What do you think of when you think of 'Endurance' riding?

[outinthefens88]

Just interested to gauge peoples wider thoughts on this..

As those that know me, know, I ride Endurance under the Endurance GB banner with..... A Suffolk Punch x Welsh, basically a 15.2 stocky little native farm horse type.

When I say to people what discipline I ride, they often seem quite shocked - ie 'you ride that far and compete on that type of horse?'.... yes and our longest distance to date is 64KM..

Interesting there's often more native type breeds at a ride now than finer types, especially in the Pleasure Ride classes - with many now recognizing that the distance and proper 'work' are really beneficial to keeping weight off a native type.

I know of other competitors that have just been to Red Dragon in Wales with a Highland and done the multi day 100KM ride, another that did the multi day 78KM and another did a single day 80KM at Well Vale a few weeks before with her cob type.

Is there still the general conception out there that you need massively deep pockets or a particular type of horse to try Endurance riding? (FWIW neither of the above are true!)

 

[Clodagh]

As a non endurance rider my concept of it is Middle Eastern petrodollars, Arabs and extreme cruelty!

 

[MuddyMonster]

Not at all, but I might be too close to it as I've helped/help friends who do compete and ride with them at home.

I only don't compete my native as he doesn't like travel.

As anything there's endurance and endurance. If you want to ride 160km you probably need an Arab but if you want to 5* event or do GP dressage you need the right type of horse to do that too.

If you want to ride at pleasure ride levels or novice level most sound horses will do that, just as most horses could do low level eventing or dressage.

 

[rara007]

Endurance (the the UK!) doesn’t strike me as a deep pockets sport…! I’d do lower levels (have done endurance organised pleasure rides) but the ethics of the higher levels I find questionable (low ride completion rates). To be honest the amount of time needed for the fitness work and lack of need for schooling means I’m just not that interested.

 

[outinthefens88]

As a non endurance rider my concept of it is Middle Eastern petrodollars, Arabs and extreme cruelty!

This is an interesting reply and one I have heard before. On any form of Endurance GB organised ride (Pleasure or other wise), spurs are totally banned as are schooling whips (and in certain classes ANY whip or item that could be used as such. If you are riding in a competitive class you have to pass a farrier examination and pass a vet check from qualified vet on both heartrate, metabolic state and movement (ie lameness) both pre and post ride and after certain distances are subject to multiple vet checks and compulsory riding breaks in the middle part of the ride - sometimes up to three times. You are also required to keep a compulsory record of all medication administered to your horse and are subject to random 'dope' testing at any point (and yes this is carried out as I have been spot checked on paperwork and a friends horse was blood tested recently - both all in order).

 

[Ruftys mum]

I used to ride for someone who had several endurance horses, none of whom were Arabs. Her main horse, part thoroughbred, was one of the best of her era, having been part of the team which won at the World Equestrian games. She also completed several 100 mile rides.
This was before the Arab nations became involved. I never saw any cruelty and the horses were treated very well. Because of this they were able to complete for many years. They were not treated as disposable
Some of you , the oldies may remember this horse, Showgirl 2. who was ridden mainly by Liz Finney

 

[Clodagh]

This is an interesting reply and one I have heard before. On any form of Endurance GB organised ride (Pleasure or other wise), spurs are totally banned as are schooling whips (and in certain classes ANY whip or item that could be used as such. If you are riding in a competitive class you have to pass a farrier examination and pass a vet check from qualified vet on both heartrate, metabolic state and movement (ie lameness) both pre and post ride and after certain distances are subject to multiple vet checks and compulsory riding breaks in the middle part of the ride - sometimes up to three times. You are also required to keep a compulsory record of all medication administered to your horse and are subject to random 'dope' testing at any point (and yes this is carried out as I have been spot checked on paperwork and a friends horse was blood tested recently - both all in order).

I do realise that my concept is probably wrong in the UK but it is the first thing I think of.
A friend does endurance over here with her Arabs and they are much loved.
I think you were asking about breeds more than ethics anyway!

 

[webble]

My local group did a real push to recruit more member this year. I went on one of their hack and chat rides and loved it, everyone was really friendly. I joined the whatsapp group and people were talking about things like recovery mash, shortening rides if they were sure etc etc. If kiki were still around I would have loved to have a go

 

[SantaVera]

As a non endurance rider my concept of it is Middle Eastern petrodollars, Arabs and extreme cruelty!

