Opinions/Advice wanted re: roadwork

[ArabDiva]

Hey…lower-level dressage rider here popping in to ask for advice from the distance community.

Finances compel me to move my 1st/2nd level dressage horse (Arabian) at home VS at my fancy dressage barn with the perfect footing. I trailer to the arena 2-4x a week. My ‘arena’ at home is a pasture.

I would love to do more fitness work at home. We have lots of dirt roads to ride on. My horse is great going out alone and doesn’t mind cars. Up until now most of our road riding has been more of the “mosey along and enjoy the evening” variety vs the “let’s cover distance and get fit” variety.

My main question is, assuming that a horse’s feet are properly equipped for the ground (shoes/boots etc) do I need to worry about damaging my horse in other ways if we go for 3-10 mile trots on a gravel road? Most of the dressage people I know would never dream of riding their ponies on anything less than pillowsoft geotextile blah blah arena stuff or perfectly groomed turf. But am I really damaging my horse’s bodily health pounding out miles on the roads, assuming I’ve taken care to condition them properly?

Any other advice or tips you want to give is welcome

[saffire_100]

I do a lot of road training May through September when the crops are in and I can’t ride in the surrounding fields. The fields and my arena are soft, the roads are hard and if you ease your horse into the work on the harder surfaces you should be fine.

I always stay to the side of the road where there is more gravel to cushion the impact. Your roads may be different, but ours are much harder where the vehicle tires tend to travel more.

Where a safety vest for visibility if you have a lot of traffic.

Keep a close eye on the legs for inflammation to tell you if you are doing too much.

[ArabDiva]

[QUOTE=saffire_100;8655458]
I do a lot of road training May through September when the crops are in and I can’t ride in the surrounding fields. The fields and my arena are soft, the roads are hard and if you ease your horse into the work on the harder surfaces you should be fine.

I always stay to the side of the road where there is more gravel to cushion the impact. Your roads may be different, but ours are much harder where the vehicle tires tend to travel more.

Where a safety vest for visibility if you have a lot of traffic.

Keep a close eye on the legs for inflammation to tell you if you are doing too much.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your advice! I always wear a safety vest, breastcollar, and flashing bike lights when I go out. Depending on the time of day I pass maybe 2-4 cars during a 4 mile ride, but I want to be visible!!

Keeping an eye on the legs is good advice.

Thanks so much for your perspective – it’s great to hear from somebody who has similar circumstances to mine! I often ride in the fields this time of year too – but within a week or 2 that won’t be an option.

[walkers]

You may want to put pads on his front feet, its great protection and once he is hurt well that would be sad. Or you could use a boot like Cavello to protect his front feet I think there are some that go over a shoe.
Be safe road riding is dangerous.

[Palm_Beach]

Hard ground is hard on them, and can lead to chronic issues. I would not do regular work on hard ground.

[PRS]

Hoof boots offer a lot of cushioning for hard surfaces and will protect against stone bruising too. I would recommend getting properly fitted hoof boots. Endurance riders regularly condition their horses on multiple surfaces to keep them fit. Easing him into the new footing is key.

[irish_horse]

Road work is great for building leg structures, but easy does it. I would work on walking work, working up to adding increments of trotting. Our roads and trails here are rock hard by summer, I add pads to my boots by then, and refrain from much speed work (instead I find some good hills to walk up!). The rule that many endurance riders follow on any trail/road work is add distance OR speed, not both. Be safe and have fun, I’m sure you and your horse will enjoy the change of scenery!