Trotting on the roads

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I do all the time. It really is the best way of hardening up their legs and i personally think that by doing it carefully (obv. combined with other things) then you will end up with a properly fit horse that is less likely to get injured. We stick to a fairly slow, rhythmical(sp?) trot and mainly on the flat and uphill. I wouldnt go pounding downhill on the roads because here is too much risk off slipping and then i think concussion is more of a factor.
 
In moderation its fine.... My two are both barefoot, so we don't get the same concusion problems as if they were shod. And Ruby's always telling me how much she'd love to canter
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Definately Yay. Trotting on the roads is a big part of the fittening regime for all the horses on the yard. Providing they are ridden properly and trot in a nice steady rhythmn then there should be no damage. This includes downhill as well - but only on a sympathetic slope.

The damage comes from those who allow or make their horses trot at a million miles an hour on tarmac - resulting in concussion to the limbs and feet.
 
I only trot on the road if I have to, to avoid traffic for example. My boy had really bad concussion damage in his front feet when I first got him and the farrier was certain this was caused by his previous owner doing lots of trot work on the road. He wasn't lame with it but when the farrier took off his shoes and trimmed his feet you could see a ring of dark bruised tissue on his soles.

it's really put me off trotting on tarmac since.
 
I put yay, lots of roadwork where I am and mostly hills. I tend not to trot downhill but trot uphill all the time and also on the flat. I would like to say that I only trot at a steady pace but ponio frequently has other ideas
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I've not had any issues so far [touches wood] Pony has legs of iron and is very fit - she can trot for a couple of miles without breaking sweat.
 
I don't see anything wrong with trotting on the roads at a steady pace. I was doing it 15 years ago and I'll do it now.

I really think that people need to chill a bit re. their horses if they're healthy.......agree with K&R comment.
 
I don't, but I hardly ride on the road, and if I do I trot on the grass verges. Chex doesn't have the best joints - no point in aggrivating them for no reason.
 
Not really, I will now more if sitting on a fresh horse or im going up the only 2 hills around our way lol

Remember winston is living proof of what a lot of wear and tear can do to a horse - at only 11 he has ringbone which is limiting what i can do with him.

Even hunting is in doubt now, because of the amount of trotting required on roads.
 
My mare used to canter and occasionally gallop on the roads, didn't seem to do her any harm, didn't do my heart or nerves much good!

I remember the summer a stretch of the road was resurfaced and for some reason it went 'spongy', and was like trotting on a trampoline, she loved that, and if I ventured out on the road she'd drag me in that direction and start pogo-ing
 
L_O cantering (although not advisable) is less concussion on a horses legs than trotting.
We have a road similar to how you describe - is brilliant isnt it
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I dont mind trotting on that either.
 
Ours do almost all their work trotting a in driving it is whats required. We even trot down hillas the weight of the carriage pushing on them helps them develop their balance if they are already fairly good, slippy roads we try to avoid as its not woth the risk.
H
 
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