Riding on Cement Roads

cowgirlmagic · 08-26-2009, 06:45 PM

Hi, we went for a couple hour ride today and one of my Mom's friends came along. She road my sister's horse since she was at work. She has a lot of experience with horses, but one thing she did, kind of made me uneasy. She road on the road the entire ride(even with enough space along the ditch) and even trotted/canter him once in a while. I don't think this is good for the horse's hooves or joints but didn't want to make a big fuss because nobody else seemed concered. The horse showed no discomfort while being ridden on the road or afterwards. I'm just wondering if it was wrong of her to ride like that on the road.
(Also we never usually ride on the road, this was the first time in a long time and also the fist time she road with us)
Thanks

singing tree · 08-26-2009, 06:50 PM

Probably an occasional ride won't damage anything but a couple of my worst falls (the horse fell with me) happened on pavement. Horses are pretty stable at a trot because a couple feet are always on the ground, but when they canter, sometimes there is only one foot down, and if they slide it could be bad, like if the road was wet or there was an oily spot. That's why the Amish, for instance, put borium on the bottom of their horse's shoes when they drive them on the road.

Horselady44 · 08-26-2009, 06:55 PM

I agree with the last post also....its alot harder fall on pavement and horses are not to stable unless they have proper shoes on pavement.
Does the horse she was riding have shoes on?

cowgirlmagic · 08-26-2009, 06:59 PM

Hi, he does not have shoes on, which really concerned me. This probably will never happen again. My sister doesn't ride her horse on the road. This only happened because one of my Mom's friend was riding him. I felt kind of out of place to say something to her because I don't know her that well. He seems just fine and if she ever does come to ride with us again I will tell her to keep him on the sideof the road.

Range · 08-26-2009, 07:57 PM

Cement also causes the foot to wear in the absence of shoes. I know of a person who road on the road and the horse wore its feet to blood.

alliebath · 08-26-2009, 08:05 PM

I hate even crossing pavement. When we had drill tec it wasn't an issue, but with just regular shoes, I have seen them slip way too often (and this is just walking, not gaiting or cantering). I know I have had horses that seemed to prefer to walk on the road, but I just made them walk on the shoulder.

Brezzin_In_My_Hightops · 08-26-2009, 08:11 PM

My daughter tail rides almost everyday and walks on cement pretty much all the time. She has been doing this for 3 years and never had and problems. All of her horses she has done this with have shoes, and she does w/t/c.

Mav2007 · 08-26-2009, 08:15 PM

I ride on the road, but my rides are about 1.5 hours or less. Occassionally I go into the ditch, but with people throwing cans/bottles/junk out their cars and the tall grass hiding any potential holes, I prefer riding on the road. I never would even think of cantering. I barely even trot, maybe for a minute or so to catch up to the other rider. My theory is, would I like to run on the road? No, it hurts my legs, my feat, the jarring motion even hurts my head and a horse is 1000 pounds, it must hurt even more.

Fang · 08-26-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav2007

I ride on the road, but my rides are about 1.5 hours or less. Occassionally I go into the ditch, but with people throwing cans/bottles/junk out their cars and the tall grass hiding any potential holes, I prefer riding on the road. I never would even think of cantering. I barely even trot, maybe for a minute or so to catch up to the other rider. My theory is, would I like to run on the road? No, it hurts my legs, my feat, the jarring motion even hurts my head and a horse is 1000 pounds, it must hurt even more.

I would only walk on concrete and maybe trot a little but not a lot, my horse is barefoot.

Danni L · 08-26-2009, 08:27 PM

i would avoid it as much as possible. human runners try to stay off pavement to avoid joint problems, same goes for horses.

sundancer maiden · 08-26-2009, 10:01 PM

Brezzin, I hope you see this and give it a LOT of thought. I was riding a horse that took off with me and ran out onto pavement, I was 15. I am now 51 and the left side of my face is still paralysed. Tell teenagers that if they think helmets look funny, they should try wearing my face. I consider myself a miracle in that I only had a 25% chance to live.
Please find your child somewhere else to ride!!!

Amy · 09-16-2009, 06:37 PM

Meh, I ride on pavement all the time, usually at a walk. My horse actually prefers it to the uneven ground on the side of the road. She is barefoot with hard feet, not problems with wearing or chipping.

Drafty · 09-16-2009, 06:51 PM

This is why police horses are retired... because riding on pavement causes too much stress on the joints. I have gone 6-8 hour trails rides on pavement, twenty to thirty riders, with no damage to horses or riders and no slipping. But we don't do this every day, and our horses are barefoot with good strong healthy feet.

bubbleslove · 09-16-2009, 08:41 PM

I recently saw a locally well known trail riding group on their way into the rodeo arena after a long ride. Several of the riders thought it would be a good idea to canter their horses, shod (much worse on pavement than bare as far as slipperiness!), the final stretch. Some were sliding around, most were okay. The one I really remember asked for a sliding stop, during which the horse almost fell over, scraped the heck out of it's heels, and was walking very stiffly afterwards.
If I can avoid riding on concrete, I do so.

