Does anyone do endurance?

[cullord]

I am really interested in trying endurance riding but would like to learn more about it before committing myself. Does anyone know of any good (current & UK) books that cover the sport thoroughly? Also, what organisations are best to join?

 

[Morgan123]

Hellooooo. I do. It's amazing. I'm often riding along thinking OMG I can't believe this is really a sport, it's too fun!! You also learn loads from it. What do you want to know? I will pm you my email address.

Basically there are two organisations in the UK, Sport Endurance (mainly up North) and Endurance GB which covers the whole UK, and is more relevant for you as I see you're in Middlesex. Have a look at the endurance GB website as there is loads of useful info about getting started. http://endurancegb.co.uk/main/.

A good way to start is by trying a Training Ride, they're usually fun and low key.

What's your horse like?

 

[Flame_]

I do too. It is amazing. I think the book I got is Endurance from Start to Finish but tbh I'm more into getting on with things and ballsing them up until I get better than reading about them so I can't really remember how helpful it is. The best way to start is with local area group social/training rides, then a pleasure ride with a vet check and trot up at a national ride, then if you and your horse enjoy them, do a novice graded ride.

ETA I'm an EGB member in Cheshire, so that area group, and the Cheshire committee people are really nice. Look on the EGB website for the "groups map" to see what group you'd be in.

 

[tiga71]

I do it too. I am a member of the South East Group and it is a very friendly bunch of people. I compete at Novice level and I have a hairy cob. Our max is about 40 km.

I haven't read any books about it. I just started by doing a few pleasure and training rides and have gone from there. It is a fab way to have lots of fun with your horse.

Have a look at the EGB website and see what pleasure/training rides are coming up.

 

[EstherYoung]

It's great fun and very addictive, and everyone is very friendly and helpful. We're in the West Riding Group of EGB which covers west and south Yorkshire.

Most people start with a local pleasure ride. These will either be very informal affairs run by the local group, or they will be a little bit more structured and run alongside a competitive ride, but you'd be more than welcome to come along and there are always plenty of people on hand to help and advise. Explain to the organiser that you are very new and they will see you right.

There are lots of books out there. Some aren't UK books and some are a bit dated now (rule changes etc), but there's good stuff in them regardless. Anything by the late Marcy Pavord contains sensible advice. I've also got an American book called "Go the Distance" by Nancy Loving which I really rate.

There are a few blogs that might be worth you reading too. The Americans have one called Green Bean Endurance which contains helpful advice for newbies. Endurance 101 is worth a look too. EGB has just started a blog (on the main EGB site under the news menu) which will take time to get going but there are some useful articles on there already. Beth Langley has a good blog too. And I've got one called Esther's Endurance Exploits, which is just a collection of my ride reports over the years but will give you a flavour for the sport. If you're googling, Susan Garlinghouse writes some really excellent stuff.

Hope to see you on the trail soon xxx

 

[EstherYoung]

Ps Karen Corr writes a good blog too - she competes with her cob so she has a lot of useful information about competing with unconventional horses.

 

[wkiwi]

There are lots of books out there. Some aren't UK books and some are a bit dated now (rule changes etc), but there's good stuff in them regardless. Anything by the late Marcy Pavord contains sensible advice. I've also got an American book called "Go the Distance" by Nancy Loving which I really rate.
Hope to see you on the trail soon xxx

completely agree with these books. You can get away with not knowing a lot at the lower levels, but if you want to do it seriously then it is very important to understand the physiology of the horse during endurance rides, how nutrition affects dehydration/muscle fatigue etc. There is also a lot of up-to-date research (published/scientific) available online for free (use google scholar) if you want to top up with recent material.
Make sure you and your horse are fit enough then have a go and see if you enjoy it, then decide later how serious you want to get with it.