This. It's good to hear people can enjoy rides in this country on cob types and natives. I think the term "endurance" doesn't help with perception.it sounds like the horses are having to endure gruelling miles. Long distance riding would be a better name I think.

 

[Jambarissa]

I stopped going to our local pleasure rides organised by the hunts because they had too many inconsiderate riders and the ground was often shocking - ploughed fields, crossing streams on planks and near vertical descents. I know endurance has better standards for riding etiquette but there's still not enough info to decide whether I'd want to ride my horses around the course.

I would basically want to see info that suggests it's suitable for barefoot horses who do light hacking at best, if it is.

I also expect to be hideously slow and would hate to be holding the organisers up by possibly an hour or more.

 

[ihatework]

I know very little in reality about the sport but I basically put it into 3 categories

1. A nice leisure sport for all sorts at the lower levels
2. Quite a skilled sport in UK/equivalents for mostly Arab types - I’m sure it has its issues as a sport but on the whole I think it’s a pretty horse friendly activity
3. Middle Eastern abusive sport

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

When I finally get my own Icelandic that's whst I want to do. They're the ultimate hacking horse, so it really suits them. We will not do the high levels, though.

 

[paddy555]

I did this years ago and I do remember Liz Finney and Showgirl.

I know very little in reality about the sport but I basically put it into 3 categories

1. A nice leisure sport for all sorts at the lower levels
2. Quite a skilled sport in UK/equivalents for mostly Arab types - I’m sure it has its issues as a sport but on the whole I think it’s a pretty horse friendly activity
3. Middle Eastern abusive sport

this but for me and endurance there would only be an arab. Not just the ride but the intelligence and everything else about them. I have now offended most of the forum who have other breeds.
I did take my sec d to one ride. Not an experience I ever repeated.

 

[Kirstd33]

I'd love to do some low level endurance in the same way that when I used to run I loved Half Marathon/Marathon distance upwards and trail runs as opposed to road races. I guess the long miles and the scenery was a huge draw to me and tbh whilst it was fun with friends the meditative, repetitive nature of the solo miles clocking round also was hugely therapeutic in my mental health. Sadly I have neither the right pony or the time at the moment to put in the necessary fittening work, but at some point whilst I'm still fit enough myself would love to do it. When I look for my next horse/pony it will be one of the criteria I'll select on.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Is there still the general conception out there that you need massively deep pockets or a particular type of horse to try Endurance riding?

Nope. I see endurance as something that anyone with a horse can get into and probably one of the cheapest disciplines.

Unfortunately the cruelty in other countries does also spring to mind.

 

[tda]

Like others have said, the ultra fast Arabs are not my thing, but I do follow the lady with the Highland pony on fb, and that gives me hope that I might do something like that one day......not 100k, but maybe 30K ☺

 

[outinthefens88]

I stopped going to our local pleasure rides organised by the hunts because they had too many inconsiderate riders and the ground was often shocking - ploughed fields, crossing streams on planks and near vertical descents. I know endurance has better standards for riding etiquette but there's still not enough info to decide whether I'd want to ride my horses around the course.

I would basically want to see info that suggests it's suitable for barefoot horses who do light hacking at best, if it is.

I also expect to be hideously slow and would hate to be holding the organisers up by possibly an hour or more.

There are many that ride and compete barefoot - the rider that did 80KM competitive at Well Vale was fully barefoot and I know of others that only use boots for certain rides. I am also picky about the amount of roadwork on rides, so won't enter a ride if there's a lot of trotting on road and have found generally the EGB ride organisers are very helpful if you email them and ask about the ground (its usually their local area so they know the route terrain backwards so to speak). There's plenty of riders that hack round an 'untimed' pleasure ride mainly at a walk, especially early in the season or if their horse has had some time off - its exactly how we started with a 10KM at Shipley Park.

 

[SEL]

I follow EGB on FB and did think the majority of the horses at the Red Dragon were Arabs - but I won't hold that against them! I saw the lady who completed on a Highland and I know someone who has done 60km on her Irish cob type. I used to help exercise haflingers and a part bred Appy a few years back that competed - but the owners all needed extra pairs of hands to get the exercise done alongside working and I just couldn't find the time to do it myself.

