Day
Before
Arrive at the ride site the day before the Endurance Ride. Set up your
camp and get your horse settled. Get your horse vetted early. After
the vet check, your time is your own until the ride briefing. Take the
map that was given to you when you registered and mark down any information
from the ride briefing that you think will help you on the ride. Mark
any danger points on the ride such as bogs and soft spots, and places
where you can water your horse. After the Briefing, make sure your horse
has plenty of food and water for the night. Many riders provide free
choice hay. Most endurance riders "preload" electrolytes before
the ride. Go to bed early and get a good sleep.
Ride
Morning
Be tacked up early and warm up your horse for 15 to 30 minutes before
the start time. Depending on the time of year, it can be very cold,
requiring a slow warm up. Walk your horse for five to ten minutes. Then
do some slow trotting, then go back to walking and settle in for the
start.
Start
The start of some endurance rides can be quite scary the first time
out. Some riders start slowly, others start in a confused rush. Start
your first ride slowly. It gets the fast and hyped up horses out of
your way. Everyone should ride their own race. Ignore the competition,
don't worry if people pass you. Your goal is to finish and learn the
capabilities of your horse.
Vet
Checks
If your horse is thirsty when you arrive at a vet check, then the horse
should be allowed to drink before going to the pulse and respiration
check. (Horses will cool down and their pulse will drop more quickly
if they drink so you may actually save time at the vet check by allowing
your horse to drink before trying to get the pulse down.) After you
have met the pulse criteria and other vet criteria, you should ensure
your horse has plenty of food and water available. Many endurance horses
like a sloppy grain mix with bran, carrots, apples, potatoes, beet pulp
etc. (Remember - soak beet pulp for 24 hours before feeding.) Also have
a good quality hay available.
On
Trail
Any time on the trail that you could walk as fast as your horse, get
off and walk. There are several benefits to this, IT will give your
horse a break. If you have a heart monitor, you will notice the difference.
Secondly, it will give you a break and a chance to use different muscles
and bet a stretch. You and your horse will be less tired and stressed
as a result. Leading and jogging down hills and tailing up hills is
of great benefit to your horse. Remember, downhill is harder on the
horse's muscles, bones and tendons than going uphill.
Finish
Congratulations you made it. Remember the motto of endurance riding,
"To Finish Is To Win."
After
The Finish
There is normally a vet check within one hour after you finish the ride.
When you come in at the finish line, have your horse's pulse checked
as soon as you think the ride parameters have been reached. Once this
is down, prepare the horse for the post ride vet check. If the horse
was ridden hard, do lots of walking to cool the horse out. Let the horse
graze and get lots of water and sloppy grain mix in. Groom the horse
and check for any anomalies. Ice the lets if appropriate, blanket the
big muscles to avoid cramping, massage the big muscles, make your horse
comfortable. After the vet check, tie him up and provide free choice
hay, water and grain. Let your horse rest but keep a close check on
your horse after the ride to make sure there are no problems. Your horse
may have worked hard on the ride. IF so, and you have a long way to
go, it is wise to let your horse rest overnight before packing up and
trailering home.
Tips
Do not try to be first to finish on your first ride. It takes at
least two years of conditioning before a horse is ready to compete seriously
in an endurance ride without undue risk of breakdown. It is a good idea
to start a new horse (or a new rider) on short rides before attempting
to do an endurance ride.
You
may use any kind of saddle and bridle that you wish. It should fit both
the horse and rider well. The lighter the tack, the better.
Wear
comfortable clothing. Avoid new clothes or rough materials. Many riders
(including males) wear panty horse or other undergarments, chaps and
half chaps to avoid chaffing. Many riders wear running shoes or other
soft shoes to assist in occasionally running with their horses, leading,
railing, or beside them depending on terrain.
Yield
the trail to overtaking riders when asked, and ask for the trail when
passing. Since dehydration can be a major problem, encourage your horse
to drink on the trail whenever water is available. If other riders are
with you, do not ride on until all the other horses have finished drinking.
When riders leave early, the other horses will not drink since they
will want to leave as well. Leaving when others are trying to bet their
horses to drink is a serious breach of trail etiquette.
Carry
a plastic scoop and/or sponge on a string to cool your horse and yourself
at water holes.
Ask
for advice from other riders and pit crews if you are uncertain about
any aspect of the ride. Take an opportunity to ride along with more
experienced riders if your horses pace matches theirs. People love to
talk on the trail and you will learn a great deal. Tell the veterinarians
and ride management you are a new rider. They will be glad to help you
out and provide advice. However, you are responsible for your own horse
and for setting a pace that will allow your horse to finish the ride
in good condition.
We
hope to see you on the trail this year. Remember, endurance riders love
to talk so please ask questions.