Opinions re trotting on the roads?

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05kitty93

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Hi,

I generally don't like trotting on the roads as worried about splints etc. Many riders seem quite happy to have a trot while out hacking. Am I being too cautious? What are you opinions on this?

Thanks
Ruth
 
I trot on the roads when ever I hack-no bridle ways around where we ride so we have to and only the occasional field the farmer lets us in
 
i only trot over the canal bridge other wise i hold up traffic because the traffic lights are really quick only me and one car make it over when im troting and the traffic on the other side starts moving before im over so out of curtousy(sp) for the drivers i trot.

but i am like you and will not trot other wise as i don't like the thought of all the concusion on the joints and my mates know i wont trot on roads so they dont when they ride with me x
 
we trot all the horses, eventers/ponies/show horses/cobs and dont go fast, but keep it steady, and mainly up the hills and on long stretches
 
When I was at my old yard we had to go up this really horrible bit of road so we would trot all the way to the bridle path, and all the way back to the yard again on the way home.

Luckily now I don't have to go on any roads
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I trot everywhere apart from down hill. I don't have a school and the fields are too wet to ride in so I have to hack, so to keep my horses fit I have to trot. I do try to do a steady working trot but on some of the hills the horses have other ideas, not done them any harm.
 
I trot on the roads, mainly to get out of the way of cars as it’s a one car width country lane. We don’t have a massive amount of off road hacking so I do have a trot on the road but not very far and I keep it slowish.
 
I generally don't trot any of my horses on the roads out of personal choice, but i do have lots of off road riding and hire a school. Scientific research has shown that having to trot on the roads to 'harden' the legs is a load of rubbish! the same bone remodelling can be achieved by cantering on a good surface without the excessive concussive forces on the joints.
 
I trot when I hack out, always have and always will.
I have done a lot of trot work with my pony on the roads he is 23 had him for 5 years, he has never for one minute even thought about being lame even with the trot work.
 
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I trot out exercising as it toughens the horses legs up for hunting,and gets them fit

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Hmmm, "toughens up the horses legs" is a very bold statement, which contradicts more recent evidence, and the opinions of many people.

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I was going to say something similar
 
[ QUOTE ]
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I trot out exercising as it toughens the horses legs up for hunting,and gets them fit

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Hmmm, "toughens up the horses legs" is a very bold statement, which contradicts more recent evidence, and the opinions of many people.

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I was going to say something similar

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Baaa! My farrier was telling me the same recently...
 
Trotting on the roads is detrimental to the horses tendons, something you certainly dont want toughened up - in contrast you want them soft and springy. Hard trotting on the roads also causes microfractures in the long bones of the leg, the same thing we get when we run on the roads and get sore shins.
 
I (and many of my hunting friends)have used this method of getting hunters up and fit,not just stamina,but toughening up their legs for years and years and have never had a problem with un soundness or lameness.The only time you get problems is when you dont build your horse up to it.I will continue to use this method as it works for me and my horses.
 
I shall be continuing to use this method as i have just said.
I have trotted horses on the roads for years(not hammering hard) and have never had no problems what so ever.
Tell me how else i am suppost to get horses fit for hunting?
We dont have such luxuries as a menage.
 
I try to go on the track next to the road which is softer but I will trot on the road to get further on my hacks, always at a sensible pace though.
Our hacking is pretty much all road work with the occasional grassy track
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Fields are so boggy now aswell.

I'm a bit worried about it now TBH. I might start putting April's tendon boots on when I go out.
 
The point being made is that there may be no detriment, but there is also, as recent studies have proved, no benefit
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I've been trying to find the article that I read on this about a year ago!
It was proper veterinary research, and they had proved that trotting on the roads is very bad for the horse's legs, due to the amount of concussion.
 
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