My friend in Derbyshire doesn't do endurance any longer but I still see a lot of the rides pop up when she comments on them and have serious amounts of envy. Too many roads down here in the SE for it to be fun sadly.

 

[YourValentine]

"100k, but maybe 30K ☺"

In reference to the title of this post, I find it interesting that this is considered a distance to aim for, 30km/15miles should be a distance any fit horse can do comfortably in a couple of hours. And talking to my mum and others of her generation they would have done those sorts of distances without blinking.

Dsoes this mean that the definition of a "fit" horse or what we expect of our horses is changing?

I've done endurances up to 80km and have always hacked miles, and been lucky enough to live placed I can. Any of my horses when fit, for anything I was doing, I'd expect to be able to cruise round 30km steadily.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I too follow EGB, I've done a fair bit of 'pleasure rides' - and 'fun' rides too. At one point in the early days with B Fuzzy, I did despair that distance being the only thing we could do..... but we came through it and we found brakes, jumping etc.

I've also helped out with friends horses over the years,and have been this year exercising 2 out of 3 of hers (one full arab and the other a quarter arab and rest is native type), I don't ride her other full arab as he is a tit and also 16hh. The phenomenal easy canter from the arab I ride is just effortless for very long periods.
She works FT, the horses work hard outside her hours, but their holidays are looming soon after clock change. Then they will 'just' be RC training and light hacking through the winter till mid late Jan.

Edit. Agree with YV - 15 miles was a standard 2 or 3 times a month with B, otherwise 5 - 7 miles daily 6 days a week. I put that as light work.

 

[SEL]

"100k, but maybe 30K ☺"

In reference to the title of this post, I find it interesting that this is considered a distance to aim for, 30km/15miles should be a distance any fit horse can do comfortably in a couple of hours. And talking to my mum and others of her generation they would have done those sorts of distances without blinking.

Dsoes this mean that the definition of a "fit" horse or what we expect of our horses is changing?

I've done endurances up to 80km and have always hacked miles, and been lucky enough to live placed I can. Any of my horses when fit, for anything I was doing, I'd expect to be able to cruise round 30km steadily.

When I was riding over Cannock Chase I'd easily be out for 2-3 hours, but I struggle where I am now. Even boxing out doesn't provide 30km of safe riding and the travel adds extra time on.

I can get the pony out for 8ish miles from home because she's so good in traffic, but it's tough with the other one & I do more than most locally.

 

[MuddyMonster]

"100k, but maybe 30K ☺"

In reference to the title of this post, I find it interesting that this is considered a distance to aim for, 30km/15miles should be a distance any fit horse can do comfortably in a couple of hours. And talking to my mum and others of her generation they would have done those sorts of distances without blinking.

Dsoes this mean that the definition of a "fit" horse or what we expect of our horses is changing?

I think it depends on your experience and background too, perhaps more than being a generational thing (I'm mid 30's for context)? I didn't have ponies or horse's of my own growing up so rode at RS and then shared with private owner's. But also, I think importantly, worked whilst at school/college work for a lady who ran a livery yard but had been involved in training eventer's and hunters as well as riding herself when younger. Uni summer's were spent working for another local livery/eventing yard and I got exposure to fit horses and hacking as a fitness tool. If I'd stayed at RS and perhaps 'just' sharing a horse on a yard with not so great hacking or people that didn't hack much so only hacked for 30-45 minutes a few times a week, I'd have thought 30km was a super long way and something to work towards, especially to make an average speed.

I prioritise good hacking over almost everything as pony lives for hacking and doesn't enjoy schooling - so makes that decision easier for me and thus easier to achieve more miles routinely. I don't think 15-20 miles is a long distance as we do it so regularly but I can see how other's do if they've not regularly done that (or have rider/horse limitations).

But on the flipside, I'd personally see competing at Novice dressage something I need to aim and work specifically for, despite being in most sound horses capability and something lots of people do week in, week out but it's not something I regularly do so would be a big 'thing'! Does that make sense? Getting through the odd Into/Prelim test is quite enough for me

I'd say my native that hacks 5-6 times a week on a similar schedule to TFF but perhaps generally longer rides at weekends but shorter rides up to in the week (up to between 2.5-5 miles normally with as much trot and canter as I can squeeze in and are in a hilly area) as I work FT - and would agree he's in light work. I'd love to do more with him as he could absolutely do more but, well, life (more specifically work) limits that.

