Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long distance races. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description It is one of the international competitions recognized by the FEI. There are endurance rides worldwide.
There are two main types of long distance riding, Competitive trail riding and endurance rides. Competitive Trail Riding ( CTR) is an equestrian sport where riders cover a marked trail for a distance that is usually between 15 and 35 miles per day In an Endurance ride, discussed in this article, 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. Veterinary medicine the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife " In the United States, most endurance rides are either 50 or 100 miles long, though shorter rides are organized for beginners and a few longer, usually multi-day, rides exist. In the USA, the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) sanctions endurance rides. Winning riders complete 100-mile rides in 10-12 hours.
Any breed can compete, but the Arabian generally dominates the top levels because of the breed's stamina and natural endurance abilities. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not The Arabian horse is a breed of Horse with a reputation for Intelligence, spirit and stamina
Competitive trail rides are shorter, and factors other than speed are considered, horses may not come in under or over a certain time, and veterinary checks, rider behavior and other elements play a role in the placings. (See Competitive trail riding)
Worldwide, rules vary. Competitive Trail Riding ( CTR) is an equestrian sport where riders cover a marked trail for a distance that is usually between 15 and 35 miles per day Endurance rides and races can be any distance, though rarely over 160km for a one-day competition.
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History
Though the need to ride long distances has existed since domestication of the horse, Endurance riding as an organized activity was first developed in the United States based on European cavalry (particularly Polish and Russian WWI) and breeding program tests requiring the ability to carry 300 lbs over 100 miles in one day. There are a number of hypotheses on many of the key issues regarding the domestication of the horse. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Its beginnings as a sport began in the 1950s, at the time when Wendell Robie rode from Nevada to California, following the route of the Pony Express, to finish in under 24 hours. The Pony Express was a fast Mail service crossing the North American continent from St Endurance riding first was brought to Europe in the 1960s.
Structure of the Ride
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 halts, and any natural obstacles (such as ditches, steep hills, and water crossings).
The ride is divided into sections, with different names (legs, phases, etc. ) depending on sanctioning organization. After each phase, horses are stopped for a veterinary inspection (sometimes called a "vetgate"), where they are checked for soundness and dehydration, with their pulse and respiration taken. Veterinary medicine the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife Dehydration ( hypohydration) is the removal of Water ( hydro in ancient Greek) from an object To continue the ride, the horse must pass the examination, including reducing its heart rate below that specified for the event, typically 64 bpm, although terrain and weather may require the ride veterinarians to set a different maximum target. The circulatory system of the horse consists of the heart the blood vessels and the blood Beats per minute ( BPM) is a unit typically used as either a measure of Tempo in music or a measure of one's Heart rate. The riders' time keeps running until their horses reach the required target, so it is important that the horses recover as soon as possible. Any horse deemed unfit to continue (due to lameness or excessive fatigue, for example) is eliminated from further competition.
After the veterinary inspection the horse must be held for an additional time (usually between 20-45 minutes), at which time it is fed and watered.
Riders are free to choose their pace during the competition, adjusting to the terrain and their mount's condition. Therefore, they must have a great knowledge of pace, knowing when to slow down or speed up during the ride, as well as a great knowledge of their horse's condition and signs of tiring. Riders may also choose to ride, or may dismount and walk or jog with their horse without penalty. However, they must be mounted when they cross the starting and finish lines.
The terrain riders compete over varies greatly from ride to ride. However, natural obstacles (called "hazards"), are marked on the trails with red flags on the right and white flags on the left. When so marked, riders must pass through the flags. In some areas, wilderness or undeveloped areas are difficult to find, in these places, no more than 10% of the route can be on hard-surfaced roads.
Determining the Winner
Under the rules of the FEI and AERC, the first horse to cross the line and pass the vet check as "fit to continue" is the winner. Under the rules of competitive trail riding and the endurance rules in some nations (though not international competition nor that in the USA), as well as for LIMITED DISTANCE endurance rides (25-49 miles in one day), the winner is determined by a combination of speed and the recovery rate of the horse or to horses and riders that achieve a required standard. Competitive Trail Riding ( CTR) is an equestrian sport where riders cover a marked trail for a distance that is usually between 15 and 35 miles per day
An additional award are usually given to the best-conditioned horse who finish in the top 10 for distances of 50 miles or more. The Best Conditioned, or "BC" award is generally more prized 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 BC award.
