Cantering through open fields

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chancing

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Just curious how many of you do this regularly do you see any benefits or drawbacks?
Are you still doing it with the ground being so hard? and finally if you and your horse had never done it before how would you go about introducing it?

Thanks not for me for a friend who asked but to be honest my answer was 'just kinda did it'
 
No I won't canter or trot on hard ground.

As for how did I introduce it, I just do it, it shouldn't be a big deal if you've schooled your horse. I don't really ever canter in company though, it just encourages problems unless you have very sensible horses.
 
I canter in open fields alot! Not so much at the mo only the fields that are generally too boggy as they are just about perfect now!!
My mare is fine in open spaces and happily goes calmly at my pace....my previous horse did not. So I just took it slow, just riding across a small corner of a field in walk, then slowly introduced trot and canter then gradually introduced the size of the open space till he learnt not to take off like a rocket the second his hooves hit grass!
 
we canter through lots of open fields ground permitting mostly on top of the quantocks- I started taking my chap out and cantering down enclosed tracks and then built up to trotting in field then cantering - first canter in open field was hilarious - i was with an older calm horse but we ended up veering off badly to the left !! rubbish steering and not much better brakes. As he has cantered in open ground from a young age it is no big deal - obviously make sure you dont canter each time but also walk calmly through open land as well.

Most importantly for safety and for confidence for the horse make sure you are with a sensible calm horse the first time and that you get him used to going in front and behind and if possible going off in a different direction (splitting away from other horses - again try this with a calm horse - maybe 3 in a group - one calm one goes one way and you stay with the other to go in a different direction - not at a canter of course !)

Also good idea to canter up hill if possible as much safer than downhill !! x
 
If walking in the field goes ok, trotting is ok, and you reckon you have brakes, just do it, it's easier to canter in a field than in a school

As for hard ground, a gentle canter probably no worse than a fast trot for jarring, wait til it's rained or pick a grassy track
 
Yeh well, the grounds a bit hard for proper galloping but the odd canter may be ok, however I havnt cantered my mare over the ground as I'm trying to save her legs as she jumps pony fox, hope that helped! Xx
 
Lots, but not in a gang anymore as I lost all brakes and fell off like a plum!

Never on hard ground, I'm very selective.

Didn't do it slowly, just went for it. Again.......like a plum!
 
All the time, and its not an issue to be honest, the youngster has to be encouraged to canter under the saddle at first, now he moves nicely, but because he always does it, he doesn't get excited, hes happy to walk over the same fields or canter/gallop x
 
Yes I do for fitness reasons, only got to do it for the first time today after all the rain yesterday. My cob is Mr Sensible so no worries with him, apart from my ringtone - apparently Metallica is the scariest thing on the planet!
 
Thanks for the replies will pass them on your all more help than I was.

Sanolly loving your cob I bought a cob in march and wouldnt turn back now fabulous breed even though many call them slow and ploddy I can guarantee one ride on her and their opinion would change.
 
Canter?
Nope my boy tends to skip this pace in open fields we have jog and gallop.

Sometimes it's a pain in the bum when you want a nice relaxing ride but I really do love it.

When the ground is hard I just stick to road work and schooling as I don't want to risk hurting his legs.
 
We're very lucky to have lots of open fields available to canter on. Although, at the moment taking it easy due to the hard ground.

I have a couple of ex-chasers and in the end I just trusted them to go and both have been incredibly good. If you trust your horse in the school, then I'm sure they'll be fine.

Mine are fine in company but if you are in any doubt either go on your own the first few times or go with a horse you know to be steady and sensible.

Just enjoy it when you get going
 
ive just come in from riding and i was cantering most of the evening thru the fields:)
the biggest being about 30 acres:eek:
on the opposite side of the road was a girl schooloing her horse in the paddock cantering around.
i was concerned when i first did it and even tonight i trotted him abit on the flat then cantered him up a steep bank which just slows him down a little then when i felt he was right off we went:cool:
 
Sanolly said:
Yes I do for fitness reasons, only got to do it for the first time today after all the rain yesterday. My cob is Mr Sensible so no worries with him, apart from my ringtone - apparently Metallica is the scariest thing on the planet!
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HAHA my husband is a firefighter and i have a personalised ringtone for him, which is fire engine sirens, it goes off full blast and horse is fine with it, haha Metallica!!
 
I mostly hack out with my boy and we often canter through open fields. However, I haven't been doing much cantering lately with this hard ground. :( I would go about introducing cantering in an open space by starting by cantering along grassy tracks (e.g on a bridle way) and then, providing I was completely in control I would move on to trotting across an open field and finally cantering. I would always start any canter by trotting first and not just cantering from a walk as this can teach a horse to rush off.
 
Try not to do it too much on very hard ground but canter on open fields and on wide verges even with my young horses, i think if they are allowed to let off steam it makes them more sensible.

I also take them hunting and to the common ridings so cantering in large groups it makes them better rather than worse in my opinion, it can excite them at first but the novelty soon wears off.
 
We have a track the farmer has left for us round the edge of two big fields, it's a good training circuit with up and down hills and turns. Good for fitness training and helping us learn to balance round corners on hills in different paces.

With the weather being so dry they've been watering the fields with these huge water spouts and the track catches the edge of the water so it's like a properly maintained gallop.

I'm lucky in that I have a very well behaved ex racer and he settles into rhythm and happily bowls along.

Only problem is when we spot the water spout dragon....
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
HAHA my husband is a firefighter and i have a personalised ringtone for him, which is fire engine sirens, it goes off full blast and horse is fine with it, haha Metallica!!
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At the moment mine is "Enter Sandman" although I think I may have change it as I nearly ended up in the next county :eek:!! Think Olly's ProPell has kicked in.... ;)
 
Kokopelli said:
Canter?
Nope my boy tends to skip this pace in open fields we have jog and gallop.
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Ha ha, I've had plenty like that!

I regularly canter and gallop in open fields, alone and in company.

I hunt (all be it only occassionally these days) and therefore this is something I have expected all my animals to do reasonably safely.

I still canter on firm ground as long as it isn't rough or rutted and I agree that a steady canter is no more jarring than a good trot.
 
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We arent allowed to go around the margins left by farmers as they are paid to leave that part unseeded and untouched in anyway.

Watch out for potholes as one horse we had broke her leg when galloping through a field.
 
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