Endurance?

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Can someone please explain to me how you start doing endurance rides?

On your first one do you get to go round with someone more experienced? I've had a look on the edurance GB website but couldn't make much of how to get started, do I need to become a member first? If not then what do I do?

Sorry for so many questions anything else I missed please explain. :D
 
Start off on a charity/pleasure ride. These tend to be 10-20 miles, this is an easy distance for a reasonably fit horse and you won't need a crew for that.

For such non-competitive rides you have a simple trot up for the vet, go at your own pace (enjoy the view) and get a rosette at the end.

Then you start (if you want to) to do novice competitive rides (CTR) of about 20 - 25 miles.

Then you gradually increase the distance and go up the grades if you wish. It is best to join when you start to do competitive rides. Anything up to 25 miles you don't HAVE to have a crew.
 
Happy to supply any info on gettng started in endurance, just pm me. Here is a very brief idea of the rides:

Affiliated rides (those listed on the EGB website schedule page) run 3 types of classes. NCR - non-competative rides (also known as pleasure rides)
CR- competative rides
ER - endurance rides

Anyone can enter a NCR, but they are cheaper for members. Cost depends on distance (see website for entry fees), & are up to about 30km (sorry but all distances are in kilometres not miles).

CR's run from 30 to 80km. As a non-member you can enter up to 2 CR's, max 40km, on the 'try before you buy' scheme. This lets you try the sport before investing in horse registration & membership. Every person & horse starts at 'novice' level, where they can do rides up to 50km. After successfully completing a set number & distance of rides, they may upgrade to 'open' level, where they may do CR's up to 80km.

Again, after passing set distances/number of rides they may upgrade to 'advanced' level. At this level they can enter CR's of any distance, & ER's which are races (from 80 to 160km).

Most people start with NCR's to build experience & stamina. It also gives you a good idea if you will enjoy the sport. When you are ready for more of a challenge, consider doing the TBYB scheme CR's. For guidence & advice, contact your local group. They will not mind that you aren't an EGB member. They will also run training rides in your area, which are even more low key & used by members as fittening rides. They will offer advice & many groups run introductory days to give people advice when starting out. These are unmounted (they assume you have a horse & can ride if you are interested) hands on days where you learn about fittening, preparation for the day, speeds, cooling/warming afterwards etc.

If you have any questions, no matter how daft you may feel they are, pm me. There are several of us from EGB who post on here & are happy to help people into endurance. I have warned others though it is very addictive! It also offers the chance to ride new areas, like go to the other end of the country as a riding holiday making a long weekend of a ride. Try the moors, or the cultivated woods of Windsor Forest, to the rolling south downs. You will get to experience new riding areas that you would otherwise never have got to see.
 
Thanks so much for the info! :)

I have decided not to start until the spring but still want to learn as much as possible now.

Bit of a daft question but are endurance rides different from fun rides? As in are there kids looning around on their ponies and galloping past you etc as that sort of thing would really wind my lad up (ex-racer.) :)
 
Starting out on 2nd circuit of 82km ride (just over half way) at Berkshire Downs ride (Wantage). My girl looks a bit of an odd shape as we are going downhill. Finished with grade 1, she's a clever girl!

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Got to be a bit pc here. You do get some less experienced riders who think they gallop on grass then walk in between. These are the very small minority though. The way to get around in good shape is rhythm. You find your horses rhytym, then stick in it. Your pace may vary but the rhythm is as near constant as you can get it. Some riders (e.g. ER riders, advanced riders) will be going faster than you as they have faster pace parameters to meet.

However they will not come past you without first asking you if you are happy for them to do so. If you say no, they must wait. They may only do so when you are happy & it is safe. It is in the rules. Another rule is that if any rider is in trouble, you must offer assistance. It is a very polite sport, & anyone who is rude & causes you an issue will be eliminated if you report them. As such yes you will be passed, but it is done in a careful, controlled manner. We are not a bunch of loons belting out of control around the countryside.

If you have any concerns try a local training ride first, as these will be quite. Talk to EGB local members, rides vary in size from small local rides with 50 entrants to 3 days with 500 entrants. Members can give you suggestions on a quiet ride to try first, to build your confidence that people wont cause you an issue.
 
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Koko if you want a buddy let me know as I'll probably be going on the same ones as you, I've only done one (30km NCR) but have been bitten by the bug so am I going to do the try before you buy scheme next year to have a go at a competitive ride and then go from there.

It is nothing like a fun ride, no looning about and everyone is very polite and understanding! The friendliest discipline imo.
 
I was at a talk by a lady in Cheshire EGB, and it sounded really good and friendly. I am aiming to start doing NCRs next year - if anyone in Yorkshire area wants a riding buddy (a fairly steady one!) let me know!
 
