[RC] road concussion with 4 year old - Karen Sullivan
I am hoping to get some imput on my worry about
hard-road and trail concussion on my 4 1/2 year old.
She has been out regularly on the trail since age 6
months, starting with 20 minute jaunts, to up to 2 hours without a rider, to up
to carrying me an hour and half. She currently goes out no more than 25
miles a week total , alternates from running loose on trotting and hilly rides,
riding by me on trails walk/jog, a 1/2 hour lesson under saddle a week, and
maybe a day a week wandering around trimming trail.
She is Arab/paint, medium bone, great big feet,
15.3h. She has no leg or conformation faults the vets and I can see, and
has never been lame, popped splints, etc. It has been a long, slow
progressive exercise program.
This weekend we did a ride out a dirt road, 9.5
miles total. After a very long walking warmup, we slow jogged the slight
hill about 2.5 miles. I worry as the road is as hard as pavement. I try to
keep her on the soft shoulder as much as possible, but a lot of the riding and
exercise this horse does is on very hard, unyielding ground. I got off and
walked her on the down hill, then back on to ride on the flat.
Most of our trails here (northern Calif) are either
very hard or rocky. I am sure folks on other parts of the country deal
with this too, but would appreciate any comments regarding riding on hard
surfaces, how much is too much for this age, etc. I was not on her back
more than a 1/2 hour until this fall......and I know people will laugh as some
are doing 25 mile rides on 4 year olds.....but this girl has been still growing
and I think her back should be fairly mature before carrying my weight (under
160 with tack)
This mare has been a very long term project, with
me putting a lot of thought into exercise and feeding. I am aiming for
long term soundness as a solid trail partner. There is no way I can tell
yet if she has the reoveries or desire for endurance.....however, that was what
I bought her for. She is pretty darn laid back and calm.
