paddy555
Well-Known Member
I remember Alfie.
What do you think of when you think of 'Endurance' riding?
- Thread starter outinthefens88
- Start date
palo1
Well-Known Member
I did several years of endurance with my wonderful pb Arab. I met some lovely people and enjoyed the learning associated with the level of fitness and soundness needed to be competitive. I saw some incredibly well managed horses too. However, over a few years the rides changed from being real terrain and horsemanship challenges to being rides that were faster, easier terrain and repeated loops. I found those rides pretty tedious and quite often on hard ground.
I also saw some genuinely quite awful horsemanship and dubious practices - to the point that after seeing too many higher level competitors deploying comfort drips and longer distance horses looking horribly weary and sore having been able to vet successfully, I just didn't enjoy being in that environment. That was undoubtedly due to the influence of the UAE. I still don't like the official EGB tolerance of appalling welfare issues and constant abuse in places internationally.
I no longer think we should be proud of, or aspire to horses competing at any 'extreme' of their capabilities but that is just personal.
Riding up to 15 miles should be within any healthy horses ability so at the lower levels O reckon it can be a good sport in lots of ways. The problems for me were with progression, where much felt very discomforting.
I also saw some genuinely quite awful horsemanship and dubious practices - to the point that after seeing too many higher level competitors deploying comfort drips and longer distance horses looking horribly weary and sore having been able to vet successfully, I just didn't enjoy being in that environment. That was undoubtedly due to the influence of the UAE. I still don't like the official EGB tolerance of appalling welfare issues and constant abuse in places internationally.
I no longer think we should be proud of, or aspire to horses competing at any 'extreme' of their capabilities but that is just personal.
Riding up to 15 miles should be within any healthy horses ability so at the lower levels O reckon it can be a good sport in lots of ways. The problems for me were with progression, where much felt very discomforting.
thatsnotmyname
Well-Known Member
This.
I’m not being ignorant. I am a competitive rider but this is not my discipline at all, so far removed from this so not a clue but this is immediately what comes to mind I’m afraid
EstherYoung
Well-Known Member
A fun fact about one of the 1994 team who competed in the Hague. One of that team's horses was part Welsh too, but the Welsh part was Welsh Section A. My friend had a very close relation who also was an advanced horse - I think you could see the Welsh A a little more in her mare (certainly in the attitude
) but her international brother looked like a pure Arab if you didn't know.
Nasicus
Well-Known Member
What do I think of?
Dainty older ladies bombing around on dainty arabians and barely breaking a sweat
But maybe that's because all the people/pony combos I know in person that do endurance are just that!
Honestly though, would have loved to give it a go, but at the ripe old age of 31, my body is crocked enough that 1.5hrs is about my limit, 2hrs maybe if I'm feeling particularly masochistic.
I do quite like a lot of the endurance tack and accessories though, and use various bits and bobs myself.
Dainty older ladies bombing around on dainty arabians and barely breaking a sweat
But maybe that's because all the people/pony combos I know in person that do endurance are just that!
Honestly though, would have loved to give it a go, but at the ripe old age of 31, my body is crocked enough that 1.5hrs is about my limit, 2hrs maybe if I'm feeling particularly masochistic.
I do quite like a lot of the endurance tack and accessories though, and use various bits and bobs myself.
Tarragon
Well-Known Member
To me, Endurance is the opportunity to explore lovely countryside!
I probably fall into the category of a "Dainty older lady" but I ride an Exmoor pony and not a dainty Arab, so we can do the "endurance" part of it (many miles and may hours) but we are not fast and a faster resting pony heart rate will always disadvantage us if we were competitive.
I love the fact that you are not judged on turnout and can set off when you are ready and set the pace you want. Practicality and comfort are the overriding criteria for everything you and the pony wear.
I have done it competitively and the furthest I have done was 25 miles. I tended to do better when it wasn't well marked as I am quite good at map reading and we were very good at opening gates! Steady was my mantra, everything done at a decent trot.
I probably fall into the category of a "Dainty older lady" but I ride an Exmoor pony and not a dainty Arab, so we can do the "endurance" part of it (many miles and may hours) but we are not fast and a faster resting pony heart rate will always disadvantage us if we were competitive.
I love the fact that you are not judged on turnout and can set off when you are ready and set the pace you want. Practicality and comfort are the overriding criteria for everything you and the pony wear.
I have done it competitively and the furthest I have done was 25 miles. I tended to do better when it wasn't well marked as I am quite good at map reading and we were very good at opening gates! Steady was my mantra, everything done at a decent trot.
