Trotting on the roads - Do you?

Virtually none with my youngster - when my older horse contracted navicular the vets thought it might be partly due to the concussion of much road work (he was a fairly toplevel endurance horse with many miles under his belt). So I'm determined not to make the same mistake with the younger horse - unless we're actually competing, we trot on roads only to get out of the way of hazards.
 
Not a lot mainly because we have fantastic off road hacking and virtually no road work! I hate seeing people hammering along on the roads, but a good working trot on a fit, well shod or trimmed horse is OK I think for short periods of time as part of a fittening regime.

I do think it comes down to knowing your horse, some seem to be able to take it, some can't.
 
I do a huge amount of trotting - especially up hills. I have no off road riding so do all my fittening work walking and trotting around the roads - have done my entire life and i'm yet to own a horse thats gone lame. I guess even though i'm younger i've always been brought up with the old school ideas of fitness training as learnt to ride on a proper hunting yard.
 
i dont.ive had a horse with tendon issues so its made me more aware of being careful with their legs.
i prefere to do my trotting on the beach/bridle paths but thats not a problem as we have loads of lovely ones round here and a huge beach too!
i do lots of walking up hills.walking is one of the best all round exercises for them
 
Top