Getting Started
What is endurance riding?
If you are looking at this site you probably are generally aware that Endurance riding involves riding over relatively long distances, maybe at a speed more than a normal hack. You may have the idea that it’s just for those mad speed merchants with Arabs. At the top level of competition, indeed most people do ride Arabs (partly due to historical precedent, and partly due to Arabs reputation for stamina and physiology), and indeed do ride at a speed (over a distance) which most normal everyday riders would think of as challenging! Be reassured – at the novice level its much less daunting (and you don’t need an arab!). But it is still more than a normal hack…….
A typical ride will take you over varied terrain, mainly off-road on bridleways and private land; often through beautiful scenery; and often along private tracks where riding isn’t normally permitted. Rides differ enormously in character: there may be rivers to ford, gates to open and difficult hilly terrain to negotiate – as in the famous Golden Horseshoe ride – or miles of relatively level grassy and sandy tracks offering scope for long canters though woods or over heathland. As you gain experience, you and your horse will undoubtedly start to find out what sort of rides you both enjoy. One thing that all rides offer is the opportunity to meet new people and develop friendships and maybe riding partnerships - by and large endurance riders and crew are a very friendly bunch who all help and support each other.
 En route at an ER |
Endurance GB, the “official” organisation for endurance riding for England and Wales, runs a progressive scheme of rides of various types, distances and levels of experience (see EGB website for full details). Basically these can be grouped into:
· Pleasure/social rides/Non Competitive Rides (NCR) – rides typically between 16k (10miles) and 32k (20 miles) which are classed as “non competitive”: ie you do them for the pleasure and/or experience but they do not count in any competitive record. However, they are a good introduction, as (unlike comparable pleasure or sponsored rides run by local organisations) they require you to complete the distance within specific time parameters (the same as for novice competitive rides) and may, if run alongside competitive rides, also introduce you to EGB vetting procedures (see below). You do not need to be a member or have a registered horse to enter.
· Competitive Rides (CR) – rides of between 32k (20 miles) and 80k (50 miles). These are primarily aimed at novice and intermediate riders , and also involve you in completing the ride within specific time parameters ( ie, minimum and maximum speed) as well as passing a pre- and post- ride (and for rides above 50k, mid-ride) vetting. They are open to members of EGB with registered horses, and results from these rides are entered into your competitive record with EGB. Under the “try before you buy” scheme, non members can enter one competitive ride.
· Competitive “Endurance Rides” (ER) of between 80k (c.50 miles) and 160k (100 miles). These only have a minimum speed (no maximum) – the aim being to get round as fast as possible, taking account of terrain and conditions, and successfully pass all vet checks. ERs are aimed at advanced riders and horses, and some are run as international rides under FEI regulations. There are lots of things to learn about ERs (beyond the scope of this section of the website to give all the details!). Come and watch or help at a ER to see what’s involved (see below).
How do I start?
Most people start by doing one or two pleasure, training or social rides to “test the water” and introduce themselves and their horses to riding at the speeds required for competitive rides (8-15 kph for novice horses and riders) as well as to vet check procedures (if the ride offers this). However, there is nothing to stop you starting off by entering a novice level competitive ride – the only real difference between pleasure and competitive rides being the vet check procedures.
EnduranceGB Associate Membership Scheme
The new Associate Membership Scheme is an ideal way to get started for a very reasonable price, so please think of this; actually belonging to a Group under this scheme could give you the sense of belonging as officials in the group will have heard your name and thus you would not be a stranger, which could give you the confidence to ‘give it a try’.
EnduranceGB Full Membership
Joining details will be found on the main EnduranceGB Website. . If you are live in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Gloucestershire, you will automatically be assigned to the Cotswold group unless you elected to join another Group. You can elect to join our group if you live outside this area, by telling the EnduranceGB central office in Stoneleigh, who will pass your details on to us.
Cotswold Group Newsletter Subscriber
If you are not ready to join then subscribe to our newsletter to receive news of the rides in your area. Download a subscription form here.
