Bad slip on asphalt. Advice?

[Cindyg]

Yesterday my horse slipped badly on asphalt. The really black kind.

We were riding along at a walk. He did not spook. He was not arguing with me. He was walking at a nice pace, alert, forward, ears pricked. All the sudden he dropped out from under me, and I felt like all four of his feet splayed out to the side.

Then, somehow he hauled himself back up without falling to his knees or unseating me or anything. Bless him.

He is barefoot, with a proper barefoot trim. It has been probably 5 weeks since his last trim. He has big, broad, healthy feet. He’s not tender footed.

This was in the morning, probably 90 degrees; but the asphalt had not baked in the sun all day.

I am a super-fearful rider. I’d like to understand what caused this and how to be sure it won’t happen again.

And, yes, don’t ride on asphalt is an easy answer. But is there anything more I should learn from this?

Was it a fluke? Does it indicate anything about the horse?

I’ve had him almost 2 years. He is not particularly handy or quick on his feet. He’s a draft type (a Fjord). Fairly steady. A bit lazy. Very heavy on his forehand. But he was not dragging along when this happened.

And, yes, I do have a video, but only from my perspective; so I don’t know if it will help you understand what happened.

Any thoughts?

[AzulBlue]

That sort of paved blacktop is incredibly slick, especially in the morning with dew.
My advice is to not ride on it at all, ever, and train him properly to not try to eat while riding on grass. Good luck, and glad you two are ok!

[Simkie]

Nice recovery! Use a grass rein if he’s naughty about walking nicely on the green stuff. Keep off the slick asphalt.

[joiedevie99]

No biggie - he just slipped on the pavement. It happens. I’d walk on the grass, and teach him not to try to eat it.

[jetsmom]

That type of asphalt/blacktop is normally slick. Especially if it gets damp.

I have to tell you…Your horse is SOOO neat looking! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his coloring! Awesome Mane!!!

[GraceLikeRain]

Slips happen. I would stick to the grass.

[IronwoodFarm]

I would never walk a barefoot horse on asphalt for very long because it is hard on their feet, as well as asphalt being slippery. As others have suggested, keep on the grass.

[msj]

You had a lovely wide boarder of grass/turf that you really should have been riding on instead of the asphalt. Now you’ve learned to ride on the grass border instead of the asphalt. Consider it a lesson learned and fortunately neither one of you got hurt. Oden’s a good boy and taking very good care of you otherwise you could have had a nasty fall.

Yrs ago I was out foxhunting in MD and the horses were on a run down an asphalt road (yes SOME foxhunters are nuts -maybe all :eek:). My mare was very sure-footed, shod with borium and her feet went out from under her and she went down on her side fast. My leg was pinned under her as she was scrambling on the asphalt trying to get up and she did a lovely job of squishing me into the gravel at the edge of the road. Fortunately I had chaps on but they were shredded as were my jeans and long johns and I still have scars on my leg! :yes: For probably 10 years after that if I was riding and came to asphalt or concrete I’d get off and walk my horse over rather than ride over it. Even if it was just the width of a driveway.

Considering my experience, you were lucky.

Give Oden a hug from me. :yes: He’s just lovely!

[2DogsFarm]

You got off easy - see msj’s post.
Asphalt is not a safe surface at any gait, even shod with borium.

As for the snatching grass, that is not a big deal.
I think it keeps them relaxed.
I trained my TB that it was fine for him to grab a mouthful ONLY when I dropped the reins, tapped his neck & said “OK”.
Made us both happier to go on trails.

[Zu_Zu]

Jingles for your nerves to turn change to confidence with your next ride ~

Jingles for your nerves to evaporate into ‘confidence’ with your next ride ~

Now you and Oden ‘know’ asphalt … you’ll not forget ~

• Ride on !

Please know what a handsome gentleman / lovely individual you have in Oden ~

Jingles & AO ~

[Plainandtall]

Hmm… I drive my draft carriage horse shod in borium on asphalt all the time- as in… only on asphalt… and in the five years I’ve had him he’s never slipped a step. I’ve driven horses on asphalt for many years and I’ve never had a horse fall for lack of traction and the only slips or skids were related to scrambley misbehavior.

