'Good Ground'

[YoungEventer]

Okay, now this will probably sound like a really stupid / weird question but here it goes....
How do you tell when the ground is okay to canter/jump on (in a field). It's easy when it's obvious, for example when it's rock solid or marsh you shouldn't really jump... But what about when it's in between! I know that the ground should be 'firm with a bit of give...' But how much give is that supposed to be? I think I know but wanted to hear people's opinions!
Thanks in advance to any of you wonderful people who would like to enlighten me! ;-)

 

[fattylumpkin]

I know most professional eventers jump on ground I'd consider a death trap and manage to do it safely Very interested to hear a more scientific answer on this too

 

[Pigeon]

Also depends on the individual - our two Irish Sports horses (bog ponies lol) are much more footsure in heavy going, whereas the tb struggles!

 

[Polos Mum]

My horse like it on the softer side so if I can hear his feet on the ground it's too hard for him, previous horse have been ok with it firmer.

 

[Lolita]

I always worry about ground too, generally if I hear the feet pounding the ground I say no!

 

[PaddyMonty]

Check the hoof prints after a couple of minutes. If there aren't any its probably too hard, light print is perfect, any sign of elongated prints means your horse is probably slipping a little which is not ideal if schooling to build confidence.

 

[Honey08]

Obviously baked hard ground is not good, at the other end of the scale, really wet, slippery or boggy ground would be iffy too. I think it also depends on what you and your horse are used to. I live in the pennines in really wet fields, so what is good here is probably horrific to some of you with loamy/sandy ground.. I also don't have a school, so my horses are used to working in the field on unlevel, slightly muddy ground. They don't bat an eyelid, but when I first got my mare she was Miss Menage and found it hard to work in the field. She had to adjust..