Vetting
At all competitive rides, and at pleasure rides which are run alongside competitive rides, you will be required to present your horse for veterinary inspection before and after (and, for longer rides, during) the ride. Whilst initially this may seem daunting, think of it as an opportunity to get free veterinary check-ups on your horse!
 At a veterinary inspection |
The vet will check a number of things – at the most basic, the horse’s soundness (checked by a trot-up) and general fitness (as indicated by heart rate and recovery) and any obvious “lumps and bumps” which may affect the horse’s ability to do the ride (or which happened on the ride). At higher levels/ longer distances, vet checks get more thorough – beyond the scope of this page to detail (but by the time you get to riding these distances, you’ll know all about vet checks anyway!). If you enter “graded” rides, the results of the vet check, plus the speed at which you rode, will be used to calculate a completion “grade”, designed to reward horse fitness and horsemanship. Grades range from 1 (best) to 4; plus completion (or elimination!).
It pays to do a little preparation work before your first ride, to make sure your horse will stand still for veterinary inspection, and will trot-up in hand. If you want to know more about what is involved, we suggest you attend a ride and/or find a more experienced person to show you the ropes (see TIPS below).
Your first competitive ride
When you enter your first competitive EGB ride, it pays to tell the organiser (put a note with your entry form) that this is your first ride and ask whether they can find someone for you to ride with. You also could put a message on the EGB discussion forum (if you are an EGB member) or on our Cotswold discussion forum to see if anyone if willing to pair up with you. Often more experienced riders are riding in shorter graded or set speed rides- for example on a novice horse – and are very willing to ride with someone new to EGB rides.
We would strongly advice you to bring along a friend/helper as your crew – most of us find our first EGB competitive ride a nerve-wracking experience, and having a second pair of hands (especially if they have some endurance experience) is invaluable.
 Trotting up at a vet gate |
You will have been given a vetting time in your rider pack. Arrive in plenty of time to allow your horse to settle and for you to find where everything is, collect your number bib etc. (remember to bring your membership cards and log book, if an EGB member). Typically your vetting is about half an hour before your start time, allowing you time after the vetting to tack-up and make last minute preparations (including the rescue remedy if necessary!), before arriving at the start – ideally just before your advised start-time.
Don’t be afraid to make it known to everyone that you and your horse are novices (a green ribbon in your horse’s tail signifies this for your horse) - people are generally very helpful and accommodating and more than willing to answer questions and give advice.
Don’t be tempted to gallop off fast at the beginning, or to keep up with riders who are riding faster than you intended: they may well be in a different class and riding at faster speeds. If you have done your preparation well, you will know roughly what pace you need to go at to complete the ride within the time parameters allowed for novices, so try to stick to this pace (if your horse doesn’t think otherwise!).
Remember general ride etiquette – ask people if you want to pass them, and go past slowly (especially if they are on an excitable or novice horse), be polite at gates and don’t rush off whilst others are still going through them – ditto if horses are stopping to drink at streams or puddles. Be very polite to stewards (e.g. at road crossings) and follow their instructions; remember to ensure your number is taken at checkpoints, and always remember that stewards are unpaid helpers who are there for your safety.
 Crews meet riders en route |
Hopefully you will have arranged for your crew person to meet you at various points on the route. Here you can take a short breather, offer your horse some water, and if he is hot, “slosh” him (pour water on his shoulders and neck to help him to cool). Remember to eat and drink yourself as well!
When you finish, your finish time will be recorded and you will be given a time to present to the vet (usually 30 minutes after your finish). If its hot, you may need to spend time cooling your horse by washing him/her down. Check his/her rate of recovery by taking a heart rate – if its under the limit (currently 64 beats a minute) then you have no need to worry. Achieving a heart rate low enough to win you a grade 1 can come later!