While I don’t have tips for your barefoot situation- I just want to weigh in that I don’t have trouble “even with” traction shoes. they work great for us.

[TBROCKS]

Could it have been one of those where they spook in place and in the process he slipped? “Alert, ears pricked forward” usually means mine is looking for something while one ear toward me means he’s listening to me.

[Zu_Zu]

I agree I’ve had no problems on asphalt with shod/ borium added

I agree with Plainandtall …:yes: never had an issue with shod/ with borium on asphalt …

I have not tried barefoot and asphalt `` think I’ll skip that trial !

[Field_of_Dreams_Mini]

He slipped. That’s all.

My friend and I were riding and as a car was coming toward us- fast- all four of Speck’s feet went out to the side and down he went, in the street. Fortunately the idiot stopped but I bet she never flew up on a horse again. Both Speck and K were OK.

[kookicat]

I can see how that shook you. Slips happen. Try to ride on the grass where you can, or ride to the middle/side of the road (away from where the cars go.) There’s usually a bit rougher surface there.

[Ponyclubrocks]

I avoid asphalt like the plague. When I have to cross it I pause my horses and say “careful-slippery” and I swear they tippy toe oh so carefully. I do the same thing crossing ice. That top dressed asphalt is the absolute worst. Last year during a hunt I had to go up a piece of road that had been treated and it was like a sheet of ice. There was no shoulder at all, just about six inches of dirt then a drainage ditch. I went up that road keeping my horses right feet on the six inches of dirt and I swear it was all that got us up that hill, every time a left hoof hit the asphalt it would slip. Road studs were useless. I hate asphalt! When your horse does slip just try to stay still and centered and don’t panic. That will give your horse the best chance at recovering their balance. Cute horse by the way!

[Beverley]

I guess I will represent the minority point of view. I am comfortable riding on asphalt (yeah, crazy foxhunter). I have had horses have little slips, randomly, and they process the info and learn from it and fine tune their balance. I have not had a fall on asphalt despite plenty of mileage there at all speeds, on the other hand I have had falls on slick grass and in arenas with at least average footing. Slick rocks in the mountains are a challenge too.

[Cindyg]

Well, it was a serious scare, and not what I needed in my efforts to get over my fear of riding “out.”

However, I’m so glad I got the video because it enabled me to focus on how beautifully my horse handled the emergency. I have ridden him “out” I think twice since then (it’s only been two days), and I think he’s the kind of horse who will not make a situation worse.

I won’t be riding on asphalt any more, that’s for sure. I did not know it was considered dangerous (to walk on, with a barefoot horse. Of course I know not to trot or canter on a road. And I would have assumed shod feet are more slippery than bare.)

And I do realize it could have ended very differently. Very grateful.

[ArabDiva]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7701336]
I guess I will represent the minority point of view. I am comfortable riding on asphalt (yeah, crazy foxhunter). I have had horses have little slips, randomly, and they process the info and learn from it and fine tune their balance. I have not had a fall on asphalt despite plenty of mileage there at all speeds, on the other hand I have had falls on slick grass and in arenas with at least average footing. Slick rocks in the mountains are a challenge too.[/QUOTE]

I think it really depends on the type of asphalt.
We have an asphalt (shared) driveway about a mile long. I used to ride on it OK. I didn’t make a habit of it, but it wasn’t scary. Then our neighborhood ass’n had some sort of sealant top coating put on, and now it’s slick like ice. Like one poster said above, I don’t even like to cross over to the other side.

But normal pavement, I have no problem taking my barefoot horse for a walk over a short distance.

[tabula_rashah]

Most asphalt I’ve ridden on is fine, esp for a barefoot horse but there seems to be a certain kind of it that’s super slippery. Around here I see it most often on driveways so I don’t know if it’s some kind of sealer or something that makes it that slippery?