FEI Endurance Rules - Confused

[Rollin]

Can anyone help. Our 6 year old stallion has just completed his second 60kms in France and was top horse on the day, because of his low heart rate. He won't compete again for 7 weeks.

I have refused to put him forward to do THREE 90kms before the end of the year!!! Stud book rules.

We have a chance to do two events on 21/09 and 26-10 which will give him a good rest between. 80/90???

I am told that he cannot do 90km but must do 80kms as he is only 6 years old - BETTER. No one in France seems to know the answer. I note that FEI and National rules may be different. A real cop out.

Can anyone advise me? Keeping our horse sound and fit is more important than wining.

 

[pip6]

If you are in france pm me and I will put you in contact with a gb endurance rider who now lives there, she may well be able to help.

IMHO I wouldn't ask more than 40km of a 6yr old, but I know young horse championships expect 120km. The miles clocked up on young legs to get to that level of competition is hardly conducive to longevity in the sport! Maybe that's why a recent group of countries proposed longevity awards for horses who managed to compete for 18 months. When you think many gb one horse owners work their horses in such a way they continue into their 20's. As an example, my friends tb has passed a graded ride at golden horseshoe (Exmoor) this year aged 26.

You have to decide what you want. Put the miles on early, get graded, but risk permanent joint damage from excessive wear on immature joints, or hell with the grading and work him for his long term health.

 

[NZJenny]

IME it's not the miles but the speed. I have done 80km rides on all my horses as six year olds, but aim for 10-12 km/h. You don't have to race !

I also figured on a ride every 4-5 weeks during our season which runs from October through to Easter.

Just because the rest of the field is hell bent on destruction, dosn't mean you have to follow suit.

 

[Casey76]

At 6 years old he can compete upto Amateur Elite (130km one or two day) classes according to the FEE rules (2015).

I just love reading the French rules for riding - clear as mud had the time.

 

[pip6]

Undoubtedly fast miles are even worse. In gb under 80km you can't race, there are only graded rides with a max speed of 18kph (lower if a novice). I still believe the miles it takes in training to get a horse fit for 80km+ puts excess strain on immature joints. Horses do a lot less milage in rides than compared to training.

Just because a federation says you can do a distance doesn't mean you have to, it's personal choice. Like a speed limit on a road. Take a derestricted country road. If you are doing 60 and have an accident because you came around a bend and there was someone riding, you hit them. You wont be prosecuted for speeding, because you weren't, but you can be done for reckless driving or driving without due consideration as your actions were reckless.