Galloping Down the Pavement?

[CandyHaasch]

O.K., here’s a question. I was brought up to believe it is not correct horsemanship to gallop down a paved road. Too much concussion for hoooves/joints/legs in general. Not to mention slippery! I am a novice foxhunter, and I am discovering the field is expected to do this on a fairly regular basis! Usually it’s only gravel roads, but last hunt it was right down the county highway! Naturally my horses are shod, and so far there is no sign of harm – no heat/puffiness in legs, no attitude change the next day.

But I do not want to fear that I am sacrificing my horses’ future soundness for my sudden addiction to this enthralling sport. Seasoned foxhunters, what is your take on this matter?

[SteeleRdr]

We will occasionally canter down roads, but not anything crazy, but mostly trot. Road work should be part of most fitness regimens for a foxhunter. It builds up the strength in their legs, and actually strengthen and prevent injury. When I road 'chasers, we always worked the horses (trotting) down the roads for MILES. My legs got a serious workout!

[Xanthoria]

Jorrocks: it ain’t 'unting as 'urts 'orses, it’s the 'ammer, 'ammer, 'ammer on the 'ard 'igh road.

Might not hurt today, or next week, but you’re asking for concussion injuries somewhere down the road. Stay on the verge!

[SlobberHound]

I don’t see anything wrong with it if the horse has hoof boots on or is barefoot. It’s too slick and hard on shod horses.

[Elghund2]

When I hunted in NOVA we would be on the paved roads usually at least once a hunt. You couldn’t avoid because of all of the development. Since moving to central VA its very rare as we have a lot of wide open territory.

We did get on some pavement a couple of weeks ago during a joint meet. My horse remembered the pavement, settled down into a much shorter stride.

[Good_Old_Sledge]

The less exposure to pavement the better. Sometimes you have to. If you can stay off to the side, do so. If you can keep it to a trot and catch up later, do so. As wisely said above, it might not show this season, but it’ll catch up - and just a little moisture can float the oil up to the surface and make the footing treacherous (ask any motorcyclist).

[Thomas_1]

Not only is it high impact but it’s also high risk of a slip or fall on a paved area with no traction

Plus pedestrians tend not to like it! :winkgrin:

[JSwan]

I do roadwork to leg up my hunter; it’s part of our normal routine.

Borium helps with traction.

I’d not be galloping unless it was to save life or limb (or horse or hound). If a landowner might get upset with hoofprints alongside their driveway - I avoid it. Otherwise - I try and stay on the grass.

I’ll tell you what’s more slippery than pavement - it’s that black sealant that people paint on their driveways. I don’t know what it’s made of but when horse steps foot on it - it’s like ice. Even with borium. Horrible stuff. Even just walking across the road is scary.

[gothedistance]

Hunting means keeping up with the hounds, but that doesn’t preclude you have to kill yourself to do so. If the field hits a paved road and go tearing down it, you aren’t compelled to go at that speed. Pull off to the side of the field or turn and head to the back so that you don’t impede anyone else, and throttle down to the trot speed where you feel safe on the pavement. Just don’t fall too far behind that you lose sight of the field. You can always kick-on to catch up when the footing gets better.

I agree with JS regarding that horrid black sealant that some people put on their driveway macadam. That stuff is like ice!

[armandh]

slipery problems

LT horses usually die B4 their owners [well: except at my age]
prepare for their retirement as they only have so many jumps in them.
in the mean time shoes with drilltack or borium studs will prevent the slip and fall.
avoid the hwy. if you can.
I remember once having to lead the field down the highway on a long run.
I would cut over to the verge whenever I could and take a break from the pounding.

[Beverley]

I have done more than my fair share of galloping on roads, as a member of the field, as a whipper-in, and these days on the annual Pony Express reenactment. As you might imagine, much of the original Pony Express trail is paved these days, including interstate highway and metropolitan Salt Lake City. This means, for each two-mile relay, pavement the whole way- and no I won’t flat out gallop, especially when one has traffic lights to obey, but a nice steady canter does the trick, I won’t go faster than a trot on the steeps in the canyons, though. But I can tell you I HAVE gone flat out on Route 15, south of Gilbert’s Corner, passing a VW beetle and playing chicken with an oncoming semi, to get to a spot to ensure that hounds wouldn’t be harmed on the road.

Shoes and borium are essential. The wear on a barefoot horse’s feet would be unacceptable to me. I can tell you that I have yet (knock wood) to have ANY ill effects on any horses from speed on hard surfaces. The one that had the highest hard surface mileage was also one that hunted pretty hard from ages 6 to 26.

