Endurance is one of the oldest, least-known and fastest growing equine sports. It's name pretty much spells it out for you. While it is not an Olympic sport (yet), it is internationally recognized. It consists of racing 25-100 miles over various types of terrain. Limited Distance races, or "LD's" are shorter, ranging from 25-35 miles. Miles completed in competition for LD's do not count as "Endurance" miles. If you'd like to see an example of this, you can look on the AERC records website and look at my season from last year. You'll see that I did three LD races, and that those are kept separate from my endurance miles/races.
AERC stands for American Endurance Ride Conference. This, along with FEI (Federation Equestrian Internationale) is the main governing body for endurance riding in the US. Think of them as the NFL, NHL, NBA-type organization for endurance. FEI is in funny order because it is the international-governing body for endurance. Also, many AERC rides are held/sponsored in conjunction with local/regional trail riding or endurance groups (like the Old Dominion Endurance Rides, www.olddominionrides.org). Other rides are held or sponsored by individuals.
Horses and riders do not have to be registered under AERC in order to compete, but typically you get charged a $10-$15 fee if you aren't so it's worth doing if you're planning on doing multiple races in a season. A typical ride entry fee ranges from $75-$125. It's not very expensive to join AERC; to register under AERC it is $42.50 for new riders, plus $10 or so for each horse. Here are the other benefits they list for joining:
- Lifetime equine and rider mileage tracking
- Subscription to Endurance News, an informative monthly magazine featuring articles on endurance riding, an extensive ride calendar, ride results, and equine product advertisements
- Copy of AERC Rider Handbook
- Copy of AERC Rules and Regulations booklet
- Voting rights on member issues
- National and regional award eligibility
- Annual membership directory
If we had a professional version of our sport, FEI would be it. Yes, there's a lot more work involved, but there's also a lot more prestige. For one, you're representing your country on the international circuit. You can be invited to race overseas and other places, as well as get sponsors if your successful. When you get into the upper echelons of competition, you can even win some money (though it's typically it's only enough to cover the cost of getting there).
In FEI, your horse has to qualify for different levels in stages by earning stars. This is where it gets muddy for me, but pretty much your horse has to complete a certain number of races at certain distances in order to move up to the next one (for example, they need X amount of 50's in order to start competing at 100's). Also, depending on what level you're at you also need to place higher for so many rides. This record resets every 2 years (when they have the next World Championships) so you only have that period of time to qualify. USEF (the United States Equestrian Federation) picks the world team from a pool of horse/rider teams that make all the required qualifications. Different factors go into picking people, not just speed. Also the amount of people on teams changes based on year.
Complicated, right?
I'm not dissing FEI at all or discouraging anyone from joining. I simply think it's a much higher level of commitment, and it's very difficult to be successful with it unless you can make it a main focus of your life. Many of my friends and colleagues that are successful in FEI are those devoted to it full-time; Heather and Jeremy have a business partner that owns several auto mechanic shops and helps split costs with them. Heather works for him in accounting, and Jeremy picks up extra work as a farrier (he is brilliant, by the way, if you can get him). They also work their racing as a business (check out their website, www.reynoldsracing.us); they train, buy, sell, teach, consult, etc in the world of endurance. Christoph and Dian run their training center as a focus in their life (www.globalendurance.com), but also develop real estate to generate income.
For me, I'm good with AERC for now. I would love someday to have this sport be my main focus and somehow run a business based around it. But for now, I simply don't have the financial backing or available time to commit to it. I work my regular job 40+ hours a week and get paid what you would expect for a recently-graduated masters student, so I'm just not there yet. Someday, maybe. But not yet.
Now on to race specifics. LD's are run a little different than endurance races. For endurance, the first horse/rider team to cross the finish line and pass vet inspection wins. In LD's, it's the first horse to pulse down to the required heart rate (typically 60BPM). Depending on the ride, you typically have 30-60 minutes to reach pulse criteria. I'm a little rusty on this rule since I haven't done very many, but I'm pretty sure it's 60 min. If you're horse doesn't come down by that time, you are disqualified or "Pulled" from the ride. Your horse also has to pass the vet inspection, or "Vet Check" before they are given a completion.
In endurance, the first person to cross the finish line wins, assuming the pass the vet check. After finishing, you have 60 minutes to reach pulse (usually 64) and present to the vets. AERC is thinking about changing this rule this year to 30 minutes.
