Do you canter on roads?

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moneypit1

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Ok, so tell me, when is it ok? I have ALWAYS been taught that cantering on roads as well as flat out trotting is bad, concussion wise etc. And yet, (correct me if i'm wrong) when hunting, peeps do all of this. So WHY is it the unmentionable? I only trot on roads either very collected in an outline or a slow jog. I would NEVER deliberately canter or extended trot on tarmac. This is the main reason why I would not go hunting. Ok, so, I actually like to see foxes and love wildlife, but it is mainly because I do not like the strain put on my horse. Expalin it to me please.......
 
I have done once out hunting because it was that or allow her to trot really fast and it seemed the lesser of two evils. I didn't like the idea but was very careful to be steady, it wasn't a long distance and she seemed fine afterwards
 
No I wouldn't dream of cantering on roads and I hate trotting (unless uphill) but strangely, with hunting anything seems to go! Hate it though and consider it a complete no-no and incredibly dangerous!
 
I have on occasions trotted flat out, normally if I see a tractor approaching so I can get out the way fast. I have cantered a couple of times, not out of choice.
 
I've watched folk do it but i don't even think my horse would contemplate it...we do trot though as she is quite forward on the roads however am cautious downhill as she can slip so tend to walk
 
I have done a few times and I also trot my horses on roads fast sometimes
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When I sit and think about this I know it can't be good for their legs
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but mine have all been ok (no lameness issues etc). Perhaps I have just been lucky.
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I have done a few times and I also trot my horses on roads fast sometimes
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When I sit and think about this I know it can't be good for their legs
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but mine have all been ok (no lameness issues etc). Perhaps I have just been lucky.
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So why then?
 
I think it is a case of sometimes you have to. Horses get wound up etc and off they go.

Of course it would not be sensible to do this kind of thing everyday but sometimes you have to/have no choice!
 
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I think it is a case of sometimes you have to. Horses get wound up etc and off they go.

Of course it would not be sensible to do this kind of thing everyday but sometimes you have to/have no choice!

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Exactly.

TBH I can't see how cantering is worse than a flat out trot which many people do do. (I know Moneypit you say you don't so fair enough - but sometimes there is a need for it)
I would NEVER ask my horse for canter on the road mind.
 
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I think it is a case of sometimes you have to. Horses get wound up etc and off they go.

Of course it would not be sensible to do this kind of thing everyday but sometimes you have to/have no choice!

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Exactly.

TBH I can't see how cantering is worse than a flat out trot which many people do do. (I know Moneypit you say you don't so fair enough - but sometimes there is a need for it)
I would NEVER ask my horse for canter on the road mind.

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I actually feel a canter would be less harmful than a fast trot TBH.
 
Only reason you *shouldn't* is mostly because you don't want to slip over!!! Also I watch plenty of people canter their horses in the summer on ground that is hard as nails and they never bat an eyelid at doing so
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I trot on roads, at least twice a week - and whilst I won't intentionally canter on roads out hunting, sometimes it happens and hey ho the merry oh sometimes things happen! People treat their horses like glass these days and we wonder why tendon etc probs are on the up - it is usually because legs are not *hardened up* anymore.
 
Was carted at canterdown Waddesdon Manors spiral downhill drive on tarmac at hunt, does that count? :-)))))
Horsie wanted to see the hounds....

Apart from that, Im quite relaxed about trotting on roads, maybe as my mare doesnt have shoes to add concussion. But I wouldnt do it for miles on end. And if the ground EVER stops being so deep off road, I trot there too. Partly to get horsie fit, and fitter horse less likely to be injured etc when we go and do stuff, so its swings and roundythings I think.
 
Have done out hunting. Doesnt seem to have done my young horse any harm. No worse than eventing on some of the ground people seem to think is acceptable IMHO!!!
 
Had holiday ride from hell in Greece. Didn't just canter on roads, but went flat out gallop. Was horrendous. Apart from utter danger of it, just felt awful for horse - never again.
 