Two things are, I think, essential. First is as J Swan noted, conditioning. You should, in the course of getting any horse fit for hunting or other strenuous activity, do a fair amount of walking and trotting on hard surfaces, good conditioning for those tendons and ligaments. Second- though I was originally, as a kid, taught to never gallop on roads, I’ve since learned that the risk for injury isn’t so much the consistency of the footing (rock hard to knee deep in mud) as the SUDDEN CHANGE in footing. IOW you are as likely to risk injury to the horse going at speed into deep plough as you are from soft surface to hard. The key, therefore, is where a significant change in the footing is encountered- trot the first little bit of that to allow the horse to adjust.

As gothedistance notes, whether it’s paved roads or a number of other hunting possibilities, the idea is not to risk life and limb, slow up for a bit. Caveat though- if you find yourself constantly having to fall back and then catch up, that might be a sign that you’ll want to drop back to a slower flight. You are supposed to be enjoying the day, not fighting constantly with issues outside of your comfort zone.

[DeeThbd]

[QUOTE=Xanthoria;3687151]
Jorrocks: it ain’t 'unting as 'urts 'orses, it’s the 'ammer, 'ammer, 'ammer on the 'ard 'igh road.

Might not hurt today, or next week, but you’re asking for concussion injuries somewhere down the road. Stay on the verge![/QUOTE]

Ah, you wonderful lady! My late mum used to say that rhyme sometimes - she was English, and told me oodles of lovely stories of her life there. I miss her a lot because what she taught me is so vital to who I am as a person and a horseman.
The version she taught me was a variaton, but a good one…
It’s not the 'oppin over 'edges that 'urts the 'orses 'ooves,
It’s the 'ammer 'ammer 'ammer on the 'ard 'igh 'road.
Have an AWESOME day!
Dee

[DeeThbd]

[QUOTE=JSwan;3687281]
I do roadwork to leg up my hunter; it’s part of our normal routine.

Borium helps with traction.

I’d not be galloping unless it was to save life or limb (or horse or hound). If a landowner might get upset with hoofprints alongside their driveway - I avoid it. Otherwise - I try and stay on the grass.

I’ll tell you what’s more slippery than pavement - it’s that black sealant that people paint on their driveways. I don’t know what it’s made of but when horse steps foot on it - it’s like ice. Even with borium. Horrible stuff. Even just walking across the road is scary.[/QUOTE]

True enough, JSwan.
I once boarded one of my OTTBs at a stable that had one end in a residential area, and another out to open countryside. I turned out my gelding in his usual paddock, which had two gates - one we always used, and one we NEVER EVER used. It was around a corner and mid-fence line, and out of view of the turnout entrances to the barn.
Well, brainless fellow boarder (believe it or not “experienced” with Congress level QHs) lifted out the gate to bring her jumps to the arena, and broke the cardinal rule of closing gates behind oneself. It was actually a lift-out gate, and she just left it lying on the ground. Well, of course I see Boo at a hard gallop out of the residential end of the property, heading straight into town. With a large show in town with purses to the tune of $50K. I was having a stroke envisioning him down there. I whistled him up, and he hit the brakes after crossing several lawns at a hard gallop. Coming back, he hit a driveway covered in that sealant and fell HARD. One minute he was rocking along, the next minute, WHOMP. Got up, scared now, and finally we corraled him in the barn. Punctured his leg and exposed his suspensory - I had a lot to say that night.
Dee

[goeslikestink]

[QUOTE=CandyHaasch;3687039]
O.K., here’s a question. I was brought up to believe it is not correct horsemanship to gallop down a paved road. Too much concussion for hoooves/joints/legs in general. Not to mention slippery! I am a novice foxhunter, and I am discovering the field is expected to do this on a fairly regular basis! Usually it’s only gravel roads, but last hunt it was right down the county highway! Naturally my horses are shod, and so far there is no sign of harm – no heat/puffiness in legs, no attitude change the next day.

But I do not want to fear that I am sacrificing my horses’ future soundness for my sudden addiction to this enthralling sport. Seasoned foxhunters, what is your take on this matter?[/QUOTE]

walk and trotting on paved surface or normal roads are the norm in uk
but tracks dirt tracks cinder tracks you can canter on, even oens that have ssome gravel on them
like these tracks in my wood--www.bwag.org which ahve been resurfaced by the army so not boggy muddy one now look at the before and after photos
this is whats normal type of tracks to ride in uk, but road we walk or trot on
one doenst normally canter on the roads but as the hunt does come through the woodland and additional farmlands which cover another 2/3000 acres then small roads do appear
they often jump the little roads or canter right across them a few steps on concrete doesnt harm the horse at all
we also have by laws that prevent horses being on pavements they have to be in the roads and not on afootpath, it can be a bridle path or by way but not a footpath or pavement
pavement to us is sidewalk to you i think, roads that are tarmac arnt a problem to horses shod or unshod

[okggo]

Twice I’ve heard people mention barefoot. Are you talking hunting with no “protection” or with boots on?

