Well, maybe not bears……As I sat in the middle of a cornfield in Kentucky one beautiful June morning, numerous riders on horseback rode by, all smiling and cheerfully greeting me as they past. At the time, I didn't realize that this was the moment which would get me hooked into one of the fastest growing equestrian sports, endurance riding!
Endurance riding got its beginnings from The Western States Trail Ride, popularly called the Tevis Cup Ride. This is the oldest modern day endurance ride, having been held annually since 1955. It has been the inspiration and model for the most challenging endurance rides worldwide. Endurance riding consists of riding horses through all types of terrain over distances up to 100 miles.
As I watched the riders pass by me on that June morning, it opened my eyes to a sport which has many aspects that make it attractive to a wide range of participants. Endurance rides are races which vary in distance between 50 and 100 miles and are covered in a single day. Limited distance rides offer a shorter course of less than 50 miles, normally ranging between 25 and 35 miles. The horse with the fastest time is the winner providing the horse meets the 'fit to continue' criteria as determined by a veterinary staff. The horses are monitored by veterinarians throughout the ride at 'holds' which are mandatory rests for the horses. These 'holds' are known as vet checks, set at predetermined distances.
Endurance riding provides the opportunity for the entire family to take part. Family members can either ride together or participate as part of the team by supporting the rider as pit crew members. The pit crew assists the rider before, during and after the ride. They set up a crew station for the purpose of caring for the horse and rider during the mandatory rest period. This allows the rider to relax and prepare for the next segment of the ride. There are riders that successfully go it alone, but a good pit crew that knows how to take care for both athletes makes for a far more comfortable ride.
Endurance riding is open to all breeds of horses. The beauty of the sport is that no one is concerned about what breed of horse you ride. You can ride endurance with a horse that you already own. However, once you get into the sport, you will find that in order to be competitive you will probably find yourself looking for an Arabian or Arabian cross. Another aspect about endurance riding that I particularly like is that it doesn't require that you spend thousands of dollars with a big name trainer to be successful. Any well-behaved horse can be conditioned and trained by the owner/rider.
During one of my recent rides, one of the veterinarians mentioned that of all equine sporting events that she has worked her favorite was the endurance rides. She went on to explain that most endurance riders were much more in tune with their horse than riders from other equestrian sports. I believe that is probably a true statement, largely due to the fact that most riders are the owners of the horses they compete on. Successful endurance riders spend much of their time preparing their horses through conditioning rides. They are constantly re-evaluating their horse's weight and condition, making adjustments to their feed when needed to meet their nutritional requirements. The riders are continuously monitoring their horse's well being during rides, ensuring that they are well hydrated and not being physically over stressed during the competition. This is paramount to being a successful competitor.
Another area that is very important to endurance, as in all other equestrian sports is tack and clothing. That statement is the only "like" comparison between endurance and the other areas of equestrian performance. Unlike other equestrian sports, color of tack or the most current fashion apparel isn't important. Endurance is purely about functionality and comfort. Some riders wear jeans and cowboy boots, while others sport breeches and half chaps. The bottom line is you are free to choose the saddle, reins, clothes and equipment that work best for you and your horse. Comfort and practicality are the most important things to be concerned with.
Endurance is a sport that attracts all types of riders of all ages. It can bring riders close to nature, family and their horses. There are many types of competitors out there: people who are out to win, people looking to improve their own time, competitors looking to rack up competition miles for themselves and their horses and people just out to enjoy the ride for its beauty and complete in the allotted time. Although endurance rides are technically 'races', many if not most, riders participate for completion rather than placing. To these riders the satisfaction of completing 50 or 100 miles on a sound horse is the prize. The sport is easy to get started in but challenging to master. Competitors share camaraderie and support each other more than in most other sports.
Endurance offers horse owners an exciting and fun activity in which to enjoy their horses while challenging themselves to achieve their own personal goals. Since my day in the cornfield in Kentucky, I enjoy competing in endurance and I am still striving to compete in my first 100 mile ride.
If you are interested in learning more about endurance you should visit the American Endurance Ride Conference, AERC, website at www.aerc.org or click on the links to the left.