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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
 
Location: TN | This winter we haven't been able to get into the arena much with all the rain/snow/mud so I've started legging my horse up by trotting the perimeter of our fields. It's hard ground though so I'm confused about what is best for my horse's feet/legs/joints.
Leg him up even though it's on hard ground or only exercise when I can get on soft, worked up ground (right now that's only 2-4 times a month)?
I'm occassionally hauling to barrel races this winter so I want him in shape, but I want to take care of his joints too. What would you do? |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| All I have is hard ground. I don't run them hard, but w/t/c as I would normally. There usually is a powder on top, but that's it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| If your in a pasture and not on hard compacted roads I wouldn't imagine it would be that detrimental to him. Even though the ground isn't worked up doesn't necessarily mean the ground isn't giving and taking away the concussion on his legs and joints. The only thing I would be worried about is if I were exercising him all week by just long trotting the pasture or road side and then take him to an arena that's worked up and deep it might risk an injury because his legs aren't used to the deep ground thus place stress on the soft tissue. I think if you alter your terrain consistently he'll be fine. rotate between pasture and arena. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I do most of my exercising on turnrows. Some of them are mostly clay and get very very hard when dry. It will make a barefoot horse sore, and I don't run them on it, but they do fine trotting and loping. If it was hard and very uneven, I would find another place to ride. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | FlyingJT - 2014-01-28 12:15 PM If your in a pasture and not on hard compacted roads I wouldn't imagine it would be that detrimental to him. Even though the ground isn't worked up doesn't necessarily mean the ground isn't giving and taking away the concussion on his legs and joints. The only thing I would be worried about is if I were exercising him all week by just long trotting the pasture or road side and then take him to an arena that's worked up and deep it might risk an injury because his legs aren't used to the deep ground thus place stress on the soft tissue. I think if you alter your terrain consistently he'll be fine. rotate between pasture and arena.
Actually, when rehabbing soft tissue injuries (tendons), you are to use firm ground only. Working a horse in soft dirt puts a lot of pressure (makes them work harder) on the soft tissues. It is actually a good idea to long trott on firm ground regularly to keep the tendons in propper shape, unless you have a horse with bone pain (navicular or something like that), then it is best to stay of soft ground. Trotting is a true two-beat step, which gives full extension and quick release of the tendons, repititions of this is what makes them strong. So I say work up to 20 min a day long trotting on your firm pasture! |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | You do what you got to do, sounds like your doing right by your horse; as one not prepped should not be raced. Good luck this season. Just think of the benefits of training on this ground too, this a good and a bad to everything, find the happy medium. |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Exercising a horse on hard, ground is actually good for your horse. It builds good, healthy, strong bone and will also keep your tendons and ligaments working as they should. I prefer hard ground to exercise on for a couple of reasons.....if there is any soreness or unsoundness, it will show up when you are trotting and secondly, it's great for the bone remodeling process and building bone density, and for the simple fact that I don't want my horses dependent on pretty, manicured ground. My goal is to train horses that are versatile and that will eventually go on to make rodeo horses for those that buy them, so I expose them to every kind of ground I can. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I exercises horse out in our field....last time I was there the ground was mostly frozen. In the summer, it can get pretty dry and hard. I exercise as normal....I just try to do mostly straight lines and try to find the tall grassy area for loping. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-01-28 12:29 PM
FlyingJT - 2014-01-28 12:15 PM If your in a pasture and not on hard compacted roads I wouldn't imagine it would be that detrimental to him. Even though the ground isn't worked up doesn't necessarily mean the ground isn't giving and taking away the concussion on his legs and joints. The only thing I would be worried about is if I were exercising him all week by just long trotting the pasture or road side and then take him to an arena that's worked up and deep it might risk an injury because his legs aren't used to the deep ground thus place stress on the soft tissue. I think if you alter your terrain consistently he'll be fine. rotate between pasture and arena.
Actually, when rehabbing soft tissue injuries (tendons), you are to use firm ground only. Working a horse in soft dirt puts a lot of pressure (makes them work harder) on the soft tissues. It is actually a good idea to long trott on firm ground regularly to keep the tendons in propper shape, unless you have a horse with bone pain (navicular or something like that), then it is best to stay of soft ground. Trotting is a true two-beat step, which gives full extension and quick release of the tendons, repititions of this is what makes them strong. So I say work up to 20 min a day long trotting on your firm pasture!
I am aware of that, just stating that if you go from working a horse on hard ground for extended period of time and then take them to a worked up, deep ground, you can risk the possibility of causing a soft tissue injury because of the soft worked up ground. Wasn't stating that hard ground will cause a soft tissue injury but to work one in soft deep ground when one is not used to it can. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Both of you are correct! You have to train them in the conditions for which you will be competing in. I had an exercise track at our old place that had wood chips for 1/4 mi. hard surface for 1/4mi and worked area with different levels to it for 1/2 mi. It was the best rehab place in the world. It was my best tool for getting colts back to the track and ready to go on with in the trainers hands. Looked at it on google earth the other day-can still see it. Miss it after 8 years of being away from it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Thanks everyone! You've made me feel better. I'll keep on legging up in the pasture and get in the arena whenever I can. I didn't know that hard ground could be helpful to the soft tendons so thank you for that info!
I love BHW  Ya'll are always full of helpful advice and knowledge. |
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Exercising on hard ground