Endurance Ride, Help for First Timer Please!!

[alwaysbroke]

Always willing to try something new, daughter and I have agreed to accompany two of our friends on a 20k Non Competitive Endurance ride over the weekend.

Problem is none of us have done one before, and we would really appreciate any help, tips and advice you could give, as to what to expect and what to do, really a complete beginners guide!

Thanks in advance

 

[lucindastapleton]

Hi! I would be delighted to give you a few pointers for your first ride, it must seem very nerve-wracking at this stage, but just treat it like a nice hack in the countryside and you'll be fine.

Leave lots of time to get to the venue, I usually pack everything up the night before (except the horse!). Bring layers and comfortable gear for you and your horse, don't use new stuff at this stage and if you can ride your horse without boots, I would. Bring water and a bucket to wash him down afterwards, sponge etc, a haylage net (more water in it than hay), and some water and a bucket for your horse to drink. Don't change anything on the morning/day of the ride in terms of your horse, same feed, routine etc.

When you arrive at the venue, you will go with your friends and sign in, get a map, a number cloth etc. If you are worried about your horse getting over-excited when he gets to the event, ask your friends if they can park with you away from the other trailers and horses, if possible, but with endurance you find that even silly horses calm down as they get going on the route, as it's long enough to dull their over-exuberance!

If it's an Endurance GB event you are going to, then you will go back to your trailer and collect your horse and take him to the vet (wearing just his bridle) who will get you to trot him up in front of him, just to make sure he isn't lame. You can practise this at home if you are worried. You might be asked to get the farrier to look at his shoes too, to make sure they are not likely to fall off! Then you go and get tacked up, go over to the start, and off you go.

Your friends will guide you as to speed and route. If you are worried about your horse's fitness over the distance, just slow down, it's speed that's the killer with endurance, most horses can do a reasonable distance given lots of time.

At the lower end of endurance everyone is only competing against themselves so you will find everyone is exceptionally friendly and no one minds if you don't have endurance gear, comfort is the name of the game. You might want to wear long sox under your jods to protect your legs from the stirrup leathers rubbing and seamless knickers (sloggis/tescos Florence ones) and/or invest in a fluffy seat saver as a treat to yourself and your behind, it will also keep you warm when riding in the winter! Bring sunscreen too, if it looks like it's going to be hot. A fitness bar for your pocket. And plenty of water for yourself. You probably won't have a water carrier on your saddle at this stage so make sure you are well hydrated before you set off. And if you can get your horse to have a drink beforehand, all the better too.

Your route will be marked by flourescent arrows on the ground, your friends wont let you get lost, and there are checkpoints enroute.

When you cross the finish line, you will have half an hour to present your horse back to the vet. So take him back to the trailer and take his saddle and bridle off, offer him a drink (hold the bucket waist-high), check him over for knocks/scrapes, check his feet for no stones, and give him a good wash down (unless it's a freezing day), sweat scrape him and let him graze/eat his haylage. If there's a wind, put a light rug on him, you don't want him ceasing up. Then wander over to the vet and you will go through the same process again of trotting him up. Then the vet will tell you you've passed and when you give your number bib back to the secretary, you should get a smashing rosette.

When you get home, if possible, turn your horse out so he can keep moving and not get stiff. Give him his usual supper and watch that he drinks. He can stay out all night if you are able to let him. Then give him a gentle walk out the next day, either in hand or on him, and he should be right as rain. Most horses love endurance, it's a fun day out for them.

I am going to the Endurance GB event at Thorseby Park in Nottinghamshire this weekend - is this the event you are going to? I am not riding although I do do endurance (I will be at the Finish line offering riders' Horse Quencher, a new product that gets horses drinking when they often refuse to when at an event such as this) so if you would like any more help on the day, do please come and find me. I don't visit this forum very often so if you would like to ask me some more questions about your forthcoming ride, I would be very happy to help, so do feel free to google me and drop me an email.

I am sure you will have a lovely time and who knows you might even get the bug, you can enjoy endurance at any level and it's a great way to ride in places you would never normally get the chance too. People are really friendly too and you get horses of every age and description, enjoy your day!

 

[EstherYoung]

You'll be fine Rule number one is enjoy yourself (and watch out, they're very adddictive, these rides).

We put together a bit of a light hearted 'newbies handbook' in our local group:
http://www.westridingegb.co.uk/newbieshandbook.htm Some of the info needs updating but you'll get the gist.

Oh and if you are going to Thoresby, we'll be there too, vetgating in the morning and on the massage stand in the afternoon. Come and say hello

 

[Faro]

Not much to add really to what Lucinda and Esther have already said.

Just be aware though, that even for a Pleasure Ride there is a minimum and maximum time outside of which you won't get your completion rosette! So, it's most definitely not a race, but neither will you have time for a slow plod around the countryside. You will need to be in trot a fair amount of the way.

For a PR of 20km, I would suggest you aim to ride at 10kph, meaning the ride will take you 2 hours. It doesn't matter if you don't know your horse's own speed (don't let that worry you), you can easily work out time over distance from your ride map. So mark the 5km point on your map and at 10kph (should you decide to use that as your optimum speed) you should be at that point in 1/2 hour, the 10km point you should reach in about an hour etc. etc. If you're way ahead of or behind time at any of your marked points on your map, then you can speed up or slow down a little accordingly. That would be a good challenge for you as well, to see how close to 10kph you can come in at (especially if you decide that in the future you fancy doing competitive endurance) because it'll be excellent practise in riding towards a set speed. (Don't forget to wear a watch!) Honestly, it's not as hard/technical at I might have made it seem.

Finally, got to back Esther up and say "enjoy yourself". You'll probably find that the atmosphere at an endurance event is completely different from a "normal" horse show. Everyone's really friendly and when you tell anyone it's your first time, they'll most likely fall over themselves to help out in any way they can.

Anyway, please let us know how you get on.

 

[alwaysbroke]

Wow thank you guys for such detailed replies, I am blown away!

It is Thoresby that we are going to, on the Monday, will keep an eye out for you. Really looking forward to it now

 

[lucindastapleton]

Hi, I'll be there on the Monday with my buckets of HQ at the Finish - so do make yourselves known. Hopefully you will have a big grin from ear-to-ear!

 

[lucindastapleton]

I forgot to add that Faro is spot on about the time aspect of the ride, and Esther and Faro are also spot on about the enjoyment and addiction factors.
You never know, you might want to treat yourself to one of Esther's heavenly massages at the end of your ride - they are so wonderful you'll be floating on air when you leave the venue!
Look forward to meeting you on Monday!

 

[Faro]

Hi Lucinda,

I won't be there this weekend, but I've heard that HQ will also be at Berkshire Downs next weekend. Am v. interested in trying HQ, so should I look out for you there too?

 

[fizzywhizz]

I went to an endurance training day run by our Riding Club last weekend. The lady who had organised it had a few buckets of Horse Quencher and my horse who can be very fussy about drinking on rides loved it.

Enjoy your first pleasure ride - it is definitely addictive - did my first one last August and joined EGB this year.

Definitely keep an eye on your times - that was the thing that surprised me the first time out. You and your horse will love it.

Have fun!