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Part 2 in a 3 Part Series on Competitive Trail Riding, Endurance Riding, and Ride 'n' Tie.

Endurance Riding

Having completed a few mileage rides and competitive trail rides you will now know how to condition, pace
and equip yourself and horse for a long distance ride. And having attended a mileage ride you may notice that
it is usually held in conjunction with an Endurance Ride. What is an endurance ride? Endurance rides are
distinguished from competitive trail ride in many respects. Although 50 to 100 mile competitive trail rides are
occasionally held, endurance rides are always 50 miles or more. Usually a 50 miler is held over one day with
12 hours to complete the trail. 100 ’s are commonly held over one day with 24 hours given for ride time.
Some endurance rides of 100 miles or more are held over 2 or 3 days with the mileage split over each day.

Another aspect that is different from CTR is the scoring procedure. With CTR a perfect score is the ideal.
You may finish a CTR on a horse that it slightly lame. You will still receive credit for that ride and you may
even place higher than another horse that has lost a lot of points in other areas.. On endurance rides the absolute
criteria is finish “fit to continue” therefore your horse must completely sound to receive credit for, or place on
the ride. Placings are decided by by finishing order. Although most riders regard completing the mileage an
accomplishment in itself, an endurance ride is a race.


Novices should plan to go at a moderate pace. 50 mile endurance rides can be won in times less than 4 1/2
hours and 100’s in less than 10 hours. But first time out it probably best to pace yourself carefully until you
are able to judge what type of athlete your horse is. Most riders go just for the accomplishment of finishing,
and derive great satisfaction from knowing they can take their horses and themselves successfully over a 50 or
100 mile course.

Like a CTR you may use any tack you prefer although your horse would appreciate a light a load as possible.
Your conditioning schedule will change with the increased distance you are planning to do. A longer training
circuit, longer hills, rough trail and deep sand, will prepare your horse for the longer competition ahead. Unlike
CTR you are able to lead your horse down the trail if you wish. Practising at home can get you in better shape
and prepare you to lighten his load up and down difficult hills. You will want to be going approximate 10 miles
at a pace of 8 to 10 miles an hour to condition for a 50. Estimate your training rides as 1/5 of the distance you
are conditioning for. There are many books available to give you greater detail on how to condition and
probably as many methods as competitors. Veterans of the sport are always glad to share their knowledge when
they have time. Again training rides are a good time to gather this information.

Having decided to ride endurance ride you will want to recruit someone to be your “pit crew”. Take them along
on a CTR to observe what other pit crews do, and practice at home. On rides of shorter distances a pit crew is
nice to have. It's great to have someone to cool out your horse while you answer a call of nature or have
drinking and sponging buckets ready for horse and a bottle of Gatorade for you along the trail. There are riders
that successfully go it alone, but a good pit crew that knows how to take care of both athletes makes for a far
more comfortable ride

You will want to add a few things to the items you would normally take to a CTR.
The first is electrolytes. You may have already started using them when competing in CTR. If not, learn how
to use them before the competition. Again take extra clothes for yourself. Sweltering heat during the day can
turn into chill if you are on the trail as night approaches. Also if you anticipate being on the trail when it is dark
plan what type of lighting you will carry. This is not so much a consideration on a 50 mile ride but may be very
important on a 100 miler.

Once your arrive at the ride you will find the vetting procedures similar to those of a mileage ride. Your
horses pulse is checked for recovery at each vet stop on and when he has reached a set “parameter” you
will be allowed to continue. You also will find the start of the ride a little different . Many endurance rides
begin with what is called a starting “shot gun” start. Whether a gun is used or someone simply says “go” the
beginning of a ride is an exciting thing to watch--something you may want to do while your horse relaxes back
at the trailer. You may then proceed after the dust has settled and calmy begin your adventure!


appeared in Horsetalk and Horses All