FitzyFitz
Well-Known Member
Interesting thread! I've done endurance for years at a moderate level, longest ride i've ever done was 126km at national level, I've crewed internationally, and have absolutely no ambitions to ride at that level. Too fast and too stressful for me! Mostly ridden native crosses but have also competed arabs and a PRE, once she's finally off maternity leave i'll be starting with a Rocky Mountain which will be a new adventure! She did well at the pleasure rides but none of us are quite sure how far she'll go yet.
I saw a comment above about there not being a need for schooling, not the case, a well schooled balanced horse is way more capable of completing distance safely and injury free. I don't do near as much as I should but I do go to riding club rallies. I know a few people who do quite a lot of dressage with their endurance horses. My old Pony Club used to think endurance wasn't really a sport because you just go blast round the countryside on a hack, but that's not really what it is!
I also saw a lot of mention of the negative associations of the sport, which unfortunately are a bit of a problem. Endurance is a very high welfare sport, but there are some events in the middle east that are giving all the rest of us a very bad name. Some UK events started to be tailored to their needs as well with increasingly fast flat racetrack courses which I don't like at all.
I even had a loan horse taken back early when the non-endurance owner told a non-endurance friend what the horse was doing and the friend went all "OH MY GOD ENDURANCE THAT SPORT KILLS HORSES" or something along those lines and then despite me having competed for 3 years successfully with a spotless record I got told I had 1 week to give the horse back. Unfortunate.
Certainly all the events i've been to, even the higher level ones on the racetrack courses, have had a high level of welfare, but the impression of people outside the sport seems to be much more negative and often puts people off joining what is in reality a lovely discipline.
I've tried loads of disciplines and keep sticking with endurance because I love the adventure and time with my pony, and the welcoming friendly atmosphere even at pretty big events. Sure, I can, and do, box out with my pony for a hack, but having a set out safe route can be reassuring, and having the added challenge of the speed requirements really tests your ability and fitness. I'm not massively competitive, but a bit of a challenge is nice!
If you're interested in trying it, contact your local group, there are often events and talks aimed at bringing beginners in and you can buddy up with more experienced riders. Any horse that is at least being worked regularly will be absolutely fine up to novice level without extra training, it's usually the riders that find it harder! A forward horse makes it much easier, breed doesn't matter much so long as they have the attitude for it, the heavier types just take a bit more cooling
There are non competitive rides up to 30km, and competitive rides down to 20km so you can have as much or as little challenge as you like.
I saw a comment above about there not being a need for schooling, not the case, a well schooled balanced horse is way more capable of completing distance safely and injury free. I don't do near as much as I should but I do go to riding club rallies. I know a few people who do quite a lot of dressage with their endurance horses. My old Pony Club used to think endurance wasn't really a sport because you just go blast round the countryside on a hack, but that's not really what it is!
I also saw a lot of mention of the negative associations of the sport, which unfortunately are a bit of a problem. Endurance is a very high welfare sport, but there are some events in the middle east that are giving all the rest of us a very bad name. Some UK events started to be tailored to their needs as well with increasingly fast flat racetrack courses which I don't like at all.
I even had a loan horse taken back early when the non-endurance owner told a non-endurance friend what the horse was doing and the friend went all "OH MY GOD ENDURANCE THAT SPORT KILLS HORSES" or something along those lines and then despite me having competed for 3 years successfully with a spotless record I got told I had 1 week to give the horse back. Unfortunate.
Certainly all the events i've been to, even the higher level ones on the racetrack courses, have had a high level of welfare, but the impression of people outside the sport seems to be much more negative and often puts people off joining what is in reality a lovely discipline.
I've tried loads of disciplines and keep sticking with endurance because I love the adventure and time with my pony, and the welcoming friendly atmosphere even at pretty big events. Sure, I can, and do, box out with my pony for a hack, but having a set out safe route can be reassuring, and having the added challenge of the speed requirements really tests your ability and fitness. I'm not massively competitive, but a bit of a challenge is nice!
If you're interested in trying it, contact your local group, there are often events and talks aimed at bringing beginners in and you can buddy up with more experienced riders. Any horse that is at least being worked regularly will be absolutely fine up to novice level without extra training, it's usually the riders that find it harder! A forward horse makes it much easier, breed doesn't matter much so long as they have the attitude for it, the heavier types just take a bit more cooling
There are non competitive rides up to 30km, and competitive rides down to 20km so you can have as much or as little challenge as you like.
