Advice needed from Endurance riders.

WelshMisfit

WelshMisfit

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After doing our first pleasure ride with Endurance GB on Sunday, my friend and I would really like to have a crack at doing it competitively. We had a fab time although I think we rode it too fast! Neither of us know very much about it so would be really grateful for any advice or information anyone could give us. We're a little confused about how the points system works etc. Does anyone on here have any advice please? Thanks! :)
 
Yep, there are maximum allowed speeds for both pleasure rides and comeptitive rides. For a pleasure ride, from memory I think (but am ready to stand corrected) the max speed is 12kph. If you look at the EGB Website as mclelkat has pointed out, all of the details can be found on there. (If you let us know how long you took (accurately) and what the official ride distance was, I can work your speed out for you if you like!)

As you progress to competitive rides, the minimum and maximum speeds alter accordingly. The idea is NOT to be the fastest back (at least not until you're at advanced level and taking part in proper Endurance Rides, as opposed to Competitive Rides), rather the idea is to come in well within those parameters, but to get a good grade (award), the horse needs to pass the vet at the end (must trot up sound - is also checked for dehydration, cuts/wounds/marks etc. etc.) and the lower the finishing heart rate the better (the fitter the horse is, the lower the HR is likely to be, to put it very simply). The Grade is then given according to a chart with a table of speed against finishing heart rate.

I'm sure the EGB Website, and many others on here too, will explain it far better than me.

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the ride, and glad that you want to come back to do more. Where were you at, Tresham? Would have liked to have gone myself, but am having to pick my rides very carefully this year as the finances have to stretch!

I don't know where you're based, but a good ride to get to, if you can, is the Berkshire Downs ride in early June - over the famous Ridgeway. There is a Pleasure Ride on both days as well as competitive rides of varying distances. Unless you go as a temporary day member, then you will need to register both yourself and the horse with EGB to take part in a Competitive Ride. And I would recommend starting with a 30 - 33km distance for your first one.

Feel free to ask if you've any more questions.
 
Have looked on the EGB website under the categories you mention but it doesn't mention anything in there. Unless it's me not seeing it! :(

Would really appreciate someone who does Endurance regularly to be able to give me an idiot's guide to what to expect! lol

Also, what kind of costs should we bear in mind when we first join.
 
I'm in South Wales and we did the Keepers Lodge ride from Brechfa forest. We did the 16km ride as it was our first one and didn't know what to expect. Toyed with the idea of doing the 22km but my friend was really tired (not as fit as she thought, although her horse had plenty more in the tank!) and we turned for home when the ride split. Suffice to say, she spent yesterday having to go up and down stairs on her bum! lol :D

We did the 16km in 1hr 5 mins which I think was too fast. My friend took the horses' heart rates about 5 mins after we'd finished and they were both 48. Am thinking that is really good and hoping she got it right?!

We're entered to do Man v Horse in June so hoping to do quite a few endurance type rides between now and then as a training schedule and then to continue with the Endurance as it's the kind of riding we enjoy. :)
 
Whereabouts are you based? The best thing might be to contact the local group and meet up with someone who can talk you through the basics or to help crew for an experienced rider at an event. That way you will see how it goes first hand and could then arrange to ride with someone for your first competitive outing. Some of the groups also run training rides when there will be help available. Faro has covered the basics but its hard to explain it all in print.
 
16k in just over an hour is pretty fast but the pulse rates sound fine. You'd need to pace yourselves a little more if you start to go for longer distances and its better for the horses to learn to take things at a steady pace rather than going too fast! There are several groups in South Wales - go to the EGB website, then look at the groups list page for contacts in your area.
 
We rode with EGB South and West Wales on Sunday but we did it with absolutely no idea what we were doing so didn't know where the checkpoints were, how many or how far apart they were so we could pace ourselves. We didn't do the ride thinking we'd want to do it competitively. It's just now we think we'd really like to give it a go because we enjoyed it so much. :)
When you do it competitively, do you know how many checkpoints there are and at what distances apart they are so you can pace yourself? Numpty question I know, but I really don't have a clue! We didn't do a lot of hareing around, just lots of steady cantering with sections of walk and trot in between. We were back before we realised to be honest because we had no idea how far we'd gone! :(

I guess with time we'll get to understand it all a bit better and we'll learn as we go along.
 
If you are taking part in a pleasure ride that is being run alongside competitive classes, then your speed should be between 8 and 12 km/hour. However, in practice most riders go too fast and the Techinical Steward on the day rarely fails a pleasure rider for going too fast, but will point out that you should watch your speed next time. This is to safeguard the welfare of the horse. If you take part in a competitive ride, you will be in a novice class to start with and the speed must be 8 to 15 km/hour. If you ride faster than that, you will be failed for going too fast. As you progress into Open/Advanced classes, you can ride up to 18km/hour. Endurance Rides (ERs) are for Advanced horse & riders only and are races with the first across the line winning, provided they pass the vet. If you are interested, join your local group and offer to help out at a ride - helpers are always welcome - you will learn alot from other riders and helpers. It's great fun, the people are friendly and the horses are fabulous with their welfare being the top of everyone's list.
 
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