fast.

My horses are all barefoot now, i might just give it a go down a quiet lane lol
 
I don't normally intend to canter on the road, but the mare has been known to do a hand canter occaisionaly :eek: I too was brought up to believe it was a no no, but I think that was to do with a combination of slippy surfaces and traffic. I was also taught NOT to EVER hammer a horse in trot, but to keep the horse to a sensible pace. I do get annoyed with people on hacks who do allow their horses to hammer on, on the forehand and with the horse dictating how they go.
 
The issues are the concussion and the speed/slip risk. I wouldn't think that tarmac is any harder than sun-baked tracks in the height of summer (obviously not this year! :p) but there is definitely more risk of slipping on tarmac. Perhaps as a three-time gait there is less force on their legs than the two-time trot....
 
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