Endurance riding

endurance riding and its curiosities

Do you know that there are horse riding competitions that last more than 13 hours?

Martina Sposini

Index

1. What is it?

2. How does it work?

3. Physical training

4. The race track

5. Speed regulation

6. The GPS

7. Para Endurance

8. Other curiosities

What is it?

endùrance "continued existence in time"

Endurance riding is the sport of competitive long-distance riding. Distances vary from the entry level of 20km right through to a 160km in a day. Basically It is an equestrian marathon and its major feature is the scrupulous and continuous controls on the animal health. Born in the United States of America as an evocation of Pony Express and in 1982 the International Equestrian Federation approved it as an official discipline. this sport has seen in years a significant increase, so much so that it has become the second equestrian discipline in the world for the number of contestants.

1.

How does it work?

Endurance competitions are divided into graded and competitive. The graded competitions are those where the challenge is to keep pace within set parameters while taking account of the varying terrain and passing veterinary checks at the beginning and end. The final grading is calculated from your speed and your horse's recovery rate. In an international competitive endurance ride all rides start together and the winning horse is the first one to cross the finish line.

Competitive competition

Graded competition

2.

VET GATE

The ride is also divided in rings, between each ring there is a veterinary gate where a qualified veterinarian checks the physical condition of the horse and he establishes if the horse can continue the competition and both athlete and horse have about 35 minutes to rest.

Physical training and nutrition

This sport requires strong athlete training. Most endurance athletes practice in the gym following a precise training schedule almost every day. Between a ring and another both horse and rider should eat in order to acquire as much energy as possible to continue the competition at best. The rider should eat carbohydrates such as rice and pasta.

3.

4.

The race track

The races are marked by directional arrows, coloured small bows or coloured flags.

Speed regulation

• In graded competitions riders must pay attention to the speed with which they travels the course as they has a pre-established time to be respected.

• In the competitive competitions riders can freely choose which speed to adopt based on different kind of terrain, or they can decide to increase their speed if they want to outrun other competitors and win.

5.

The GPS

Endurance riding is a sport completely set in nature or in the desert and although the tracks are marked sometimes they may not be clear, in the longer and international races all the riders and their horses are equipped with a GPS. The GPS data are reported in a computer monitored by the race jury so as to immediately report if someone gets lost along the way, the jury stends a signal to the GPS of the rider so that he can go back and take the right way.

6.

Para Endurance

In general horse riding,the only sport that involves the participation of a combination of man/horse athlete, has been practiced for some time in Italy and throughout the world by disabled people.

The horse can become a friend to interact with, it can "lend" its sight to the blind person on the saddle, or its limbs to allow a disabled person to move around without a wheelchair. Recently also in endurance riding has been added a specific discipline for disabled called Para Endurance. The paraendurance competitions can be seen as a revisitation of the classic endurace riding competitions.

7.

An example of a champion in Para Endurance is Becka Northover uses a Specialized saddle on her horse as this sits her well and doesn’t interfere with her leg spasms which she supports with braces. Becka also uses Kvall stirrups to help stabilize her legs and rides with an “Oh Crap Strap!” which is attached to the D rings on the front of her saddle as this helps with her balance.

This therapeutic and sports activity brings physical benefits (cardiocirculatory, muscle tone and so on), but also of the cognitive and socio-relational sphere given primarily by contact with the horse and its environment.

Other curiosities...

Endurance is a fascinating discipline of horse riding for many reasons:

• the persistent contact with nature
• The health care of the horse and best condition
• The feeling between horse and rider
• It is the sport where colours reign.
• No gender diference

8.

THANKS for listening