Endurance UK Style ?

NZJenny

NZJenny

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I'm in New Zealand and here, all of our endurance rides are run under FEI rules.

Along side endurance we also run Competitive Trail Riding, which works on a scoring system. Very basically, you ride a set track to a set time and there are penalty points for being under or over time. We also take heart rates, before, at the finish line and 30 minutes after finishing. The second two HR's are added to time penalties and the lowest score wins.

So a couple of us are wondering if maybe it's time for a change, and I know that UK endurance rides are run a bit differently - but I can't see for looking a nice easy description on the website. Can someone give me a run down please? I know for example that you do have set time rides, and graded qualifications, but that's about it.

Thank you.
 
Scotland works slightly differently to England and Wales, as we have SERC (Scottish Endurance Riding Club) instead of EGB. Ireland has ILDRA.

We have:

0. Taster rides (8k to under 15k, mileage doesn't count. Used for baby-pony first outings, or to give newcomers a no-stress introduction, for example)

1. Pleasure rides (15--29k): to be completed at 8--11kph. HR/trot-up before and after, you have 30 mins to present after, vet or "competent person" decides on "Best Presentation" for the class, based on a points system of how well the horse behaves and how good its trot-up is. Cumulative mileage counts.

2. Training rides (same distances at PL): run under competitive rules, as below. Minimum speed 9kph.

3. Competitive rides: 30k+. Can be used for grading (see below). HR/trot-up at beginning, full vetting at end and in vet gates. Vet gates are introduced at 50k. Awards are made, based and penalties. Final heart rate (2nd HR of CRI) is the most common cause of penalties: 48bpm or lower is no penalties, thereafter 1 penalty per 4 bpm, to maximum of 64bpm. Awards can be Gold, Silver, Bronze, or completion, within each speed category. Best Condition is awarded by vet. Points can be accumulated towards annual trophies, based on distance, award, and Speed Category. It's not a race!

4. Endurance rides (60k+): can be used for grading. Normal, first-past-the-post-who-vets-sound wins, with vet gates.

5. Camp rides: non-competitive, but accumulate mileage. Held over several days, with their own set of rules, and no minimum speed.

Grading system (the basics):

Bronze Thistle, consists of 2x 30k or 40k, + 1x 50k (the Bronze Thistle Final). Until you have your BTF, you must declare a Speed Category (SC3: 9.5--10.99kph, SC2: 11--12.99kph, SC1: 13kph+). If you go too fast or too slow, you get penalty points. BTF qualifies you for 2-day 60k and 2-day 80k, also 60k Competitive or Endurance rides, and makes you exempt from declaring a Speed Category (yay!).

Silver Thistle, consists of 2x 60k at minimum 11kph, and 1x 80k at minimum 11kph (the Silver Thistle Final).

Gold Thistle, consists of 1x80k at minimum 13kph, OR 2x 80k at minimum 11kph.
 
Wow it's complicated! Australia runs under AERA rules:
1. Must complete 2 x 40km at not more than 14 kph before you can enter an 80km.
2. Complete 3 x 80kms at no more than 14 kph.
3. Horse then qualifies as an Open horse and can enter 80km rides at any speed you like.
3. Must be an open horse before entering a 160km.
Riders must also qualify using the same criteria. Once you are an Open rider you can then get on any Open horse and ride Open.
Vet checks at no more than 40km intervals. Must be sound and "fit to continue". Heart rate generally must be under 55 bpm no more than 30 minutes after crossing the line. You can vet before 30 minutes but you only get one crack at it: if it's too high you can't represent (unlike FEI vet gate into hold). Hold time between legs generally an hour (so 30 minuutes to get to th evet, 30 minutes after). You can't go out before the full hour has elapsed.
We don't routinely use CRIs. Check gut sounds, hydration parameters and for back pain, leg injuries etc. at each vet check.
Winners; first to third in each weight category. The first three or 5 horses across the line in each weight category (depending on timing and number of entries) come back after exactly 1 hour after their in time (so it's the same for each horse) and are reassessed by the head vet for attitude, hydration, surface factors and gait (another trot out). This is added into a formula along with ride time, overall average heart rate and the rider's weight to get a final "Best Conditioned" horse in each weight category. I really like this system as a horse that finishes a bit slower but that is carrying a heavier rider and has a lower overall heart rate can still take out BC. It is more hotly sought after than first across the line.
 
Graded rides evolved from CTRs. Similar principle - ride the ride at a set speed and then your grading at the end depends on the horse's finishing pulse and the speed that you rode. You're not competing against anyone other than yourself, though.

You have to qualify by completing a series of distances at novice and open level before you can compete in competitive endurance rides (80km+). The general premise of competitive endurance rides (mass start, first past the post that passes the vet wins) is the same the world over.
 
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