The great thing about endurance is that you can take what you want from it. If you want to do pleasure rides, that's fine, if you want to stay doing the lower to middle distance competitive rides, that's fine, and if you want to do the longer stuff, that's fine too. The multi day rides in particular are like big parties and everyone is really friendly.

If it's any help, we videoed the 'Ask the Panel' event that we held just recently. There will be more parts to it (I've got to finish the editing) but here's part one:

[youtube]EumwzOSuFV8[/youtube]

ps I really don't video well.....
 
Generally, you won't find "kids looning about"! Though there usually are a few kids, it's all quite civilised. :D

They send you off at timed intervals, a bit like for XC, except that people generally leave at walk or trot rather than gallop! You can usually find someone to pal up with at the ride, or you can ask the ride secretary if they will help you find someone to go with. Most of a Pleasure Ride will be at a brisk trot, and you may find yourself being passed/passing others, also at trot, although for most of the ride, it'll just be you and your companion(s).

To get started, email whoever is the entries secretary for your local club well ahead of the date of the ride you want to try, and just say that you're new to the whole thing, and are wondering if they can help you get started/find a ride partner! Good luck! :)
 
Fjordhorsefan, you'd be more than welcome to tag along with us :) My old lad just does local group social rides these days, and Spud (of Spudcam fame) is a brilliant newbie escort :)
 
Kokopelli said:
Thanks so much for the info! :)

I have decided not to start until the spring but still want to learn as much as possible now.

Bit of a daft question but are endurance rides different from fun rides? As in are there kids looning around on their ponies and galloping past you etc as that sort of thing would really wind my lad up (ex-racer.) :)
Click to expand...

Endurance rides are basically race rides - the first one home to vet sound wins.

Competitive Trail Rides are different classes with different time allowance and distances. You are not racing anyone - the grades are worked out in a formula of your completion time and finishing heart rate.

Fun rides aren't timed or graded. If you get home and vet sound - then you get a rosette.

I have never seen any bad manners at rides. People have always requested permission to pass us - and then they tend to do so in trot only. People don't tear around - they have a LONG way to go;)

If you find someone in trouble, then you stop to help them and claim the time back afterwards. Someone was kind enough to help me once.

If you have concerns about your horse, you can put a green ribbon in his tail and people will know to give you a wide berth.
 
Thanks for all the tips everyone I'm very excited about giving it a go, just worried about how my horse will react to it.

Monkeybum thanks for the offer will definitely get in contact with you when I get round to booking a ride, will be nice to have a buddy to go round with. :)
 
ps When we took our ex racer TB to his first rides, we agreed with the organiser that he would go last, so that he could start out steadily (ahem) and settle rather than having other people coming past him early on. If you've got any concerns, speak to the organiser as they'll know the route and how the start will work and will be able to advise you on how to set yourself up for success. The local group social rides are generally much quieter and laid back, so are a good place to start off.
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ow! You just pale at the thought!

That's great Esther! How about posting a photo of your rather lovely horse?

On leaving it untill next year, the season starts late FEb, goes onto late Oct (so there are plenty of rides left this year). If there is a ride near you, why not contact the secretary, explain you are interested in getting into endurance, see if they can spare a map. Visit the venue on the day, then go out & see the competitors on course (you will know where they are going from the route map the secretary gives you). Have a chat to people when things are quiet. Maybe even offer to help out for the day (vet writing is a great job to learn what the technical side is about).

ribbons:
green - youngster/novice, red - can kick, blue - stallion
 
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Any excuse for pics.....

Our ex-racer Joe doing his first vetted ride:
JoeLindum.jpg

(photo thanks to West End Photography)

Me and Orrie (a welsh x arab dude who I competed for a friend of ours):
OrrieDukeries.jpg

(photo thanks to West End Photography)

Lulu (my shetland) with my friend Sarah:
LuluYorkshireWolds.jpg

(photo thanks to West End Photography)

And then of course not forgetting Harry & Spud:
222536_1658714828522_1256686644_31400940_1679145_n.jpg

(Photo taken at Harry's 25th birthday party ride - he's the bay, Spud's the grey)
 
Great way to start the session seeing these photos of lovely fit horses! Thanks Esther & Oberon! Great examples to show you don't have to have an arab. I'm trying after a summer recuperating after surgery to get back for Braemore (Dorset), anyone else hoping to be there?
 
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Good luck :)

I considered this with my TB once as she'd love it (adores fun rides) - but when I calculated the amount she'd need to eat to do it properly even just in training I realise it would be impossible. Not a sport for poor doers :(.
 
She was a very poor doer but with the help of Baileys Outshine and lots of fibre from Simple Systems she competed distances up to 80k!

Unfortunately, she had to be pts three years ago, six months after colic surgery for an intestinal abscess!
 
