Endurance

[Carol-Ann]

Hi - Is there anybody here who does Endurance Riding? As a relative newby I'd love to swap notes and ideas :)

[EnduranceAli]

Hi, there. As you can see from my username, I am nuts about endurance - BUT my plans (to get my own Arab and compete) have been put on hold for now due to my arthritis. I still hope to at least be a keen spectator and help out my friend with her training (she has been competing for years). A good website for Arab owners is 'Arabian Lines' - do you go on that? There are some lovely photos of Arabs competing in endurance.

[Carol-Ann]

Hi there
So sorry to hear about your Arthritis - My shining example is a lady who lives about an hour away who is in her early 60's and suffers dreadfully from Arthritis in her knees, hands and shoulders yet she competes with great enthusiasm and success, so hang in there and don't give up on your dream of getting your own Arab.

I also have a lovely friend who helps out with my training, she lost her nerve in a horrid riding accident, but she is very knowledgeable, loves horses and being around them, and at least once a week we ride out - She on her Mountain Bike doing 3 hours of slow work, it's brilliant!

I am a bit wussy as I'm still kind of nervous of riding out long rides on my own as I have only had Maïssa since March and we are still learning each other, the thing is if I were to fall off....NO BODY WOULD EVER FIND ME :eek: Its kind of deserted in this corner of France, and no, Mobile Phones don't work in the valleys around here........

[EnduranceAli]

Thank you for that. The problem with me is that I have Spondilytis in my back (osteoarthritis), so have been told that I shouldn't lift any heavy weights and that riding really wouldn't do me any good. However, I haven't given up yet. I will continue to search for the right opportunity/horse - who knows what life will bring?

[Carol-Ann]

:( Oooooh I am sorry about that, but you are right, the right horse will probably find you one day, let's hope it's soon! :)

I sometimes work on a friends team, it's almost as much fun as riding in the event only harder, MUCH HARDER :D

[Wally]

I used to do a lot, Regularly did the Summer Solstice and the Horseshoe rides 100 mile in one day and 100 mile in two days.

The horseshoe used to be 50 miles one day then 25 the next, then it changed to 50 then 50.

You don't need an Arab for endurance, they are good at it, but there are a lot of other breeds just as capable and can be up there at the very top.

Inthose days you only had to qualify to do the horseshoe by doing a 40 mile qualifier, now you have top work you and the horse through the ranks to get to do the top rides.

You need a good reliable, knowledgeable crew to get you through, someone who can either drive or as I diod once for the Solstice, I crew'd on my motorbike, I had water, rugs, buckets first aid, food and the like all stacked on the bike.

[Wally]

Look what I found from the depths of my box, 1984, so 'scuse the hat!

It was in Pony mag, I managed to get everything but the kitchen sink on the bike.

[EnduranceAli]

Brilliant photo!

My dream endurance pony/horse won't necessarily be an Arab - in fact the one I was going to buy is Sec A x Arab (only 13.2hh - but rides a lot bigger). As long as they have comfy smooth paces, forward going but sensible in traffic etc, then I don't mind that they are! However, I have always loved Arabs and I am sure that one will be part of my life one day.

ps Have never seen an Icelandic doing endurance? Surely they would be perfect, and comfy paces?

[Carol-Ann]

Wonderful photo Wally.

Yep I'm very lucky I have a brilliant team, they are a family who used to compete and are all very experienced, which is more than I can say for myself :D Anyway they have taken me under their collective wing and are very encouraging.

Here in France we also have to work up through the distances which at the end of the day can only be a good thing for the horses. I plan to do 2 more 20km rides this year as Maïssa is only 5 and then do 20's 40's and perhaps a 60km if she is up to it next year.

And you are right one does not need an Arab to do endurance, I also have a lovely Arab x Quarter Horse gelding of 19, he trains with us and is brilliant, although now too old, but he really loves long rides, always has done.

[Chirsti08]

Oh yay experienced riders!
I'm very interested in Endurance riding. My mother isn't fond of Arabs, but we like this one girl who is half Arab and half QH. Beautiful girl. I'm not sure of the type of equipment i should have or what to even do to get a horse started for this type of racing. What to look for besides stamina.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Christy08 ;)