Pleasure rides??

Fii

Fii

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I am looking in to doing some pleasure rides.
What do i need to know before i start?
For example, what level of fittness does my horse need?
Is there a dress code?
How much does it cost, etc, etc, etc,..........:):):)

Any help greatly apreciated


Thankyou!
 
Hmm - do you mean sponsored type rides organised by a riding club?

It depends on how far really, on how fit your horse has to be. The other week I did a 15 m ride with a friend - both horses were perfectly fit enough and it turns out the ride was very slow because of the stoney tracks - it took much longer than we had anticipated!

I don't think you need any extra equipment than you would normally take on a hack unless you are stepping up to endurance levels. Just have fun and enjoy :D
 
No, not sponsered rides, pleasure rides i think are something below endurance, but not really sure, hence the post.
I think they may start at around 10 miles?
Will google it, but a bit worried what might come up, LOL
 
if your talking about pleasure ride as in the beginners ride of endurance riding, your horse has to be pretty fit.
Think its about 18miles (did one years ago so cant remember)

I trotted and cantered the whole way (v fit horse) as they made sure the route was suitable ground (roads and soft tracks)

Although, saying that, you can walk some of it I think.

Best plan would be to go on to an endurance society website as I can even remember what I wore!

I do remember that they took horses heart rate and start and the end of it and her heart had to be back to a certain rate within a certain time!

Sorry for not being much help!
 
I've just started doing pleasure rides (done 2 now), the distance can very 15k, 20k, 25k 19k 18k etc etc. my most recent was 25k at RAF Cranwell on the Mayday bankholiday. I've been introduced to it by friends who do endurance riding quite seriously (and now crew for one of them).

Yes your horse does need to be relatively fit, but not super fit, mine is a Cobx ridden 3-4 days a week for about an hour each time, mainly in the school but sometimes around the fields. I would actually be more worried about your own fitness! its suprising how much it takes out of you. I generally trot and canter most of the time, standing out of the saddle, only walking on very rough/stoney terraine, or tarmac.

When you get to a venue you will need to collect your tabard/number and they normally give you 'emergency contact number' stickers - put one on the back of your saddle and one on the back of your hat (just incase something does happen and you and horse get separated!). You may also get given a map (or you'll get this via the post after entering) - i'd recommend getting a map case if you're planning on doing a lot of rides - generally the route will be 'marked' with arrows etc, and most rides will have crossing stewards if there is a main road to cross. For some rides there is a vetting, but generally pleasure riders simply have to just trot up sound at the beginning and end of a ride. then you go through the start one some of the bigger rides they take down your number and give you your start time. some rides will require you to get back in a certain speed, i think its between 8 & 12kph (but dont quote me on that!) - if you make the speed you get a 'completion', other rides its simply go out and do the route and get back. if there is a speed, they'll take down your number and time when you get in, then when you take your number back you get a 'score sheet' which has your vet pass signature time out, time in and speed.

Kit wise, I would suggest a sheepfleece lined type of numnah and girthsleeve just for the comfort of your horse, map case, and layers for clothes so when you get to the venue you have plenty of options for your outfit, I’d definitely recommend something that is breathable, waterproof but windproof. There is no dresscode, pretty much anything goes! Make sure you have water for your horse when you get back too, most places will have some kind of supply, but we always take a container (or 3).

If you go and do a pleasure ride on the same day as a competitive/race ride, be prepared for the competitors to come past you and sometimes quite fast, most are very good and will give plenty of warning, but will NOT take kindly to a pleasure rider storming past them without warning - not personal experience here, but from what my endurance friend has explained.

Go on the enduranceGB website and find your local 'endurance group' i'm sure they'll be only too happy to help you, its fantastic fun, sorry to go on, hope at least some of the info helps!
 
Round here the Leicestershire and Rutland bridleways group organise pleasure rides from April to October; they are usually around 8/10/12 miles and are one sometimes two a month;

They are pure pleasure, no pressure to do it quickly, good routes and well mapped :)

If your horse lives out like mine then I don't think 10 miles or so will bother them fitness wise.
I usually walk mine and a few trots and canters, so 8 miles can take about 2 and a half hours, but then we do spend a lot of time chatting!

Just treat it as a lovely hack in lovely countryside, take a drink and some sarnies for afters as you will probably be very hungry!
 
If you do NCRs (non-competitive rides) with endurance gb there are set time parameters, for example for a 16km training ride (10 miles) you need to complete it between 1h40mins and 2 hours (I think). Otherwise you don't 'pass' (i.e. get a rosette!). It's quite easy, just at walk and trot, to be within these times.

You don't need to wear anything different from a normal hack, you will get a hi-viz tabard on the day with your number on it.

Enter in plenty of time as entries close quite a while before the actual day. About a week before you will be sent a talk round, which says things like 'at the end of the lane turn left, beware of potholes' etc, and a map. It's a good idea to get a plastic map case for both of these but it's easy enough to keep them in your pocket.

Bring plenty of water to wash the horse down with at the end and give him a drink.

You don't have to be an endurance gb member, but if you're not you have to pay an extra £5 so it's £20 for an NCR.

This is how the south-east group works, not sure if it will be exactly the same for your group. On the specific group website they should have a list of rides.
 
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