What Is Endurance Horse Racing?

Endurance Horse Racing: The Thrill and The Truth

Endurance racing has been around for a long period of time and is depicted in some movies such as Hidalgo, and Virginias Run as an all out race for the finish where the horses go for hours on end and have no breaks. While these movies are heart pounding and keep the viewer interested, the real sport of endurance racing is not quite the same.

The endurance horse is the ultimate athlete, trained for months and years and then treated like royalty, sometimes even better than the people who are perched on their backs for hours at a time. Most endurance horses love their job and that is why they are so successful. The endurance rides are sanctioned by the AERC which stands for the American Endurance Ride Conference, and are held all over the country and some are even international. The rides range from introductory rides which are 15 miles or less, limited distance at 25-30 miles and then the full endurance length ranging from 50 to 100 miles. The toughest endurance race is the Tevis cup, which is held annually and runs 100 miles in one day from Tahoe to Auburn, California.

Training for these events takes months and even years of preparation for horse and rider alike and is the most rewarding sport I have ever competed in. There are no monetary gains, only expenses but there is nothing quite like knowing that the horse you are competing on is your best friend. The trust between horse and rider is equal, rider trusting the horse to give him or her a safe trip down the trail, and horse trusting rider to give him or her direction down the path.

Most riders have multiple horses to compete on, but in my case I have my trusty mare Sierra. She is a ten year old quarter horse mare, standing 15 hands tall and weighing only around 1000 pounds. The dominate breed of competitor in endurance is the Arabian horse, because their breeding and body type is ideal for this sport. A lot of other breeds of horses do well in endurance as well, like Sierra, but the Arabian definitely dominates the field.

I came across endurance riding by chance, and I am so glad that I did. It has brought me many hours in the saddle with my best friend and those are hours that I would trade for nothing. Through many injuries and ups and downs Sierra and I have been an unstoppable team. Endurance racing is a true thrill that will keep horse and rider coming back for more again and again.

Please feel free to follow my blog for new posts every week or so on topics related to endurance such as nutrition, training plans, and injuries. I will answer any questions that anyone may have! Have a great ride!

Sources:
Endurance Horse Photo: http://ptcprofit.com/31/arabian-endurance-horses-833.jpg