Hard ground

Madam_max

Madam_max

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Anyone elses horses feeling it at the moment? I am down south and we haven't had any rain for ages. I was due to take madam to a show tomorrow, but she had also had an allergic reaction to something. The vet looked at her and said the reaction would be fine by the morning after some Steroids. However, she sprained a front suspensory last year and she was a bit off last week. He checked her leg and her feet and said she's feeling the ground. I have made the decision not to take her tomorrow. Just not worth the risk.
 
Hi, I'm North Scotland and like you, we haven't had rain for weeks other than a few paltry showers that came to nothing. My Highland is fine with the ground although I'm being careful not to do too much - it's not worth the risk. We have a couple of shows coming up and if we don't get some rain, I won't go.

My New Forest on the other hand likes to career around the field and has a couple of bumps on her legs and I'm sure it's a result of the ground being too hard. What can you do? :/

Hope your mare is feeling better soon x
 
I know the feeling, my youngster likes to run round like an idiot when turned out and has thrown a b****y splint!! Taking it really easy them all and only going to shows on allweather surfaces. Hope we get a bit of rain soon as the fields really need it
 
I'm in SE too and the ground is rock hard. Managed to have a little canter on the common today on thick grass, but haven't been to any shows for weeks and don't plan to unless we have rain.

We're just walking and occasionally having a little trot on sandy areas out hacking and / or going in the school. I'm thinking about planning a trip down to the beach just so we can have a good blast!!
 
I highly recommend the beach. I'm really lucky as it's a 20 minute walk to the beach so Tilly does still get a canter now and again IF I can convince her to stop playing in the water. My hacking is mainly on roads due to no bridle paths on in that respect - the grounds alright.

Schooling (in a fenced off part of field) on the other hand is a nightmare especially as I want to get her going.

The new forest youngster is going to be the bane of my life with the hard ground me thinks. She's galloping around and wheeling in tight circles as I shut my eyes and pray she stays sound. 3 years old and obviously knows better than me!

Apparently we're in for rain tomorrow (I hope so).
 
If you have an Aldi's near you, see if they have any 20 mtr irrigation hoses left, connect to a regular hose and they are a godsend, I wish I had got more, our horses also appreciate the fine spray it produces. We are in Northumberland and our fields are cracking it's so hot and we have had some very welcome rain
 
Its a nightmare here too although we had some rain lst week and more is forecast this week.

Our mare has arthritic knees so not good for her and our boy has a splint so when they bomb around the field I threaten to wrap them in bubble wrap and cant look!
 
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