What distance should we aim for with our first EGB ride?

KnLeo

KnLeo

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While I'm waiting for my account to be activated with the EGB forum ;) I thought I'd seek out any advice here too. :)

After doing some unaff. dressage over winter to keep reasonable fit, my wonky ol' boy and I are really wanting to pop our EGB cherry this year - but as a complete newbie I'm unsure at what level we should aim at for our first graded ride.
So - advice from those in the know would be gratefully received.

For info the past few months have built up to currently doing two 25k runs every week, along with a couple of 1hr schooling sessions, a couple of days off and either some lunge or gentle hill work on the 'spare' day.
On the long runs we're averaging about 13.5-14kph over varied terrain, mostly grass tracks, but with some sand & stone track/unmettled road and about 5% tarmac road work.
Also, so far, in the time it takes for me to get off and untack and then take his pulse, his heart-rate hasn't been above the mid 50's. It's usually back to resting well within 10 minutes.

Now we are planning to up the long runs to alternate between a 25 and 32k over the next few weeks and are looking at doing our first EGB Graded Ride around mid/late June as that when the nearest one to me are being held.
(We/re in between Northampton/Milton Keynes.)

So - is a 40k for our first run going to be asking too much?
 
Welcome to EGB. It sounds like you'll be easily fit enough - enjoy :)

Horses are all different though. How old is t'pony and what has he done in his previous lives? I did a 40km as a first ride with my lad but he was a mature horse who was a seasoned hunter. I won't be doing a 40km first with the babypony.
 
Leo's 18 (going on 8!), a Standardbred and trained & raced the first 11-12 years of his life as a harness racer (pacer) - which is why he is so easy to come fit and has a relaxed, mile-eating trot. :)

He does have a bit of an odd way of going though that takes getting used to, mainly due to some horrendous injuries he suffered about 6 years ago. Because of that I keep a very watchful eye on him and half expect him to break down - but like the old Timex watches, he takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' bless him. :rolleyes:
Teaching him to trot up in-hand rather than 'pace' in preparation for the vetting is prooving... erm... 'interesting'!;)

I just want to give him every opportunity to do what he can for as long as he can - he loves to run and shows no signs of easing up so I thought we'd give endurance a go.
I don't want to push him hard, but likewise I don't want to 'undersell' ourselves if he has the chance of shining.

I've registered for the EGB Try Before You Buy scheme but don't know anyone who does endurance so at the moment it's a case of reading anything I can get my hands on. :o
 
You'll be fine, then :) There are quite a few standardbreds out there on the circuit and they are tough ol' beasts.

Good idea to practice the trotting at home. If you're on facebook, why not put a question on the EGB facebook page asking for tips for getting a good in hand trot from a pacer? As I say there are quite a few out there, and Iceys too who can have similar issues.
 
Sounds like you should be fine with that sort of training in your pocket! Especially if you are training on similar terrain to that of the ride - be aware if you train on the flat and compete on the hills you might want to try to get some hill work in first!

Just be careful that on the day you stay within the novice speed parmeters ;)

Come and join us in the EGB forum or FaceBook and Twitter - we are freindly bunch :D
 
sounds like your very well prepared :)

The only thing I would say is that with my boy, he was stormingly fit, we started out donig the 25k rides, then 32k but then once we started going above 40k, he just kept going lame on me :( seemed like he just hit a threshold at that point and couldn't stay sound (later x-rayed and found he had side-bone in his feet so probably does just have issues). For doing endurance on another horse, therefore, I'd personally always start at a lower level (25k/ 32k) and build from there, just in case you end up hitting a wall at any point.

Good luck and have fun, though :)
 
Unfortunately where I am on the Northants/Bucks border we aren't that well endowed with hills - but there are a couple of steady inclines that work him well and one short, very steep 'bum exercising' hill that we try to spend at least one session a week running up and down for a bit on each rein. ;)

I understand where you're coming from Kelpie, each time I've upped the distance I've been ready for the inevitable 'that's it' moment from him - but it's not come yet. :cool:

He's had a bit of a traumatic history, an accident of some description nearly killed him at one point, evidence of broken ribs that had punched through his sides, fractured pelvis, neck damage and severed check ligaments on his near hind... he was only ever intended as something for me to pony-pat and possibly go for a walk with.
He had other plans. :D

I've just asked on the FB page, (as I still don't have EGB Forum access yet and I'm admittedly a bit of a technonumpty), but also does anyone here know of any links to information regarding Para-endurance?
I'm registered and graded for Para-Dressage, but don't know if I need to go for a separate medical for EGB or not. :confused:
I'm not too badly off, but would need assistance for the vetting/trot up and potentially gates unless there's something suitably high enough (often the gate itself ;)) for me to re-mount from.

At home we have a really high mounting block and a brick ramp for the muck heap - I'm only 5' 3" and Leo's 17hh. :o
 
Personally, I would start with a 32k pipe opener and take it from there.

One thing you might find useful though..

My last endurance horse was a Standardbred, and I had no end of trouble with the vets over his trot, or rather his version of a trot!
He was 110% sound, I knew it, everyone who knew him knew it, but most of the vets at rides assumed his half trot/half pace action meant he must be lame.
So I had to get my own vets to make me up an official letter confirming that he was sound and that his action was due to his breeding and history, which I took to every ride to show to any doubters.
 
Para endurance is very new still so for this year no medicals required. Julie Martin is the lady you need to speak to - I've tagged her and our good friend Clair in your post so at least one of them should pick it up.
 
Have you been in touch with Sarah Thomas on here? She campaigns for ex-racing Standardbreds, knows lots of people 'in the business' and might well be able to find out his history.
 
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