New Rider?

Are you interested in the Trace Tribute Endurance Ride, but you don't know where to start? We've compiled the following information and links to help you learn about endurance. If you're not quite ready to ride, come down and join the fun anyway. We can always use an eager volunteer to help with vet checks and help out the riders!

Endurance riding is a single rider riding a single horse 50 or 100 miles over a pre-defined course. Limited Distance rides are often held with a 50 and/or 100 mile ride and these are 25-35 miles in length.

The horses are checked by a vet the day before the ride to be sure the horse is healthy and ready to start the ride. The horses are also monitored by a vet during the ride. Usually once for the Limited Distance rides and 1, 2, or 3 times during a 50 mile ride. After the horse has been cleared by the vet as "fit to continue" using various parameters such as pulse, hydration, gut sounds and a lameness check, the horse and rider stay at the vet check area for 30-60 minutes until their "hold" time is up and they are allowed to go back on trail.

This is a timed event and the events have a maximum time period using the forumla of 6 hours per 25 miles. So a 25 mile rider has 6 hours, including the time spent with the vet and at the hold, to complete the course. A 50 mile rider has 12 hours and the 100 mile ride has 24 hours. At the end of the ride, the vet checks each horse carefully to be sure the horse handled the ride and could go back out if it were required.

The evening before the ride, there is a rider meeting where the Ride Manager will go over the rules and details of the ride. The Head Vet will explain the pulse criteria and the length of the holds and add any pertinent information that riders should be aware of. The Trail Designer will go over the trail and explain any last minute changes. You do not want to miss the ride meeting! This is the time to ask any questions and be sure you know where to be when.

The following links have some great articles to get you started on your endurance adventure.

• American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) is the governing rules organization for endurance in the US and Canada. Membership in this organization gives you access to the monthly Endurance News magazine. The AERC also keeps records of endurance riders and their horses cumulative mileage.
• The Southeast Endurance Riders Association (SERA) is a non-profit organization that promotes endurance riding in the Southeastern United States.
• The Old Dominion Rides is another non-profit organization dedicated to the sport of endurance riding.

If you still have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact us.