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FAQ --- ENDURANCE RIDING
> Hi there, I was wondering what it takes to get into endurance riding,
> for example what kind or type of horse is best, what or how much
> training I would need to do to get my horse ready, and how hard is
> it on the animal? I wouldn't want to do anything that would be
> potentially harmful.
Since you are working your horse to the fullest there are some
potiential hazzards. Also, since you are riding your horse much
more than the "average" rider, you will see more that can and
will go wrong.
> I guess I sort of have the impression that you
> need a big sturdy energetic horse with huge hingquarters, there is
> someone near me very into endurance and her horse is as I described,
> he is quite a handful, always dancing in place and jigging. But, she
> does really well in endurance with him, just won points for doing
> a million miles or somesuch.
Big hindquarters are a handicap in endurance riding. The bigger the
muscle, the more heat is held in that muscle, and the longer it takes
to cool the horse down.
> Should you ride every day to condition
> your horse? I've heard you have to run them alot too to get ready
> and also during the rides. Any advice would be appreciated!
*** Soap box on ***
RUNNING IS NOT THE WAY TO TRAIN OR TO RIDE. STOP RUNNING!!!!!!
*** Soap box off ***
OK, here's the basic info.
1. Any type of horse can start in endurance riding. Some horses will
do better than others. The long muscled Arabs or Arab crosses
"generally" do better than other breeds, but you'll get a lot of
arguments on this from Appy owners. There are mules and mustangs used
in endurance riding. There are a lot of grade horses. To get
started, use whatever horse you have. The strangest cross I've ever
seen to start and finish was a cross between shire/appy/and a lot of
???
2. Training requires a lot of riding. You should do it all yourself
if at all possible. The more you ride in training, the better you
will be during the ride (NOT RACE). (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)
If you have a horse that is not terribly out of shape, you begin
training by doing a few short easy rides. A couple of miles at a
walk/trot pace. Slowly, increase distance and speed. Most endurance
rides have a pace of a fast trot.
More to follow.
3. You can judge the condition of your horse by monitoring the
horse's heart rate. Learn how to do this. You can take a pulse in
the left fore leg just above the chestnut, or along the inside of the
left side of the jaw bone. You can also buy an "inexpensive"
stethescope ($35) and listen to the heart, left side just behind the
elbow and in front of the girth.
a. Take your horse's resting rate (generally around 40, or 10 in 15
seconds).
b. Do an easy ride. Take the rate immediately after dismounting.
This could range from 30 on the high side to 12 on the low side. (All
counts given in 15 second intervals and are very general)
c. Remove tack, cool down, about 5 minutes. Take the rate again. Now
the rate should be a couple of beats above resting rate.
d. Adjust your work out. When you first come in, you want the rate to
be high enough to show the horse has been working. In five minutes,
you want a noticable improvement. In 15 minutes, you want the rate
down to almost resting rate.
When you first start taking the pulse rate, you may be surprised
at how high it is while the horse is working. While people don't
want to exceed 3 times their resting rate, a horse will go from
10 beats/15 seconds at rest to well over 60 beats/15 seconds when
running full out. Then, the rate will drop very quickly when the
horse is stopped to around 40/15. The rate will drop more as the
horse is rested.
VET CHECKS
Your horse will receive more vet attention in one ride than most
horses receive in their life. Prior to the ride, your horse's
condition is checked to get base parameters. During the ride, a vet
will check your horse's condition approximately every 12 miles. After
the ride, your horses condition will be checked again. Your horse
must recover within one hour of crossing the finish line, or you do
not receive a completion.
At the checks the horses P&R will be taken (pulse and respiration).
The pulse must meet a certain criteria set by the head vet prior to
the ride. The criteria is usually between 16 and 18 beats in 15
seconds.
In addition, the horse will be tested for lameness and other signs of
stress. Capilary refill may be tested. Hydration may be tested.
CAPILARY REFILL: how fast do the capilaries refill with blood. To see
how this works, make a fist, hold it, open your hand and watch the
blood come back into the hand. With a horse, the vet pressed on the
gum, holds it, then releases. CR should be 1-2 seconds. Longer means
the horse is stressed.
HYDRATION: The pinch test shows quickly how hydrated your horse is.
Take a pinch of skin just over the shoulder. Pull it out, let it go.
On a hydrated horse, the skin will snap back into place immediately.
On a dehydrated horse, the skin will slowly return to normal. If
several seconds go by and the fold in still out, your horse is
seriously dehydrated.
If the horse's respiration rate is higher than the pulse rate, your
horse could be over heated. You should know before the ride if your
horse is a panter - the horse pants like a dog, or like a runner. If
so, warn the vets at the pre-ride check.
Lameness is tested by trotting the horse on a loose line. The rider
is on foot (and sometimes lame), while the horse is held with a loose
lead. The rider trots the horse straight away from and back to the
vet, then trots in a circle left and and circle right. You horse
should trot without you having to pull on his head.
TRAINING
There are a lot of ways to train, but nothing is better than lots and
lots of trotting over just about every type of terrain you can find.
Trotting works the heart and lungs the most without hurting the legs.
You want to do this on soft surfaces, not hard roads if possible.