Why? because sometimes when hunting or another excitable siutation, you dont have a choice if your horse is of that "ilk". NO amount of pulling or sitting nice and quiet in the saddle will make my oldie trot any speed if there are hounds in front or one of his mates going without him on a hack!

Its not great and I try to avoid it but its never lamed any of mine or caused any problems, I would be more worried about slipping than damage.

Horses have trotted on roads for years and IMHO people are far too soft these days. I dont say canter on a hack but sometimes maybe 3 times a year I may have no choice but to let a horse canter for a little way on the road to catch up and then calm down.

Everyone I know who doesnt trot on roads ends up having a horse who is so soft it goes lame on the slightest hard ground or has other issues.

(runs and hides
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Only ever canter on the road by accident, ie the mare wants to but I don't lol. I do trot on the road and always have. IMHO it is often better than in deep holding mud.
 
Mine canters on the road out hunting. Ususally just after the meet when we set of and he's keen. They are all trotting anyway, and if I insist on him trotting, he's an absolute plank, and actually pulled off a front shoe once by standing on it when leaping about.

Actually, I'd argue that there's less concussion in me doing a nice collected canter, than him charging along on his forehand trying to p*** of with me.

When not hunting I don't even trot on the roads.
 
I have cantered on roads out hunting. Ok, its not ideal, but my horse hasn't given me a lot of choice (one of the reasons he doesn't go hunting any more!). I am careful when hacking, don't jump on rock hard ground etc but at the end of the day, I keep my horse to go out and have fun with. I could maybe wrap him in cotton wool and keep him til he was 30 - but we would both be bored so what would be the point.
We also trot on roads and tracks when we hack out - otherwise it would take us hours to get anywhere.
 
Yep, nearly every hack, as soon as I turn for home she is off sideways. Trying to get her to go slower is even worse. And that is why I don't really go hacking. I've even got off and led her home once.
 
I would never canter on the roads. We do trot on the roads but as our horses are barefoot it isn't particularly concussive for them. Most of our riding is off road though to avoid nutters in cars.
 
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Only reason you *shouldn't* is mostly because you don't want to slip over!!! Also I watch plenty of people canter their horses in the summer on ground that is hard as nails and they never bat an eyelid at doing so
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I trot on roads, at least twice a week - and whilst I won't intentionally canter on roads out hunting, sometimes it happens and hey ho the merry oh sometimes things happen! People treat their horses like glass these days and we wonder why tendon etc probs are on the up - it is usually because legs are not *hardened up* anymore.

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Thanks Weezy you just saved me a load of typing!!
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Not intentionally (but I honestly don't think anyone would intentionally, appart from our pikey friends!!
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, who love to hammer up the road). On hunts the horses are just too wound up and those at the back get drag along with those at the front (and yes end up going faster than they would like). I did once gallop up the road (riding and leading), when the horses were spooked by a train (7 horses and 4 riders, make quite a chatter, thank god it was a quiet road and slightly up hill as it a while for us to stop).
 
NO WAY!!!
Why damage your horses legs or put it at risk of getting injured? Its your choice iff you canter on the road, even when you are out hunting. I gentally trot on roads
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NO WAY!!!
Why damage your horses legs or put it at risk of getting injured? Its your choice iff you canter on the road, even when you are out hunting. I gentally trot on roads
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Really? How about you spend a meet on my hunter and then tell me it's still your choice which gait you're in.
 
i have to say when i was younger i cantered on the roads when out hunting, beacuse i had no choice. i couldnt stop my pony at the best of times, and when the rest of the field cantered off i had to follow. i suppose you could say i made that choice by following the hunt in the first place.
now i have a 4yo sports horse, and i dont even like trotting ont he roads, let alone cantering.
i am very particualr about ground, and wouldnt dream of doing fast work on hard ground in the summer, some people may think im over protective, but i just value his legs
 
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