Cloball
Well-Known Member
I really want to get into it to find a new used for my now retired stethoscope 
outinthefens88
Well-Known Member
A really well balanced view point there!
I have also had 'non Endurance' friends lecture me about how I'll 'ruin a good horse' etc, etc - however they went very quiet when I pulled out my ride record file and pointed out said horse had been independently assessed on gait, metabolics, checked for any obvious sores or tenderness, had his shoes and feet inspected and heartrate taken by two different vets on three occasions within 48 hours the previous weekend.....
I have also had 'non Endurance' friends lecture me about how I'll 'ruin a good horse' etc, etc - however they went very quiet when I pulled out my ride record file and pointed out said horse had been independently assessed on gait, metabolics, checked for any obvious sores or tenderness, had his shoes and feet inspected and heartrate taken by two different vets on three occasions within 48 hours the previous weekend.....
Interesting thread! I've done endurance for years at a moderate level, longest ride i've ever done was 126km at national level, I've crewed internationally, and have absolutely no ambitions to ride at that level. Too fast and too stressful for me! Mostly ridden native crosses but have also competed arabs and a PRE, once she's finally off maternity leave i'll be starting with a Rocky Mountain which will be a new adventure! She did well at the pleasure rides but none of us are quite sure how far she'll go yet.
I saw a comment above about there not being a need for schooling, not the case, a well schooled balanced horse is way more capable of completing distance safely and injury free. I don't do near as much as I should but I do go to riding club rallies. I know a few people who do quite a lot of dressage with their endurance horses. My old Pony Club used to think endurance wasn't really a sport because you just go blast round the countryside on a hack, but that's not really what it is!
I also saw a lot of mention of the negative associations of the sport, which unfortunately are a bit of a problem. Endurance is a very high welfare sport, but there are some events in the middle east that are giving all the rest of us a very bad name. Some UK events started to be tailored to their needs as well with increasingly fast flat racetrack courses which I don't like at all.
I even had a loan horse taken back early when the non-endurance owner told a non-endurance friend what the horse was doing and the friend went all "OH MY GOD ENDURANCE THAT SPORT KILLS HORSES" or something along those lines and then despite me having competed for 3 years successfully with a spotless record I got told I had 1 week to give the horse back. Unfortunate.
Certainly all the events i've been to, even the higher level ones on the racetrack courses, have had a high level of welfare, but the impression of people outside the sport seems to be much more negative and often puts people off joining what is in reality a lovely discipline.
I've tried loads of disciplines and keep sticking with endurance because I love the adventure and time with my pony, and the welcoming friendly atmosphere even at pretty big events. Sure, I can, and do, box out with my pony for a hack, but having a set out safe route can be reassuring, and having the added challenge of the speed requirements really tests your ability and fitness. I'm not massively competitive, but a bit of a challenge is nice!
If you're interested in trying it, contact your local group, there are often events and talks aimed at bringing beginners in and you can buddy up with more experienced riders. Any horse that is at least being worked regularly will be absolutely fine up to novice level without extra training, it's usually the riders that find it harder! A forward horse makes it much easier, breed doesn't matter much so long as they have the attitude for it, the heavier types just take a bit more cooling
There are non competitive rides up to 30km, and competitive rides down to 20km so you can have as much or as little challenge as you like.
Time for Tea
Well-Known Member
Ruin a good horse giving it some decent exercise! People are funny. Of course you must have well fitting tack and not be too heavy for your horse. But that applies to any discipline. I think horses enjoy it, they love seeing different places and they soon learn to spot the markers.
fredflop
Well-Known Member
wrong thread
GemmaRuby
Member
Really interesting thread and views. Sadly I'm in the arse end of my county and we only have one local ride, despite booking on twice circumstances mean we've not made it yet- fingers crossed for next year.
For me it's the high welfare, needing to get the horses actually fit, being able to go bitless and barefoot( boots if you need), with or without company. It's been incredibly welcoming, I've volunteered and I'd happily help again if I can't ride.
For me it's the high welfare, needing to get the horses actually fit, being able to go bitless and barefoot( boots if you need), with or without company. It's been incredibly welcoming, I've volunteered and I'd happily help again if I can't ride.
Ruftys mum
Well-Known Member
I remember Alfie. I was at the World Equestrian games when we won the Gold. I was crewing for Showgirl who unfortunately fell near the end and was vetted out.