people jumping on this hard ground

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Gembo

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im not sure if its the same all over the country but where we are there hasnt been rain for nearly 6 weeks. the ground is too hard to do any work other than on a surface however people continue to go out competing at hunter trials ect. bit different at abe because they look after there ground but local hunter trials the ground is like a road. today our friendd went to a x country course for school but the ground was rock hard surely this isnt good for any horse? did i mention these same people also went to a hunter trial yesterday?
 
I know what you mean, but then I think it also depends on the horse.

You know if you have a horse who likes the ground rattling, and whose legs can stand up to it, so if this is the case, why not? Lots of pointers would run on the road if they could, and do more damage to themselves jumping out of soft ground, so I think it does depend on the horse...

Saying that, I wouldn't jump any of mine on this ground, as none of them could handle it - they're all far too precious!
 
Was at a xc course on peat soil today and the ground was perfect but where my horse lives most of it is to hard so realy depends.
 
I wonder how they cope in countries where it's always too hard?? Hmmm.....they get on and ride!! Humans run on tarmac, and we used to regularly trot our funeral Horses 12 miles on tarmac with no ill effect. We are way too soft in the UK. It's either too hot, too cold, too wet, not wet enough or too windy. The only thing that ever stops me is when the snow gets too deep (ie over a foot) or ice. In winter that regularly means going a couple of weeks but as soon as the snow has melted to a rideable depth I'm away out. As for hard ground, I would still jump but I don't jump any bigger than 3'6" really so it's fine.
 
Same here, still large muddy areas, starting out on a hack with horses legs covered in mud, (funny! how that bothers me ) as dont mind returning from a hack that way.
 
The ground here is getting hard now too. My horse has stopped trying to piss off with me all the time on hacks so he's noticed it too!

It depends on your horse I think. Mine hates hard ground so I don't run him on it. Aside from the worry about his legs, he wouldn't jump well and it would be a waste of entry fees.

I'm hoping to do my next hunter trial at the end of the month but will have to see how it goes - fingers crossed for a bit of rain!
 
Yea I also think it depends on your horse. Our ground is either p**s wet through or rock hard, no in-between! We don't have access to an arena or any hacking without getting the box out, so the riding has to be done in the field. We've had the pony for 3 years & (I'm touching wood here) have never had a single injury. A different pony would prob be a different situation I'm sure!! xx
 
I am avoiding fast work and jumping with more sensitive horses - oldies and brokenies!
My younger and fit(ter!) horses, however, are running as usual. My barefoot horses don't even seem to have noticed that we are currently riding on rock.
 
soft ground actually causes many more injuries than hard ground anyway.

as long as the horse is used to the ground (e.g. not schooling 6 x a week on surface then going for a gallop on grass) imo it won't cause issues presuming you aren't jumping Badminton sized fences.

my mare actually likes to run on ground similar to concrete and hates any sort of cut in the ground so we are eventing tomorrow :)
 
taz jumps better when the ground is a bit harder we are "lucky" that we have rain quite often enough to keep the ground from going solid, i dont jump if its too soft as it can cause more injuries than the hard ground does especially when taz is used to doing a lot of work on roads etc and is never up nor down
 
I am considering doing a hunter trial tomorrow and I will walk the course later before I make my mind up.

I have had some horses that will go on any ground and some that didn't like firm. I have found that lighter horse don't mind the firm and as I will be riding a light to middle weight 14.2 and jumping only 2'3" I don't think firm going will be a problem, but if it is firm AND rutted I won't go. I would not have considered it if I had a big or HW horse or if the jumps were much bigger.
 
It has been said that repeated work on hard ground may have future effects in regards to injuries/degeneration, but soft ground can cause very immediate damages!

Over here, majority of the eventing seasons are run during the dry seasons, hence on hard ground. Even when wet, the top few inches or so are muddy whilst underneath the ground is still hard. Makes an interesting riding surface!

As long as there has been good legging up work on firm surfaces the legs should be fine! A good icing plan is probably a good idea too, I ice after every non-arena session followed by a poultice.

Preparation is the key, as long as they are prepared you needn't worry about hurting them!
 
I won't even canter on ground if there isn't a bite in the ground, let alone jump. But it is horses for courses, my choice , my horse.

Jane
 
henry cecil was interviewed on the tv the other about his horse frankel he was saying how he wasnt sure how well frankel would do because hed only had one run on the grass because of the hard ground
 
It's too hard to jump or canter on the grass here IMO, but our sand school has gone horribly deep. I lunged last night in the field (just walk and trot) as I considered the field (even though it's hard) to be better than a dangerously deep sand school, where suspensorys can be easily pulled.
 
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