Oran'sMom · 09-16-2009, 08:48 PM

I had a really nasty fall on road one time...skinned my knee....ripped my jeans and my horse skinned his shoulder. He has front shoes on, but lost his footing and slipped...we both went down. I dont recomend riding on roads if there is the option to ride on dirt...IMHO.

RebaRose · 09-16-2009, 08:49 PM

I think your sisters' horse will be fine. I ride my horse on the road all of the time at a walk and a trot. I would never lope down the road, that is just foolish! Around our house the road is much cleaner than the ditch where people throw alot of cans and bottles. Shoes will make the road much more slippery for the horse.

TB's_are_my_thing · 09-16-2009, 09:02 PM

like most have said, occasionally its no big deal. I road ride a lot to get to the good trails, but if i want to go faster i went to the side where it was dirt of grass, as long as the grass was short so i could spot glass bottles and other junk.
My farrier put on a cheaper thinner shoes once, as winter was coming and i pull shoes off once the snow hits. 3 weeks later, i was just heading out for a ride and HALF the shoe broke and came off! the left half stayed on nailed tight, the other half was completely off a few feet back on the road. i got off and walked home, and pulled off his other shoe thank god i was taught how to properly. Ran into 2 people, a friend and my coach at the time, they would never have believed me if they hadn't have seen it for themselves.

PaintsQH · 09-16-2009, 09:10 PM

What about the TWH and Racking Horses?? Dont people trot 30mph down the road. Read that somewhere that people ride gaited horses on the road. Guess thats different huh? Thats GOT to be horrible on the horse.

bubbleslove · 09-16-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaintsQH

What about the TWH and Racking Horses?? Dont people trot 30mph down the road. Read that somewhere that people ride gaited horses on the road. Guess thats different huh? Thats GOT to be horrible on the horse.

It's called road founder. We have a Paso at our barn who shows regularly. Just before a big show he'll ride the heck out of him on the roads, and then surprise surprise, he's awful for the farrier during the pre-show shoeing. They have to sedate him to do his hind legs, because he's so sore he almost falls over when the farrier picks them up. During the rest of the year, he's fine for shoeing, but for some reason the owner still allows the trainer to do that.

PaintsQH · 09-16-2009, 09:38 PM

Poor horse.

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08-26-2009, 06:45 PM
cowgirlmagic Newborn Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: WI Posts: 22	Riding on Cement Roads Hi, we went for a couple hour ride today and one of my Mom's friends came along. She road my sister's horse since she was at work. She has a lot of experience with horses, but one thing she did, kind of made me uneasy. She road on the road the entire ride(even with enough space along the ditch) and even trotted/canter him once in a while. I don't think this is good for the horse's hooves or joints but didn't want to make a big fuss because nobody else seemed concered. The horse showed no discomfort while being ridden on the road or afterwards. I'm just wondering if it was wrong of her to ride like that on the road. (Also we never usually ride on the road, this was the first time in a long time and also the fist time she road with us) Thanks

08-26-2009, 06:50 PM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,045	Probably an occasional ride won't damage anything but a couple of my worst falls (the horse fell with me) happened on pavement. Horses are pretty stable at a trot because a couple feet are always on the ground, but when they canter, sometimes there is only one foot down, and if they slide it could be bad, like if the road was wet or there was an oily spot. That's why the Amish, for instance, put borium on the bottom of their horse's shoes when they drive them on the road.

08-26-2009, 06:55 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,437	I agree with the last post also....its alot harder fall on pavement and horses are not to stable unless they have proper shoes on pavement. Does the horse she was riding have shoes on? __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

08-26-2009, 06:59 PM
cowgirlmagic Newborn Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: WI Posts: 22	Hi, he does not have shoes on, which really concerned me. This probably will never happen again. My sister doesn't ride her horse on the road. This only happened because one of my Mom's friend was riding him. I felt kind of out of place to say something to her because I don't know her that well. He seems just fine and if she ever does come to ride with us again I will tell her to keep him on the sideof the road.

08-26-2009, 07:57 PM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,740	Cement also causes the foot to wear in the absence of shoes. I know of a person who road on the road and the horse wore its feet to blood. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

08-26-2009, 08:05 PM
alliebath Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leavenworth, Kansas Posts: 1,097	I hate even crossing pavement. When we had drill tec it wasn't an issue, but with just regular shoes, I have seen them slip way too often (and this is just walking, not gaiting or cantering). I know I have had horses that seemed to prefer to walk on the road, but I just made them walk on the shoulder.

