trotting on pavement

["Laura Hayes" <mark@madbbs.com>]

Hi!  Trotting on hard surfaces is not something you would want to do all the
time, but some riders consider it a part of training and certainly something
you can do during a race.  Dr. Matthew McKay Smith said years ago that small
amounts of trotting on hard surface actually strengthens legs in that it
creates concussion that causes small micro fractures in the bone that then
heal and create denser bone.  I train on the roads in the winter months
because of the snow and ice we get, and my horses are quite sound.  We have
alot of Amish here and they go hellity clatter up the roads day in and day
out with the same horses.  You do need to consider the slip factor of
pavement and macadam.  I use aluminum shoes and they grip better than steel.

Laura Hayes AERC#2741
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelsey M" <appyhehehorses@yahoo.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 12:49 AM
Subject: RC: jogging/trotting on pavement


> Okay- I have a question. I was watching horse TV the
> other night and they showed the championship endurance
> ride that was in England in 1995 or 96 or sometime a
> few yrs ago. Anyway- as they showed the horses
> trotting on the beach- and then getting closer to
> town- they just jogged over the pavement like it was
> no big deal. and they did it for quite a distance.
>
> Please pardon my stupidity, but I was always taught
> not to trot your horse on pavement for long distances.
> Its not good for their legs, especially w/ the extra
> weight of the rider. Do you train for this? Am I
> overreacting?
>
> Just curious and wondering.
> Thanks!!
> Kelsey in Oregon
>
> =====
>