 

[Hallo2012]

I know very little in reality about the sport but I basically put it into 3 categories

1. A nice leisure sport for all sorts at the lower levels
2. Quite a skilled sport in UK/equivalents for mostly Arab types - I’m sure it has its issues as a sport but on the whole I think it’s a pretty horse friendly activity
3. Middle Eastern abusive sport

this!

 

[Clodagh]

I think it depends on your experience and background too, perhaps more than being a generational thing (I'm mid 30's for context)? I didn't have ponies or horse's of my own growing up so rode at RS and then shared with private owner's. But also, I think importantly, worked whilst at school/college work for a lady who ran a livery yard but had been involved in training eventer's and hunters as well as riding herself when younger. Uni summer's were spent working for another local livery/eventing yard and I got exposure to fit horses and hacking as a fitness tool. If I'd stayed at RS and perhaps 'just' sharing a horse on a yard with not so great hacking or people that didn't hack much so only hacked for 30-45 minutes a few times a week, I'd have thought 30km was a super long way and something to work towards, especially to make an average speed.

I prioritise good hacking over almost everything as pony lives for hacking and doesn't enjoy schooling - so makes that decision easier for me and thus easier to achieve more miles routinely. I don't think 15-20 miles is a long distance as we do it so regularly but I can see how other's do if they've not regularly done that (or have rider/horse limitations).

But on the flipside, I'd personally see competing at Novice dressage something I need to aim and work specifically for, despite being in most sound horses capability and something lots of people do week in, week out but it's not something I regularly do so would be a big 'thing'! Does that make sense? Getting through the odd Into/Prelim test is quite enough for me

I'd say my native that hacks 5-6 times a week on a similar schedule to TFF but perhaps generally longer rides at weekends but shorter rides up to in the week (up to between 2.5-5 miles normally with as much trot and canter as I can squeeze in and are in a hilly area) as I work FT - and would agree he's in light work. I'd love to do more with him as he could absolutely do more but, well, life (more specifically work) limits that.

I think IHW (oops I’m speaking for her!) may have meant 30k isn’t Endurance it’s a long distance ride.
Maybe!

 

[Burnttoast]

I crewed in the early 90s for a non-Arab (TBx probably but breeding unknown). We went to the Golden Horseshoe twice. That's what I (try to) think about when I think about endurance (agree the name of the discipline is a bit blergh, it used to be called long-distance riding and that seemed like a perfectly good descriptive name for it, without the connotations of suffering). Last time I went to Exmoor to spectate (I think it was the 50th anniversary) the only gold award went to a connie. So while arabs are everywhere now and I don't think you could even contemplate the modern top end of the sport without one (poor things), in the style of sport I was familiar with many breeds are perfectly capable at the longer distances. They just have to be sound and well prepared.

 

[fredflop]

After having done one….

Rude organisers and competitors

Poor attitude towards safety

 

[Snowfilly]

I think it’s a bit of a mis-named sport at the lower levels. Any fit sound horse and rider combination should be able to do 30km and to be honest, I don’t see the point of joining an organisation to do that when you can saddle up and hack out (easier said than done depending on where you live, I know).

I would consider the multi day rides in rough terrain like Red Dragon and the old Golden Horseshoe actual endurance, and the 50k upwards. Definitely would want an Arab or a stock horse breed for the highest levels; I’ve heard of wild born mustangs doing the Tevis Cup successfully.

The fast day races with the Middle East influence I think are pretty barbaric and tarnish the whole thing.

So the lower levels are too low to be interesting and some of the top is wildly harmful to the horses; it leaves a nice chunk in the middle where I think it’s probably a fascinating sport and I’d love to have a go.

 

[rabatsa]

To me there is endurance riding in this country like you do and then there is the endurance races full of sheiks and their money and win at all cost ethics.

 

[tda]

what would the time limit be for a starter type ride I.e.30km

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've got Arab's but endurance has never interested me I always did showing with mine and the longest I hack for now is 45 minutes.

I know quite a few people that do it with Arab's and the lady that looks after my horses when I'm away does it with her coloured cob and her daughter does it on a Welsh A, her daughter just got picked for the UK team in Ireland in August and they have just loaned an endurance Arab as she is out grown the Welsh.

They do really well at it and love it.