Endurance riding is a sport based on controlled long distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognised by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.

Endurance Rides are races over a trail of 50 to 150 miles. Terrain can be varied and challenging and events are commonly held over one to three days. Every effort is taken to ensure the health and saftey of the horses and horses are checked by qualified veterinarians before, during and after the ride.

The winning horse is the first one to cross the finish line while stopping periodically to pass a veterinary check that deems the animal in good health and “fit to continue.” For many the goal is to ride the distance and have their horse finish sound and healthy. The mantra for long distance riders is “to finish is to win.” In order to win you must generally maintain a fast past of over 10 miles an hour.

Additional awards are usually given to the best-conditioned horses who finish in the top 10 for distances of 50 miles (80 km) or more. The Best Conditioned award is considered more prestigious than finishing first, as it is determined by a combination of speed, weight carried, and veterinary scores. Thus, a horse finishing fourth, but carrying a heavier rider than the first place finisher and with equal vet scores, still has a good chance to win the Best Conditioned prize.

In the UK, Endurance GB is the governing body. Winning riders complete 100-mile (160 km) rides in about 10-12 hours. In the United States, most endurance rides are either 50 or 100 miles (160 km) long.

Almost any breed of horse can compete in Endurance competitions. Heavy horses and ponies may be suitable as long as they are not pushed to travel too fast. Arabian horses tend to be the most suited and generally dominate the top levels because of the breed’s stamina and natural endurance abilities.

For more information visit www.endurancegb.co.uk