Dangerous road surfaces

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Patchworkpony

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Does anyone have any ideas about riding safely on the shiny new tarmac that is replacing the old fashioned tarmac on country lanes? We looked at house to buy last week that had great riding on an open common BUT only after you had braved about a mile of deadly 'up hill and down dale' road surface that was like glass. The seller of the house admitted that horses have slipped over on it.

Is there a solution (road studs don't work) or is hackly almost finished in this brave new modern world we now are all forced to live in? Have any of you guys ever had a horse slip over on this new tarmac? I have and believe me it is very frightening!
 
We had a stretch of road done like this a while ago, and luckily my mare was fine as she doesnt have shoes, but friends horses who are shod slipped quite badly.
Unfortunately it was a case of avoiding it, I have no idea if it became better over time as I have sinced moved my mare from that yard, but I would imagine after a time it wouldnt be so slippery? Or perhaps wishful thinking :)
 
Road nails - ask your farrier if suitable for your horse. Sorry just read that they don't work for you, they have always helped me but I guess they don't work for everyone
 
It's called SMA Stone Mastic Asphalt, they use it quite a bit these days. It last longer, and is quieter and smoother to drive on. It's won't always be like that, give it a while and it won't be as slippery when the bitumen oxidises a bit. The reason it's slippery is because it has quite a high bitumen content, they use cellulose fibres to bind it together. 6 months or so it should be fine. We have some near us and it was lethal to ride on to start with, it's fine now. I use to work in this industry, so know what it's like, when it was first introduced to this country we use to get a lot of complaints about it being slippery!
 
road nails are a defo! may be put more than one in? or try a different type? our farrier uses quite long 'spikey bits' and this seems to improved grip no-end
may be a shoe with more grip? my boy wears aluminium racing plates (veterinary reason) and doesnt slip at all now.... and our roads are like ice. though they wear out quickly
may be mention it to the bhs? aren't they trying to sort things like this out? really should mention some of the ones round here...... im suprised a vehicle can get up them!
 
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