08-26-2009, 08:11 PM
Brezzin_In_My_Hightops Newborn Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bradenton, Florida Posts: 23	My daughter tail rides almost everyday and walks on cement pretty much all the time. She has been doing this for 3 years and never had and problems. All of her horses she has done this with have shoes, and she does w/t/c.

08-26-2009, 08:15 PM
Mav2007 Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,675	I ride on the road, but my rides are about 1.5 hours or less. Occassionally I go into the ditch, but with people throwing cans/bottles/junk out their cars and the tall grass hiding any potential holes, I prefer riding on the road. I never would even think of cantering. I barely even trot, maybe for a minute or so to catch up to the other rider. My theory is, would I like to run on the road? No, it hurts my legs, my feat, the jarring motion even hurts my head and a horse is 1000 pounds, it must hurt even more. __________________

08-26-2009, 08:27 PM
Danni L Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Red Deer,Alberta Posts: 627	i would avoid it as much as possible. human runners try to stay off pavement to avoid joint problems, same goes for horses. __________________ Rain- gorgeous grey 6 year old mustang, just getting started under saddle Guido-adorable yearling Appaloosa Sport Horse

08-26-2009, 10:01 PM
sundancer maiden Coming two Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Udall, KS Posts: 1,510	Brezzin, I hope you see this and give it a LOT of thought. I was riding a horse that took off with me and ran out onto pavement, I was 15. I am now 51 and the left side of my face is still paralysed. Tell teenagers that if they think helmets look funny, they should try wearing my face. I consider myself a miracle in that I only had a 25% chance to live. Please find your child somewhere else to ride!!! __________________ You don't have to be crazy to be my friend, but it helps!!!

09-16-2009, 09:38 PM
PaintsQH Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 3,679	Poor horse. __________________ Angels descending, bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

09-16-2009, 06:37 PM
Amy Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chino Valley, AZ Posts: 562	Meh, I ride on pavement all the time, usually at a walk. My horse actually prefers it to the uneven ground on the side of the road. She is barefoot with hard feet, not problems with wearing or chipping.

09-16-2009, 06:51 PM
Drafty Coming two Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,563	This is why police horses are retired... because riding on pavement causes too much stress on the joints. I have gone 6-8 hour trails rides on pavement, twenty to thirty riders, with no damage to horses or riders and no slipping. But we don't do this every day, and our horses are barefoot with good strong healthy feet. __________________ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi Breeding solid paints is like breeding spotless Appys - just plain wrong!

09-16-2009, 08:41 PM
bubbleslove Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 758	I recently saw a locally well known trail riding group on their way into the rodeo arena after a long ride. Several of the riders thought it would be a good idea to canter their horses, shod (much worse on pavement than bare as far as slipperiness!), the final stretch. Some were sliding around, most were okay. The one I really remember asked for a sliding stop, during which the horse almost fell over, scraped the heck out of it's heels, and was walking very stiffly afterwards. If I can avoid riding on concrete, I do so. __________________ Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance. ~Woodrow Wilson in love with my Bubbles boy

09-16-2009, 08:48 PM
Oran'sMom Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 823	I had a really nasty fall on road one time...skinned my knee....ripped my jeans and my horse skinned his shoulder. He has front shoes on, but lost his footing and slipped...we both went down. I dont recomend riding on roads if there is the option to ride on dirt...IMHO. __________________ Oran

09-16-2009, 08:49 PM
RebaRose Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 538	I think your sisters' horse will be fine. I ride my horse on the road all of the time at a walk and a trot. I would never lope down the road, that is just foolish! Around our house the road is much cleaner than the ditch where people throw alot of cans and bottles. Shoes will make the road much more slippery for the horse. __________________ You can't always sit on the fence while the world passes by, sometimes you just gotta ride. Chris Ladoux

09-16-2009, 09:02 PM
TB's_are_my_thing Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 172	like most have said, occasionally its no big deal. I road ride a lot to get to the good trails, but if i want to go faster i went to the side where it was dirt of grass, as long as the grass was short so i could spot glass bottles and other junk. My farrier put on a cheaper thinner shoes once, as winter was coming and i pull shoes off once the snow hits. 3 weeks later, i was just heading out for a ride and HALF the shoe broke and came off! the left half stayed on nailed tight, the other half was completely off a few feet back on the road. i got off and walked home, and pulled off his other shoe thank god i was taught how to properly. Ran into 2 people, a friend and my coach at the time, they would never have believed me if they hadn't have seen it for themselves.

09-16-2009, 09:10 PM
PaintsQH Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 3,679	What about the TWH and Racking Horses?? Dont people trot 30mph down the road. Read that somewhere that people ride gaited horses on the road. Guess thats different huh? Thats GOT to be horrible on the horse. __________________ Angels descending, bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.