Trot or canter on hard ground?

[peanut]

A lot of people on my yard say they prefer to canter on hard ground rather than trot as there is less impact on the joints.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[keekee]

I disagree steady trot on tarmac or concrete maybe if in a field where there is a layer of grass to help cusion the impact i would have a steady canter but especially with metal shoes on the concusion and jaring it dose to there joints is immence.... i just value my horses legs as iv had a horse with navicular which was horrible and you know what they say..NO FOOT NO HORSE..

 

[rara007]

I have no problems with trotting on the roads, and TBH havn't heard of people having problems with the legs and concussion except where they pelt the horses down the road either very unfit and on the forehand and only once a month or every day for hours.
I don't know about canter, But my ponio slips on anything resembling a hard field

 

[teddyt]

That is true, there is less concussion in canter than in trot. There is still concussion at either pace though so work on hard ground should be limited

 

[Hippona]

Somebody needs to tell my horses.....they were all belting around the paddock this morning....which is either mud or concrete...this week its concrete....only for a couple of mins, granted.....

 

[melaniemarks]

I tend not to canter on really hard ground as I dont want to risk any sort of damage or injury. Firm grassy ground is fine but would avoid cantering on concrete.
No Foot No Horse as the above says... Good advice.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It is not advisable to trot or canter on hard ground, the impact can start off laminitis. A horse on a yard I was on had laminitis through this & was put down.

 

[Kenzo]

I'd just take it steady with either, the ground is still hard either way, your covering the same distance, all horses are different with it comes to injuring themselves so I dont think there is a hard and fast rule on which is worse, as one horse maybe more likely to sutain injury from canter work than trot or vice versa, which is why some horses perform better on different ground conditions, soft ground can be as equally straining.

 

[mrdarcy]

Research has shown there is much less concussive force in canter than trot - so in theory cantering on hard ground is better than trotting. However especially on a surface like tarmac or concrete there is a greater danger of slipping at canter because of the higher speed.

Personally I'd much rather trot or canter on smooth hard ground than deep sand or mud or or uneven rutted surfaces. Give me risk of concussion over tendon injury any day.

 

[smirnoff_ice07]

I wouldn't actually choose to canter on hard ground, i dont want to risk wrecking his legs. However out hunting my horse sees no reason why he cant do flat out gallop down the middle of the road...