If you are new to Endurance
Riding, you might be wondering what it's all about.
The
American Endurance Ride
Conference (AERC),
defines it
as "An athletic event with the same horse and rider covering a
measured course within a specified maximum time."
Endurance rides are
cross-country races on marked trails that vary in distance between 50
and 100 miles. The horse with the fastest time is the winner, providing
the horse meets the 'fit to continue' criteria as determined by
veterinary staff. Horses are monitored by veterinarians before, during,
and after the ride at predetermined check points and will be withdrawn
from the ride if they are judged to be unsound or metabolically unfit.
The veterinary evaluation includes factors such as pulse, hydration, and
soundness. Each ride has mandatory rests or 'holds' for the horses
throughout the ride.
Most endurance rides also
have a shorter novice ride that can range from 25 to 30 miles. These rides are not
considered endurance rides by AERC but are referred to as Limited
Distance rides. Some ride managers also offer
shorter trail rides (10-15 miles) in conjunction with endurance events;
these rides are not competitive but take advantage of the same trails
that have been marked for the longer events. This is a great way to
introduce people who are interested in Endurance Riding to the sport, as
it allows them to get a feel for it and to see if both they and their
horse likes that kind of riding.
Endurance rides are open to
all breeds of horses and mules. Horses must be four years old to compete
in Limited Distance rides, and five years old or older to compete in
rides 50 miles or longer. All horses and mules must pass a
pre-ride evaluation performed by a veterinarian prior to competing. Due
to the strenuous nature of the sport, all drugs of any kind are
prohibited in all equines participating in AERC sanctioned rides.
Rides that are 100 miles or
less are covered in a single day. Some rides are longer than 100 miles
but are completed over a period of several days with the horses
typically covering 50 miles per day. To qualify for completion points,
rides must be completed in 6 hours for 25 mile events, 12 hours for 50
mile events, 18 hours for 75 mile events, and 24 hours for 100 mile
events. The first 10 horses crossing the finish line in each category
are eligible to be judged for the prestigious Best Condition Award.
Although endurance rides are
technically 'races,' many (if not most) riders participate for
completion rather than placing. The AERC motto "to finish is to win"
recognizes that all riders finishing within the allotted time on sound
and willing horses are truly winners. For many riders, the satisfaction
of completing 50 or 100 miles on a happy and healthy horse is the
greatest prize of all. To learn more about endurance riding,
please visit the links below:
Pacific Northwest Endurance Rides, Inc. (PNER)
is an organization composed of people interested in
endurance riding
in this region. As of July, 2003, PNER had over 600 active
members.
Need ride
dates?
Click on the 2009 PNER ride
calendar:
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