Opinions re trotting on the roads?

Its good for developing bone density as long as you dont go crackers and only while the bones are still maturing, after that its detrimental. Always detrimental for tendons
 
I do a large amount of trotting on the roads to keep my horse endurance fit - the only lameness that we have ever had was a small strain from working through very heavy soft going on a moorland ride.

I have no problem and never will have a problem with trotting on the road - you just have to obviously be sensible with the pace - pikey pace is not on, but that is more so because they are more likely to slip up.
 
Its very interesting hearing everyones opinion on this,and having a healthy debate on it(after all this is what a forum is for!)
To be honest,if i want to go hunting(and that is what i keep my horses for)i need to trot on the roads,and will keep doing so the way i have done it for years,without any problems.
The world would be a very boring place if we were all the same!
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Well what about driving a horse? Okay they dont have weight on their back but they are still trotting!

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We drive and we usually trot up hills because it is easier for horses in harness.
 
I know a lot of people dont do it, but I have always done lots of trotting on the road with driving ponies and riding horses, and never yet had it cause any problems, that said my horses all have good front legs and feet, it was never even a problem for my aged (30+) pony who was fit as a fiddle until she was PTS.
 
On a tangent - with regards to putting tendon boots on - they don't actually support the tendons they merely protect against strike injuries.

Thought I'd point that out as I only found out myself the other day!

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Thats logically about tendon boots and something that is the same with all boots except the "wrap" types.

Regarding trotting on roads, I will in moderation, but at a steady pace, and where possible up hill.
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We trot on the roads alot. Up and down hill,(not too steep) . The ponies actually find it easier to canter up steep hills driving (not that we let them). In some driving marathons you can have about 10Km on roads that has to be done at a fair lick. None of ours have ever got splints, but ours have all generally had pretty good conformation and a fair bit of bone.
 
When I am getting my boy fit for pleasure rides I trot him everywhere except downhills. So I may do up to 10 miles in trot at any given time apart from downhills. Never had any problems.
 
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On a tangent - with regards to putting tendon boots on - they don't actually support the tendons they merely protect against strike injuries.

Thought I'd point that out as I only found out myself the other day!

w

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I didn't know that either! Thanks for that
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Is there anything that can be used?
 
I very rarely hack but would never trot on roads. I used to hack a lot when I was a kid and regularily trot on the road, my pony ended up with laminitis which we believe was concussive. I dont know if trotting on roads caused it but Im sure it wouldn't have helped.
 
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The only things that will "support" are the sports medicine or wrap type boots or bandages done well.

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but what about the extra heat generated by those?isnt that supposed to be detrimental too?
 
Yep, I wont use them, as thick neoprene will make anything "sweat" IMHO. I will use well fitted bandages occasionally but generally favout normal brushing boots and open fronted tendon boots for hacking/schooling etc
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I'm curious, don't all boots (eg brushing boots/exercise wraps) prevent strike injuries to tendons? True tendon boots should have obvious bars inside to offer extra support to the actual tendon shouldn't they? I thought this was the point of tendon boots.
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When my then 14yo endurance Arab was diagnosed with navicular, the vets attributed it in part to conformation (upright pasterns, boxy feet) but mainly to many miles of trotting on roads - believing in the 'strengthens tendons' theory I had been training on roads for years at steady trot, as well as necessarily in competition.

So my youngster only ever trots on roads to get out of traffic, or in competition.
 
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