My daughter has just started doing endurance. She is a member of her local riding club and has joined their team. This enables her to 'have a go' without joining EGB but can compete at their events as a novice. If you're a member of riding club, why not ask them if they have a team?
 
What a shame, she was truly gorgeous. My horse is 19yo, I've only had her 2 years, would have liked to have had her when she was younger, I'm sure she would have been ace at endurance.

She's not bad now, although recently diagnosed with arthritic changes, so we won't be progressing to anything more than NCR's :)
 
Holly, doesn't matter she will stick to NCR's. As long as you're both having fun that's all that counts. Personally I think that's one of the best aspects of the sport, you don't have to go further or faster if you don't want to, which is why it is a sport for a vast range of horses.

I'd also vote for SS. Mine does exceptionally well on grass nuts, fibre nuts & top-spec lite. Here's my next endurance horse when she was a few weeks old, bred her from my grey girl who've I've already posted a photo of on this thread.

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She's now a strapping 3 year old & I can't wait!
 
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Def give it a go!

My (non arab!) girl and I gave it a go at Ciren earlier this year, with the help of brilliant advice from Pip6!

We had a brilliant time, I have never met such a bunch of friendly helpful people. No need to worry about knowing everything first time out as people are so willing to help. Such a lovely atmosphere too!

We did the 16km NCR (non competative ride, so you aim to complete between two speeds and get a rosette at the end!). We saw the farrier too and trotted up for the vet before and after. The trot up wound my mare up a bit, but given that we could just start the ride and keep trotting to settle her, it went well. We were also really lucky to join up with a lady doing the same ride, but who had competed up to 90km rides! Very helpful as my girl was rather keen to catch up with people infront, although no one passed us. When we passed people we asked if it was ok to pass and then quietly trotted past.

It was brilliant fun, although we wound up being faster than I intended as my 'would rather not go forwards' mare suddenly found her fast forward switch!

Can't recommend it enough! You don't need anything out of the ordinary (except a map case) but a comfy hat, saddle and bridle and a healthy horse - just go out and enjoy!
 
mystiandsunny said:
Good luck :)

I considered this with my TB once as she'd love it (adores fun rides) - but when I calculated the amount she'd need to eat to do it properly even just in training I realise it would be impossible. Not a sport for poor doers :(.
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I think you could be surprised - because endurance is an extension of the long slow distance work, the bulk of most endurance horses' diets is fibre and oil based feed, so not that different to what you'd be packing a poor doer with anyway. They really don't need corning up. Even the specialised endurance mixes that are designed for horses doing the longer stuff at speed contain relatively high levels of fibre and oil compared to, say, regular competition mix.

Plus, all the long slow distance work that's done in training actually builds condition and muscle rather than takes it off. I love watching them change shape and bloom at the beginning of the season as they get fitter. Really, up to 40km particularly you shouldn't need to change the feeding from what you would feed her to do the fun rides.

If she's fit enough to do the rides, there's no reason why she should lose lots of weight from them. I find that at novice level they're more likely to lose weight from the travelling than the ride, which means she'd be just as likely to lose weight travelling to a show. Once you start talking about longer distances, yes they can lose weight during the ride but that's generally only noticeable if they've overdone it and haven't eaten/drunk enough during the ride itself. The idea is to keep them topped up as they're going round, so I'll let mine have a snatch of grass every hour or so on the way round, and then they eat at the vet gates. If they keep eating and drinking OK, then they'll finish looking like they've done nowt.

And anyhows, you'd have a bit to go before reaching the longer distances, if the longer stuff even appeals to you at all. I'm one of the old fashioned people who believes it takes at least 4 years to make an endurance horse. In those four years, the horse is learning its trade steadily, it's toughening up and getting stronger physically and mentally, and you're learning how best to manage the horse. You're building up what you're asking of the horse, and with each new question you ask you have a bit of a de-brief with yourself afterwards to assess what worked and how you could have done better. Then, as you get on to doing the longer stuff, you're more likely to have got the feeding cracked.

As I said earlier though, the beauty of this sport is that you can take what you want from it. There's nothing to say that you have to aim for 160km in a day, and you'll get just as much support and encouragement from your local group even if you 'just' want to pleasure ride. My old lad isn't up to doing the advanced stuff any more (although don't tell him that, he thinks he is...), and my babypony is only 2 at the moment, so me and t'old lad have been 'just' doing local EGB group social rides for the last couple of years. We've had an absolute ball, with no pressure, just heaps of fun, and have come back with big beamy grins on our faces every time. And that's what it's all about :)

Just out of interest, how much did you work out that your mare would need to eat?
 
I'd love to have a go at endurance too - maybe in the spring. I have an arab x welsh who I bet would be fab (He can go for hours and never gets tired!)

Do people use endurance / treeless saddles as the norm - or just your usual tack?
 
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