I plan to get my guy out next year and he isn’t shod, the big reason I haven’t tried anything in ‘08 is I dont’ know how he would be trotting down gravel roads (which we have a lot of) and I have that ole fear of road founder that always crosses my mind when working on blacktop.

[LookinSouth]

My horse gets a fair amount of walking on roads to get to various trails etc. We do some trot here and there too but I try to stick to walk as much as possible. However, I absolutely REFUSE to canter or gallop down a paved road. The idea of a horse slipping and falling with a rider on pavement to me is terrifying and a good way to kill yourself. Not to mention I would not doubt that regular hard work on pavement would damage a horses legs/feet over time.

The day I am required to canter/gallop down pavement is the day I quit hunting. I am not risking my horses soundness and our safety to hunt. I agree with those that say if the field canters down a road bring your horse down to a trot and stay at the back of the field. The only problem with that philosophy is it is easier said than done most of the time.:winkgrin:

Fortunately the hunt I ride with I have been out on a road ONCE and that was at the trot with alot of walking. For the most part it is rare that we use roads unless we are riding to the meet. I don’t think I would ride with a hunt that did alot on the road.

[Triplicate]

Horses are somewhat like cars. They only have so many jumps and so many miles in them. Some last longer than others.
Use either one carefully and he or it will last much longer.

[CandyHaasch]

Thank you so much all of you for your comments. You have all been most helpful. True to form: like every foxhunters I have met so far. How could one NOT get addicted to this sport? It combines my three favorite things in the world: riding out in beautiful, undespoiled countryside, watching dogs . . er. . . hounds . . . have fun, and riding like a “bat ouf of h----”. The horses love it so. The first hunt I was ever on, there were 79 head, all with their ears pricked, their eyes shining. . you sure don’t see that in the show ring, nowadays (especially “pleasure” classes)! The energy of nearly 100 head of horses enjoying themselves to the max is SO exhilarating! Not to mention the riders! And then of course, the hounds!!! WOW is all I can say. Any one who has never tried it, just DO.

So from now on I will follow my conscience, and pull back to a trot, whenever it is hard pavement, and not feel bad, and just consider it good practice to “kick on”, as you put it, and catch up, later. THANKS AGAIN!

[Beverley]

@okggo;3687763

Twice I’ve heard people mention barefoot. Are you talking hunting with no “protection” or with boots on?

I plan to get my guy out next year and he isn’t shod, the big reason I haven’t tried anything in ‘08 is I dont’ know how he would be trotting down gravel roads (which we have a lot of) and I have that ole fear of road founder that always crosses my mind when working on blacktop.

I know some folks who hunt their horses barefoot. I know no one who uses boots- probably because they still haven’t been perfected to the point that they will a) stay on in all conditions and b) not cause rubs or irritation when mud and much and such get in them.

I have hunted one of my horses barefoot out in Nevada- sandy soils, avoidable rocks, and if the coyote takes the hounds over the mountain, I’m not going. As for trotting down gravel roads barefoot- it depends on the gravel road, I suppose, and how tough the horse’s feet are. I mostly avoid gravel when riding mine barefoot. Barefoot on asphalt is the norm for me in winter, at the walk, when trails and etc are snowed in. A little trotting, no problem. My bigger concern with lots of barefoot on asphalt is excessive wearing down of the feet, myself.

In general though, I shoe my horses for hunting, just so I know I can go anywhere at any speed without having to worry about it.

[Painted_Wings]

I regularly trot on the roads especially if it’s winter and the rest of the world is unrideable. I personally don’t like riding on the shoulder much. You really have to watch the glass beer bottles and such that get tossed. Plus it can be unpredictable with culverts hidden in tall grass. I’ll take the road over the shoulder most times.

That being said, we rarely go on roads anymore and if we do it’s usually a walk or trot. Before we moved to this new territory we spent a lot of time on the roads, but rarely cantering and certainly not galloping. Whips however, as Beverly said, do what they have to do for the safety of the hounds. That’s their job.

It seems to me that hunt horses last longer than horses in any other job and I am at a loss to explain it. But we have people that regularly hunt horses well into their 20s and you don’t see that much in the show ring.