Whats best, hard ground or heavy going.

[Louby]

My boy is a fatty at the moment and feeling very well! so Im trying to increase his workload. The school is dry and riding deep and the fields are rock hard, which do you think is the best and least likely to cause any problems when lunging and schooling? Im hacking too but its so hard we are mainly walking which isnt going to burn many calories or get rid of his excess spooky energy.

 

[TiaPony]

i'd prefer to use the deep school
x

 

[Louby]

Thanks for replying. I took him in the field the other night as he really seemed to be struggling in the school. Im so scared hes gonna pull something but then I suppose the fields like being on concrete.

 

[pixiebee]

i prefer deep gojng, as it makes them use more muscles and they work up a sweat faster! be careful not to do too much in the school until he is a little fitter as very unfit horses are more prone to 'pulling' tendons etc but on a horse thats not so unfit it has great benefits!! my pony has built lovely muscle after just 10 days being ridden in deep sand!

 

[KatB]

Walk work in hard fields, lots of walking will help harden tendons, then any lunging etc in school, but don't over do it, and keep the work steady.

 

[mickey]

Too much of anything is a bad thing unless you are sensible and increase workload on surfaces gradually.
Agree with KatB, would be best to fitten legs by lots of walking/hacking on hard surface (field/roads). Walk only. Then work in school. Lunging in deep going in particular could be quite strenuous on legs/tendons so be sensible and increase workload gradually over time.
Too much too soon in deep going could lead to pulled tendons/soft tissue problems, too much too soon on hard going could lead to jarring of joints and possible lameness. If you are sensible you should be fine.