Both endurance rides and LD's have vet checks placed every 10-20 miles of the ride. This is so the focus remains on keeping the horse healthy. If a horse is lame or is showing metabolic issues, or any other sort of health problems, they are pulled and the rider is disqualified. This is a good thing; in an article published by AERC last year there was a brief survey of equine sports, and endurance was the one that came out on top in terms of rules governing equine welfare. Both AERC and FEI also have strict rules regarding what drugs can be in a horse's system; for a full list check their websites.
At a typical vet check, the horse has to come down to the pulse criterion (usually 64). The vets then check on a myriad of things, like gut sounds, skin tenting (a way to check dehydration levels), capillary refill, mucus membranes, anal tone (yes I said anal), back soreness, etc etc. Then you have to run with the horse straight out and back and have them trot, so the vet can check if they are sound. Once the vet is satisfied they are healthy enough to continue, you then get a nice long break before you're allowed back out on trail. This is so the horse can rest, eat, drink, and recuperate. Typically these breaks can be 45-60min depending on the ride. You also have to complete a vet check when you check in at the ride (usually the day before), and upon completing your finish. You may also get a CRI; this measures how well the horse is recovering and is a good indicator for how tired it is. The vet takes the heart rate before trotting out, then again about 30 seconds after. You want the numbers to be even or the second number to be lower than the first (this is a very good thing!). You won't get pulled if the second number is hire, but you may be encouraged to take your pace down a notch and let your horse rest. Which is a good thing.
If you finish top ten in an endurance ride, you are eligible for the "Best Condition" award. This is a big deal, because it means your horse completed the ride in better condition than anyone else. Lots of factors go into this award, like rider weight, place finished, horses heart rate/CRI, how the horse looks trotting, and all the other factors that go into a typical vet check. Also, you will probably be instructed to trot in a different pattern, like a circle each direction or a figure 8. At any vet check, it is okay to have someone else trot out your horse for you. Some riders have injuries, or honestly sometimes we're just exhausted!
A couple notes for vet checks: always listen to your vets. Ask questions, but make them brief so that you don't hold up the line. Be polite and respectful; you will see these people for your entire endurance career and it is a small world; reputations do proceed you! And train your horse to trot out well; beside you and not behind you, and to TROT, not walk or canter.
Other than that, pretty much all the rest is your own strategy! Here are some of my personal tips for beginner riders though that I've learned over the last few years:
Most seasoned riders will tell you that it's best to break your horse into this sport gently; start slow, then work up your speed. The same works at actual rides too. It's better to do your first loops slow, then speed up towards the finish. The horse stays healthier that way. Though every horse is different (Jeremy's horse, Smitty, can run hard ALL DAY!).
Every vet at every ride will tell you to pay attention to PPED (peeing, pooping, eating, and drinking). It's also important to know how to properly provide your horse with electrolytes so they stay metabolically sound. Legs will eat his in his grain, but for many you'll have to give an oral syringe. Opinions differ widely on how often you do this, how much you give, what you mix it with, etc. I'm definitely no expert on this, but I think it's something you develop as you get to know your horse better. A common way of doing it is to get a very basic electrolyte powder, like Perform 'N Win or Enduramax, and give your horse a syringe mix with water before going out on each loop. You can mix with applesauce or molasses to make it taste better. Also, many riders like to electrolyte out on trail, especially if it is a super hot day or really long loops. A good spot is usually around halfway through, after your horse gets a good drink of water. A fun thing for this is to also teach them to take it from the saddle! I'm not very good at this, mainly because Legs hates the syringe, but if I am riding with a partner (like Mary) they can usually help me without either of us dismounting. Heather and Jeremy use a more complicated mix involving Potassium, Magnesium, Summer Games, and the like. If you visit their website and ask, I'm sure they'd be willing to share and have some great products you can purchase. It's always important to carry a syringe of electrolytes with you in your saddle pack or on your person; Running Bear has some nice ones that have a cap and are not expensive at all ($5 for 2) www.runningbear.com. Teddy (who runs Running Bear) also has some nice dosing guns there, in case your horse is tough with the syringe.
Also, specific rules can change by each race, so it's good to pay attention in ride meetings to what's going on. They will be happy to explain things for you, and if you are new to the sport will typically have a "New Riders Meeting" to help walk you through it.
In any case, it's always good to ask lots of questions and get different opinions from other riders who have been there. They may have different things to say, but the more you can learn the better!
AERC has a great "New Riders Manual" that helps explain everything and contains lots of good tips. Visit their website and explore if you'd really like an in-depth look at the sport! www.aerc.org
If anyone thinks I've left anything out or would like to leave some tips of their own, feel free to comment!
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