Trotting on roads..

[spookypony]

Yup! I try to avoid the roads because of maniac drivers, but there's a short bit we have to go on, and the pony really seems to like trotting along there. In the winter, the off-road path to a show venue was inaccessible, so we had to go by road. We were usually very late, so trotting along rather quickly!

 

[merlinsquest]

Not if I can help it

Arthritic fetlock and bone spurs in hocks means it is a tad unwise

 

[wildpoppywild]

yes but as others say not too much, prefer to trot on softer forrest trails etc

 

[Doormouse]

I try to only trot uphill when I'm on the roads because I always worry about the concussion.

 

[katie_and_toto]

Yes, but only for short distances and slowly

 

[debsflo]

yes but only for short periods steadily and preferably uphill.i dont really like to as think it causes concussion prefer to use verge if i can

 

[spotty_pony]

Yes but only for short times and steadily.

 

[Donkeymad]

Yes, and sometimes for fair distances. If we don't trot while in harness the horses would struggle to get up the hills.

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

Yes and sometimes for 5-10 mins at a time. I'd rather trot steadily on the roads rather than on a track where she could go down a dip and hurt herself. Its like Watership down round our way and I worry about holes!!

 

[Boysy]

Yes, always have done, mine are barefoot so the concussion is far less than with shoes and they have better grip on tarmac even when its wet.

No different to trotting on hard summer ground and our tracks have been hard as nails for the last few weeks until the rain last night and all that has done is made the top soil slippery, still rock hard underneath.

 

[Bess]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, always have trotted on roads. It's good for building up strength in the legs. Good for fitness. Good for getting places quicker!

I've never heard such tosh about not trotting on roads. Horses trotted everywhere in the old days before cars...why shouldn't we trot on roads?

Now cantering on the road is completely different....

[/ QUOTE ]

No doubt about it yes to trotting on roads. I've been riding for over 40 years and have never had a problem with trotting horses on roads. Where there is a hill we will trot up it, good for getting the back end to work.

 

[pricklyflower]

Nope, not if I can help it. Old boy has ringbone so a definate no-no and I'd worry about concussion etc with my HW cob, I never ride him on hard ground, always on a surface after my old boy having problematic legs (probably a bit too paranoid about it but *touch wood* had him for 6 years and never a day lame).

 

[amandaco2]

i will trot for very short periods,
same cautions as if the ground was rock hard.
mine are barefoot.
dont like doing lots of trotting on any hard ground.
plus if ned spooks it tend to be harder to sit than if they were in walk.

 

[ickelshadow]

QR

yes in moderation with the share horse

however, it was extremely rare that i did with my own horse. not that i care less for the share horse's welfare, but shadow was quite old and had had a period of about 30months where she was crippled lame and her ligaments/tendons seemed to be a bit dodgy. i would walk on roads for a max of 30-40 on any ride. hard ground just didn't suit her and made her a bit pottery, she was far happier at any speed on any other surface