Since the rides are held on open trails, this is where you should be
doing your training.
My way of training is to ride about an hour 3 to 4 times a week. At
least one time per week we do a 15 mile ride through tough terrain -
2500 feet elevation gain, rocky, winding switch backs, etc. The other
times are on the shoulder of dirt roads, 12 miles. (My roads dicated
the distance.) I can do the 12 miles in an hour. I do the 15 miles
in about 2 hours. Occassionally we do a short and tough climb - 2
miles 1000' elevation - just about straight up.
To start, I'd suggest you find a nice trail and measure it. Take a
bike or have a bike friend ride the trail. Measure each mile.
Week one - ride 2 miles at a walk/trot. Let your horse determine
your pace. You want to learn to judge where your horse is condition
wise, and learn how to judge time and distance.
Week two - ride 3 miles and push your horse a little. You want the
horse to have an elevated pulse rate when you finish, but not too
high. You want your horse to recover in not less than 5 minutes but
not more than 1/2 hour.
Week three - ride 5 miles. Again use the heart rate to judge how fast
you are going.
Weeks - ride the 5 miles until your horse can trot the entire distance
without having to walk.
Each week add 1 mile to your ride. You should trot 10 minutes, walk 3
minutes, trot 10 minutes, etc. You should do this at least 3 times
per week. Your horse should get at least one day of rest per week.
Once a week, trot the entire distance.
When you can trot 15 miles, you are more than ready for your first 25
mile endurance ride.
OTHER TRAINING
The above will get your horses' heart and lungs ready for the ride.
The training will get the muscles ready. In addition, don't forget
about the basics. Your horse must be able to ride the trail with
other horses. Your horse must be able to negotiate difficult terrain.
Your horse must allow the vet to check him out: open his mouth, check
his temperature, pick up his feet. Your horse must trot on a loose
lead.
Many rides go through water. Does your horse cross streams without a
problem?
Sometimes a small jump in necessary - over a log on the trail, a gully
to cross, or other obstical. Do you know how to let your horse do
this?
EQUIPMENT
You are required to have some sort of saddle and bridle.
The horse is required to wear shoes (but sometimes this is waved).
The horse must be over 5 years old.
Many rides now give a discount if you wear a helmet of some sort.
That's the end of the equipment rules.
Have a good saddle that is comfortable to you and the horse.
Have a bridle that will allow the horse to eat and drink during the ride.
Wear clothes that you have trained in (NEVER wear anything new on a ride).
THE RIDE
Your first ride should be one that has a 25 mile beginner's ride
included. As a beginner you are not trying to be the first across the
finish line. You are trying to finish, period. This is part of the
training.
Let the others do the mad dash at the start line. Try to be the last
one who leaves. Remember your training. Take the ride at an easy 10
MPH rate.
Walk into vet checks. Your horse's P&Rs will slow down faster at a
walk than when stopped. The last 3-5 minutes before you get to the
vet check, slow down and walk. Let the other race past you. You will
get out of the vet check faster than them.
Let your horse eat and drink where ever possible. If water is only
available at the vet checks, you have to limit the amount the horse
drinks to a few gulps-walking-few gulps-walking. If water is available
on the trail, let the horse drink a lot, then walk a minute then
continue trotting.
By AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) rules, the 25 mile ride
cannot have awards for finishing placement (no first, second...). The
only awards are for finishing and for best condition. You might get a
ribbon, T-shirt, bucket, or other award, or nothing at all, depending
on the ride.
After your first ride, you know what is going on and the next ride is
easier. When you can judge your horse, when you can say your horse is
in great condition, you are never held at vet checks, your horse
enjoys the outings, and your legs are never tired (ha!), then you are
ready to go on a 50 mile ride.
There is a lot to learn. If you remember to listen to your horse, you
will not get into trouble. It takes a lot of time and training to
learn to listen. Your horse is willing to teach you, if you are
willing to learn.
ASSOCIATIONS
American Endurance Ride Conference
701 High Street, Suite 216
Auburn CA, 95603
AERC sanctions most of the endurance rides in the country. If the
ride is not sanctioned, beware, you may not be getting into a quality
ride. In fact you may be getting into a dangerous ride. AERC puts
out a monthly magazine that lists all the sanctioned rides in the
country (US and some in Canada). The magazine has articles on past
rides, articles by vets, training articles, etc.
NATRC
North American Trail Riders Conference
NATRC is the competitive trail riders association. Competitive
trail riding differs from endurance riding in many aspects. About
the only similarity is you are riding your horse across miles of
trails. Instead of the first to finish being the winner, an optimum
time is set for the finish. Points are deducted if you are over
or under the optimum time. In addition, horsemanship is judge,
the horse's way of going is judged, how you set up camp is judged.
Competitive trail rides are generally 35 miles the first day and 25
miles the second day.
TRAIL BLAZER
5000 Carrizo Rd,
Atascadero, Ca 93422
$18.00/yr
Trail Blazer is not an organization. It is a magazine devoted
to the trail rider. It lists both AERC and NATRC rides. It has
articles of interest to all trail riders.
Happy trails,
Wendy Milner
Pharalina - past endurance horse (retired to being a mom)
FireDrake - future endurance horse (just a baby now)
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