Riding on Cement Roads

[NorthernHorseGirl]

Bubbleslove, that's horrible. My guess would be that it's so he'll get more action during the show. A form of 'soring' that won't be as noticable as other methods. FOSH (Friends of Sound Horses) should hear about this guy. If I knew him I'd turn him in. I think they'd be interested in hearing about this way of soring a horse, too.

And, yeah, there's a definite potential for road founder. More or less for each individual horse. There was an older horse where we board who was in his first parade- on pavement- and came up with road founder. He was unusable for months.

I think the biggest concern is the potential for an accident. Would she ride a horse at a trot or lope on ice? Because it's almost the same thing. My daughter was in a parade club and I saw several accidents on pavement.
A horse who rear had his feet slip out from under him and he fell and hit his head and died within seconds. Miraculously the child riding him rolled clear. Another horse slipped and landed on her knee and was out of cimmission for months. My daughter's horse had his back legs slip forward under him and he landed on his butt. He wasn't injured but she could have been and he was really shaken up. Luckily, it was near the end of the parade and we took him home right after and he hasn't been in a parade since.

Anyway, if I found out that someone rode my horse on pavement for a whole ride and even trotted and loped I'd be furious. She's putting the horse in danger. Very irresponsible.

[Drafty]

You know what... I have come to the decision that not all roads are created equally. When I did a of road riding out in Wisconsin, not a single horse ever had issues with slipping on the roads. And we did LOTS of road riding - w/t/c - as I posted earlier. Where I live now, I have had a few close calls in the past few months. Always riding on pavement, mind you, never been on concrete unless leading my horse down a sidewalk on foot. I wonder if there is something different about the pavement in WI due to all the snow... is it rougher or something? Just at a walk my horse can slip and slide on the roads here.... makes me wonder...

[misstishus]

I have never had any problems riding on pavement or concrete. All of my horses are taught to be well behaved and balanced before we do any road riding. As for bones and joints, too much road riding can and will cause issues. Short rides at slower speeds will actually STRENGTHEN the bone. Studies have shown that equine bone is constantly remodeling to adapt to the surface ridden on, so riding on a hard surface once per week will make bone stonger. Amazing huh?

[mistbyrome]

I would never even think of cantering on the road. I've had to once or twice in unusual circumstances and I felt so guilty after. I always ride on the shoulder and I only ride on the road to get to trails mostly. I have trotted on the road, but only to safely cross an intersection, or to catch up to a very fast paced horse.

The only time I've ever had any problem with slippage is in the early spring/early winter when I've been out. My horse slipped on the pedestrian cross walk paint once, and another time, I had rode through the forest but had to come back by wood [new house owner got mad when I rode the edge of her property and told me not to come back that way] and it was in the early winter, I got off when I got to the road, there was slushly snow everywhere, and it was a hill. We slipped and slide down the whole thing. No injuries, but it wasn't fun, thats for sure.

I don't think your sisters horse will have any negative affects from one ride. I once knew a horse that escaped from his new boarding facility and galloped/cantered 2 hours back into town where he used to live, he was on the road the entire time. He had relatively new shoes on, and they were completely worn down and falling off when we finally caught him close to his old home. I would for sure tell your moms friend if she comes over to ride again that your sister and yourself are not comfortable with her trotting or cantering on the road. If she wishes to ride those gaits than she should ask to be taken to nice trails. It's okay to tell her that, even if she is your moms friend, its your families horse, so you have a say in how he/she is ridden.

[gypsygirl3]

Originally Posted by Drafty

You know what... I have come to the decision that not all roads are created equally. When I did a of road riding out in Wisconsin, not a single horse ever had issues with slipping on the roads. And we did LOTS of road riding - w/t/c - as I posted earlier. Where I live now, I have had a few close calls in the past few months. Always riding on pavement, mind you, never been on concrete unless leading my horse down a sidewalk on foot. I wonder if there is something different about the pavement in WI due to all the snow... is it rougher or something? Just at a walk my horse can slip and slide on the roads here.... makes me wonder...

yeah i live in wi & our roads arent slippery at all ! i ride on the road pretty often & do w/t/c...people think roads are all bad, but the truth is riding on the road helps strengthen your horses tendons & ligaments, so you want to ride on the road if your horses is in hard work.

[Kingpin]

I will ride to cross the road or to get from one place to the other but I feel it is harder on horses joints and it is also more dangerous for the rider. I understand that situation but if she rides with you all again then you can say hey lets just ride them on the side unless we have to go on concrete because you will know her better and things will be more comfortable.

[Aspen3]

I ride my horses on the road sometimes, walk, trot, and canter with no problems. As long as it's not all the time I don't see a problem, unless something spooks the horse and the rider falls off. But I've also gotten hurt really bad just hitting the hard ground!
Janet