FEATURE HORSE SPORT

ENDURANCE RACING

The sport of endurance riding includes training  rides from as little as 20km up to around 50km.

Endurance competition rides start at 80km in one day up to 160km in one day.  There are also marathon rides up to 400km or more over several days.

In an endurance ride, the winning horse is the first one to cross the finish line while stopping every 40km to pass a veterinary check that deems the horse in good health and fit to continue.

In the United States, most endurance rides are either 50 or 100 miles (160 km) long. Shorter rides, called Limited Distance Competition, are organized for new riders to the sport or young horses being trained.

Any breed can compete, but the Arabian horse generally dominates the top levels because of the breed’s stamina and natural endurance abilities.

Worldwide, rules vary. Endurance rides and races can be any distance, though they are rarely over 160 km for a one-day competition.

Before the ride, horses are inspected by a veterinarian to ensure they are fit to perform in the ride. Additionally, riders are given a map of the course, which shows the route, the places for compulsory stops.

All the riders start at the same time and the first horse past the finish line that passes the veterinary exam wins, horse can go at any speed however it is best to go at a medium pace to allow the horse to travel the long distances.