Preparing for your first ride
There are plenty of things you can teach your horse before coming to a ride:
- stand still for physical exam pre-ride and during the ride by a vet
- opening the horses mouth to check gums
- picking up feet
- having their temperature taken
- trotting in hand on a loose rein
- can you take their heart rate?
Endurance rides have different requirements to other competitions. You are required to take your horse’s temperature three days leading up to the ride. Fill in this form and bring it with you to the ride. Great practice for your horse.
To avoid the $20 late fee make sure you enter the event by the nominated closing date. Details on entering events can be found here
Arriving at the Ride
One of the fun parts of endurance riding is camping overnight with your horse. However, for most shorter rides you can arrive on the morning of the ride. Make sure you give yourself at least 1 hour before the ride start to get everything prepared.
Once you have parked your float and settled your horse, find the Ride Secretary’s (white) trailer and finalise your entry. Your paperwork will be available at the desk. You will be given a bib indicating the distance you are riding and a Vet Card for your horse. You will also receive a white card which will be used for our electronic timing system.
You are now ready to present to the vet. Wearing your bib, take your vet card, horse health declaration and horse (unsaddled and in a halter) to the vetting ring. Don’t hesitate to tell the Chief Steward (the head official in the vet ring often wearing a red vest) that you are new to Endurance. They will be very happy to help you and guide you through.
Note that if there are Endurance distance horses in the vet ring then the shorter distances will be asked to wait.
In the vet ring your horse’s temperature, heart rate, metabolics and soundness will all be checked. Once you have successfully passed through your horse’s vet check you are ready to saddle up for the ride.
Ready to Ride
Saddle up and present yourself mounted at the start line about 10 minutes before the start time. You will be given a short description of the ride including how long you have to complete. If you complete the course faster than the allocated time you will be disqualified. It’s important that you are aware of your horses pace per km.
Need help on the course? Ensure you also have the Chief Steward’s number, as this is your first point of contact (other than emergency services) while out on the ride.
The Ride
Leave the base at a steady pace. People often ride together, particularly in the shorter rides, but if you do catch up to other riders and wish to pass please let them know that you are there and pass at a steady pace with plenty of room to spare.
There will be water stops along the way and it is good practice to always offer your horse a drink. Many horses won’t drink on shorter rides but it becomes important on longer rides so a good habit to help them develop. It is important to wait back for any horses drinking before you approach the water tubs and it is good etiquette to wait for any horse that is drinking before you leave. There is often green pick, carrots and hay available for the horses out on the course and you can encourage your horse to eat as it helps gut sounds and recovery from the ride.
When you return to base camp make sure you ride near the timing box to record your time and collect your time slip before going back to your float.
After the Ride
Your time slip will have your completion time and vet time on it. You need to be back with your horse unsaddled and cooled before the time on your time slip. Late arrivals will be disqualified so it’s important to know when you need to be back at the vet to have your horse checked.
For shorter rides, your horse’s heart rate will need to be 55 bpm or below. Take their heart rate as soon as possible so you have time to reduce the heart rate if required. On cool days apply water to the neck and belly. On warmer days water all over your horse may be required. Strapping your horse takes practice and experience. There should be someone around base camp happy to help you.
Congratulations! If your horse passes the vet check you can sit back and relax and join your fellow competitors for the presentations. All successful completions are presented with a ribbon and their vet cards.
Before you go return your bib and your timing card.
Don’t be afraid to ask many questions and above all – have fun!