Discovering endurance riding
My journey into endurance riding started years ago. I was horseless in adult life because of the demands of working in London, I did endurance walking (up to 50 miles), endurance cycling (up to 100 miles) and latterly endurance running (up to 43 miles).
So, when a lovely friend said “why don’t you come endurance riding on my old horse while I take my youngster?” how could I refuse?
The gorgeous, borrowed horse “Pip’ knew everything and was a dream. Keen. Solid. And she understood all the game. So when Covid struck and I bought my Irish Sports Horse “Cleo” by accident and I wondered if I could get back into endurance.
Building a relationship
Cleo had been a Common Riding hire horse all her life. She could easily cover ground. Her problem was that in her eyes I was merely a hiring punter and thus she controlled pace. She had also always done everything with field mates and was agitated doing anything alone. So very quickly I knew I needed to work on stopping getting her to do things alone.
Cue at this point many lovely lessons with EquiTeam’s coach Liz and much skidding across arenas.
We went to everything and anything where Cleo came off a box and didn’t gallop. We did lots of hacks alone just walking. I think I bored her so she became more controllable and less on edge when working alone.
Endurance explained
Once I felt confident that I had the control I needed not to simply gallop into other competitors, I looked at entering some endurance events.
All endurance events are listed on the Scottish Endurance Riding Club website and the endurance world is super friendly, so although I didn’t know people I quickly found that partners stepped forward.
Cleo absolutely loved it which was a huge help too as horse welfare is a priority to me. I learned the procedure which is not that complex to begin with.
After you enter, you get your route map and talk around seven days before the event. There are course markers, but I strongly recommended that you study the route at home as it’s far less easy on a horse – especially 16hh of keen, patchy, mare!
You then check your time window to start riding and pace/time you need to achieve and off you go. There is no need for plaiting, or any form of formal clothing which I so appreciate. Just do it!
As we completed more shorter non competitive 18-24k “pleasure” rides I got to know more people with bigger striding sports horses with a similar pace to Cleo. Some people even asked to ride with me as Cleo is a good lead horse – well she hates being behind! And so we started to progress.
Horses need to be presented to a vet 30 minutes before going off on an endurance event so riding with people means you need to jointly time your vetting and off.
Vetting for pleasure rides is a heart rate check (must be below 60bpm) to start and a trot up and shoe check. Heart rate and soundness are also checked within 30 minutes of return through the finish.
As you progress, there are vet stops mid ride and checks on hydration and gut health also. As I say, welfare is a priority to me so I like all of this additional monitoring.
But all you really need to know is that horses must be “naked” to vet. No rugs, leg boots etc. Cleo’s heart rate was always more of an issue at the start than finish. She gets agitated and too keen to go, but interestingly she soon started to clock in lower and lower as she started to understand the endurance game. We got to cruising through “pleasure” rides and did some totally alone.
I am not competitive but really enjoyed testing my partnership with Cleo on beautiful hacking routes. It became a goal to get a lower heart rate at the end check and so we got fitter.
The next steps
Like every pony owning child (which I still secretly am!); I love the rosette for completing within the time and pace (8-12 kph) required. I enjoy the companionship and seeing all the many types of horses who also enjoyed the sport.
I got selected for a team event and that forced me to be bolder. I turned to GPS navigation for that and afterwards I decided to do a few longer competitive rides. Some 30k, 35k and a 53k.
For Cleo it has just been wonderful. It has allowed her to do what she does best which is to cover the ground. And for me the demands of just getting round mean I have learned to trust Cleo more. Once you go out, you have to get home!
We ended up in winning the Best Novice Horse and Rider combination in Lothian in our first competitive year of 2024, and Cleo won best Novice Horse.
I’d recommend endurance to anyone who loves the countryside. Try it. You can do rides as day member. Folk really are “Equiteam” level friendly. And you will access routes normally not available right across Scotland.
Cleo is always happy to provide a lead if she can just get out and do her thing!
Jane
Congratulations to Jane and Cleo for such a wonderful first year and for sharing your insight into Endurance Riding with us.