TOP TIPS
Get involved
 Vet writing gives you good insights |
Volunteer to help out at local rides- it’s a great way of finding out what happens! Ride organisers are always grateful for help and as long as you are willing to do anything from being a car park steward; spending the day manning a road crossing; or (if you are lucky to get one of the favourite jobs!) Vet writing, you will learn a lot. By observing what’s going on and talking to people you can get a great insight into the sport, and make excellent contacts - for example for future training and riding partners.
Offer to crew
 All systems go preparing for vetting |
Offer to help an experienced rider by crewing on a ride (or preferably more than one!). Its quite an eye-opener, and an excellent way to learn about how to manage a horse to ensure optimum performance. By helping to prepare for the ride, learning what to do at vet checks, learning how to help a horse recover in the quickest possible time, and sharing in the pleasure of a success – or pain of a failure - you gain a great insight into the sport. Not to mention chatting to other crews at crewing points – not only a good social experience, but also an opportunity to learn - don’t be afraid to ask questions and find out how others do it (and don’t be offended if they don’t tell you!).
Vetting
Be prepared! It helps to practice vetting procedures –get a friend to pretend to be a vet and check your horse (include checking the horse heart rate with a stethoscope, or pretending to!). Also practice the trot-up: make sure your horse can trot alongside you on a loose rein and in a straight line for 30m or so.
Find a training partner or mentor
More experienced riders are often happy to come and do a couple of training rides with you (or for you to go and ride with them) – it can give them an opportunity to ride somewhere different. This can help you and your horse understand what sort of pace and attitude is required to do a ride; and, provided your “mentor” is willing, gives you an opportunity to ask lots of questions away from the competitive pressure of a real ride. You can also practice post ride procedures including cooling etc., and learn how to check your horse’s rate of recovery. This can be the start of great riding and training partnerships. Remember, you can use the Cotswold discussion forum to help locate people who are near to you.
Study the route and plan your ride
When you enter a ride, you will get a rider’s pack – typically 5-7 days before the ride. This will include a map of the ride  Study the route map |
; may include a “talk round” (verbal description of the ride route), and may include further instructions on how to get to the venue, specific restrictions etc. Make sure you read this information, and in particular check out the route carefully – ideally on an OS map of the area. Whilst most rides are very thoroughly marked, it is not unknown for “marker vandals” to switch route marking signs on the day. So, being prepared by having studied the route on an OS map can reap big dividends!
When you are studying the route, its worth making mental (or real!) notes on difficult and easy sections and trying to work out what times you would expect to get to various points on the ride, at minimum and maximum speed. This means that, on the day, you will be able to work out whether you need to speed up or slow down to do the ride within the set time parameters.
Enjoy yourself!
 Jill and Spirit enjoying themselves at an ER |
Those of us who participate in endurance riding have learned very quickly that it is one of the most enjoyable equestrian sports both for us and our horses, not to mention the lasting bonds of friendship with other riders developed through sharing rides, laughter (and occasionally tears).
But perhaps most importantly, riding for long distances across glorious, and often remote and peaceful, countryside in the company of our horses is, for many of us, a very special experience. The hours spent together - often alone - in training and riding develops a deep bond between us and our horses, and perhaps takes us on a journey away from everyday modern life back towards something deeper and more meaningful.
Further Reading
If you are interested in reading more about endurance riding, several books are available:
· Endurance: Start to Finish; Marcy Pavord; J.A.Allen & Co Ltd; 1996
· Endurance Riding: from first steps to 100 miles. Clare Wilde; Kenilworth Press Ltd; 1996 (paperback 2006)
· The Complete Guide to Endurance Riding and Competition; Donna Snyder-Smith; Howell Book House Inc.,U.S.; 1998
· Go the Distance: Complete Resource for Endurance Riding; Nancy Loving; Kenilworth Press Ltd; 2006 (latest edition)
· The Endurance Horse: Anne Hyland; ; J.A.Allen & Co Ltd; 1988
Also check out the web links in the Links section of this website
