Training You and Your Horse for Endurance Riding

So you want to be a distance rider? Are you a die hard rider who would rather ride than eat, sleep, or watch television? Then let's explore the sport of endurance riding.

What is an Endurance Ride? Endurance riding is an extreme sport, you can enter to race at distances of 50 to a 100 miles, with finish times of 10-12 hours. There are classes for novices to enter that are 12-35 miles. These are considered Limited Distance and are called LD's. You can race against the other horses and riders, or you can simply ride your own ride at the minimum pace by racing against the trail itself. The rides are judged, and horses will be checked by veterinarians at set check points. Your horse will be examined for metabolic issues (heart rate, pulse, dehydrations) and injuries and lameness. Horses that do not pass the veterinary examination can be pulled from the race. Horses that present a danger to themselves or others can be pulled from the race, as can riders who are disruptive or show extremely poor judgment. The key to a good experience is preparation, and plan to have fun!

What kind of horse will I need? The dominate breed if you are competitive will be the Arabian or Half Arabian. These horses were originally bred for their stamina over desert terrain. They are a tough and hardy. Not to worry though, any breed of horse is eligible to participate. The Appaloosa, Missouri Fox Trotter, Kentucky Mountain Horse, Mustang, Tennessee Walker, and many other breeds do well in the sport of Endurance Riding. You will be looking for a horse type as well as a breed. Heavily muscled horses typically are not as competitive at the sport as the lighter, leaner type of horse. For limited distance the horse must be a minimum of four years old, for distances over 25-35 miles the age requirement is six years old. You will need a sane, well trained, energetic and compliant horse.