Domestic and International Competition
Endurance became an FEI discipline in 1982, and the international organization has since set down rules with the welfare of the horse as top priority. In the United States, endurance rides are sanctioned by the FEI, the AERC, or both but never the FEI alone. When both the FEI and AERC sanction a ride, the FEI rules prevail.
Two well-known 100 mile endurance ride is The Western States Trail Ride, popularly called The Tevis Cup in the west, and the Old Dominion ride in the east. The Western States Trail Ride, popularly called The Tevis Cup is a 100-mile endurance ride. Additionally, the top riders and horses compete at the World Equestrian Games, the Endurance World Championships, and the European Endurance Championships. The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for Equestrianism, considered by many horsemen to be more important than the Olympics and administered
One day international competitions are 40-160 km. Multi-day competitions are longer, but have daily distance limits. Those that are FEI recognized and are broken into the following categories:
- CEI * (one star): minimum average distance each day is 40-79 km
- CEI **: 80-119 km minimum average distance each day
- CEI ***: 120+ km minimum average distance each day
- CEI ****: usually 160 km, with the winners completing in 10-12 hours
Note: CEI is the notation that the competition is an FEI-approved international competition.
When first recognized by the FEI, there were only four international competitions. This grew to an average of 18 rides per year by 1998, when the first World Championships were held in the United Arab Emirates. The World Championships provided a huge boost to the sport, and by 2005 there were 353 international competitions, second to only eventing and show jumping. Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises Dressage, cross-country and Show-jumping. Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers" is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes Due to the huge increase in international competition, endurance is growing quite rapidly worldwide.
Equipment
Endurance is much less formal than many other equestrian competitions, with riders choosing clothes for comfort. However, riders are required to dress in a way that preserves the image of the sport. An equestrian helmet is required for nearly all sanctioned rides, including the AERC and FEI. An Equestrian helmet is worn when riding Horses. This type of Helmet is specially designed to protect the rider's head if a person falls off At FEI competitions, riders must wear riding breeches or riding tights, correct footwear, and a shirt with a collar (polo). Breeches (pronounced) are an item of male Clothing covering the body from the Waist down with separate coverings for each Leg, usually stopping just below [1]
Endurance riders usually use a specialized saddle that is designed to be lightweight yet comfortable to horse and rider for long hours of riding. A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load fastened to an animal's back by a girth. At the highest levels, it is usually a variation on the English saddle in shape, although it may have wider panels and stirrups with a wider tread. English saddles are used to ride Horses in " English riding " disciplines throughout the world For the bone see Stapes. For other uses of the word stirrup see Stirrup (disambiguation. Regardless of design, endurance saddles are very light to ensure the horse does not have to carry unnecessary weight. Many endurance saddles have extra metal rings for the attachment of equipment. At lower levels, lightweight endurance designs based on western saddles are popular. Western saddles are used for Western riding and are the Saddles used on working Horses on Cattle Ranches throughout the United States Various experimental designs are also common, including treeless and flexible panel saddles.
Riders who compete in CEI rides must meet a minimum weight of 75kg with their saddle. If the rider weighs-in under 75kg, they are required to ride with weights. Weigh-ins are generally conducted before and after a race, however unscheduled weigh-ins can occur during the race. [2]
Bridles for the horses may use a wide variety of bits or hackamores. A bridle is a piece of equipment used to control a Horse. The bridle fits over a horse's head and has the purpose of controlling the horse A bit used in equestrian activities is a piece of metal or similar synthetic material that is placed in the mouth of a Horse or other Equid and allows A hackamore is a type of headgear for a Horse which does not have a bit. Riders also often add a breastplate, to keep the saddle in place while traveling over rough terrain. A breastplate (used interchangeably with breastgirth and breastcollar) is a piece of riding equipment used on horses Use of a crupper is not common, but sometimes seen, to keep the saddle from sliding forward on horses with a certain build. A crupper (ˈkrʌpɚ occ spelled crouper) is a piece of tack used on Horses and other Equids to keep a Saddle, harness Protective boots may be used on a horse's legs, though boots also cause problems in some types of terrain (they may slip, can collect burrs and dirt, and if crossing water may become waterlogged, any of which can irritate the legs of the horse and lead to lameness), so use varies by the type of ride and the rider's preferences.
See also
External links
- The official UK endurance group
- Endurance Net - World-Wide Endurance Riding Resource
- American Endurance Riders Conference
- FEI
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