With dry weather leaving the ground rock hard in many areas, horse owners and riders face a challenge – especially if competitions are likely to be on firm going. But does training on hard ground actually help prepare your horse, or could it do more harm than good?
In this short video, Dr David Marlin explains:
- How hard ground affects joints, bones, tendons, and ligaments
- Why older horses and those with arthritis may be at higher risk
- The real benefits (and limits) of training on hard ground
- How to safely prepare for competing on firm going
- Why sudden changes in surface – hard or soft – increase injury risk
Key takeaway: While very short, controlled sessions on hard ground can help strengthen bone, longer periods offer little benefit and can actually cause harm. The safest approach is to train on a variety of consistent surfaces, with only a few minutes each day on ground similar to your competition surface.
Watch the full video below to hear Dr Marlin’s advice.
