How to start
Many people start by doing one or two social or Non Competitive Rides (pleasure rides). These give them a chance to “test the water” and introduce themselves and their horses to riding at the speeds required for Competitive Rides (8-12kph for pleasure rides. 8-15 kph for Competitive novice classes). Non Competitive Rides also often have farrier and you ‘trot up’ your horse for the vet to show it is sound. This is a good introduction to the full vet check procedures you get at Competitive Rides, which include checking the heart rate.
However, as a non member there’s nothing to stop you
starting off by entering a novice level Competitive Ride – the only real
difference between pleasure and competitive rides being the vet check
procedures. If your horse is older and competed in another
discipline they are often ready to start at competitive level.
There are different ways to enjoy EGB rides:
- Day Membership
- Associate Membership
- Full Membership
See the Membership page for full details.
What to do at a ride
Before the ride
When you enter a ride, you will get a rider’s pack – typically 4-7 days before the ride. This will include:
- a map of the ride;
- possibly a talk round (verbal description of the ride route);
- usually distances to the ‘check points’;
- instructions on how to get to the venue;
- specific restrictions (e.g. where your crew may meet you);
- vetting/start times.
Make sure you read this information, and in particular check out the route carefully. Whilst most rides are very thoroughly marked, there are occasional “marker vandals”. So be prepared by having studied the route and read the talk round. When you’re studying the route, it’s worth making mental notes or using highlighter pens on key landmarks or the talk round.
This is an example of a typical ride map
Click on
the image if you want to view a full size version of this map.
Your map will show the route, including ‘check points’ you must pass through to show you’ve gone all the way around. You must make sure that the check point steward makes a note of your number as you ride through. Work out what times you would expect to get to check points on the ride, at the minimum and maximum speed and note this on top of the map or a card. This means that, on the day, you will be able to work out whether you need to speed up or slow down to do the ride within the set time parameters.
Note: we have a useful EXCEL ride time calculator to work out the speeds for you.
Do you need a crew?
Under EGB rules it is only compulsory to have a crew when competing in Endurance Rides (ER). This means that in theory, you can compete in Competitive (CR) rides of up to 80km without a crew, but for the longer distances, you will probably be glad of some help. Having said that; some Offa’s Dyke members have very successfully competed without a crew. It just takes a degree of organisation and planning.
You can easily do pleasure rides and shorter distance competitive rides without a crew, but as you increase the distance, your horse will probably be very glad to meet a friendly face offering drinks and a cooling ’slosh bottle’. It is also very helpful to have another pair of hands to help and another driver to help if you have problems during the ride.
An extra pair of hands is always helpful to get the horse ready and
cool them off during and at the end of the ride plus ensure you get a
drink. If you can get someone to help they can meet you on course
at designated /suitable places and provide drinks for horse/rider and
cool horse down on hot days.
They also meet lots of new people and the men are most commonly found discussing other types of sport and horses are not often included.
See the Crewing page for more information.
Ride day
Arriving at the venue (horse passports should be carried when going to competition)
Depending on the type of ride you are doing, you be told when to start in the ride information.
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For Group social rides and Non Competitive Rides you’re usually given a guide time to start e.g. between 10 and 11am. If the NCR has a vet & farrier check, you’ll do these before you start.
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For Competitive Rides you will have been given a vetting time in your rider pack. You see the farrier first, who checks that your shoes look ok for the ride. Vetting is about half an hour before your start time. This allows you time after the vetting to tack-up and make last minute preparations before arriving at the start.
Arrive in plenty of time (30 - 40mins) to allow your horse to settle and for you to find where everything is. Collect your number bib etc from the ride secretary (if you are an EGB member, remember to bring your membership card and log book). Check on the notice board for any changes to the route or other things you should note.
Let people know if your horse is novice. A green ribbon in your
horse’s tail signifies this for your horse. If it is a bit lively, put a
bridle on for the vet check. A red ribbon in your horses tail means it
might kick – so people will keep their distance. (We have known members
who found a lovely red and green tartan ribbon to put in their horses
tail that covered all eventualities!)
Farrier check
Before presenting your horse to the vet, you must see the farrier. He will check that your shoes look okay to complete the ride. If there are any problems he needs to fix before you can start you must pay him for work done. If you lose a shoe out on course, he will come to you if possible to replace it. This is where it is handy to leave a spare set of shoes with your crew (an old pair without much wear are fine).
Vetting
At all Competitive Rides, and at Non Competitive Rides
that run alongside
Competitive Rides, riders will be required to present their horses for
veterinary inspection before and after the ride. Whilst initially this
may seem daunting, think of it as an opportunity to get some veterinary
check-ups on your horse!
The vet will check a number of things:
-
Horse’s soundness (checked by a trot-up)
-
General fitness (as indicated by heart rate and recovery)
-
Obvious “lumps and bumps” which may affect the horse’s ability to do the ride (or which happened on the ride).
-
At higher levels/ longer distances, vet checks get more thorough – beyond the scope of this page to detail (but by the time you get to ride these distances, you’ll know all about vet checks anyway!).
If you enter Competitive Rides (“graded” rides), the results of the vet check, plus the speed at which you rode will be used to calculate a completion “grade”, designed to reward horse fitness and horsemanship. Grades range from 1 (best) to 4; plus completion (or elimination if horses heart rate over 64bpm or lameness!). Grading rosettes are only awarded to full members of EGB riding registered horses. Non-members receive completion rosettes.
It pays to do a little preparation work before your first ride, to make sure your horse will stand still for veterinary inspection, and will trot-up in hand. If you want to know more about what is involved, we suggest you attend a ride and/or find a more experienced person to show you the ropes.
Equipment for the ride
Packing: Even for short ride packing requires thought, so it helps to establish a routine. This is a checklist of what you might need. On pleasure rides you may not need everything but it is better to be well prepared.
- Saddle (don’t forget the girth and numnah). Bridle, breastplate and martingale (if used)
- Hat, boots/riding trainers. Short whip
- Grooming kit (extra hoof pick for crew) Spare reins and leathers.
- Stethoscope
- Hay net, hay and feed (particularly sloppy sugar beet)
- Spare head collar and rope. First aid kit in bum bag
- Useful to have a spare set of shoes already shaped - optional. (Quicker for the farrier if you lose a shoe!)
- Water containers and slosh bottles (we usually use fabric conditioner bottles - well washed out). Buckets
- Watch
- Food and drink for crew/rider
- Rugs A variety of rugs i.e. New Zealand, cooler, thermatex etc.
*Rugs: In our climate it is easy to underestimate the weather and the need for rugs. You may start with a fresh horse in the sunshine and finish with a sweating horse in freezing rain!
The ride
- Start steadily if possible even if it is a grassy field or race course
- Ride at your own speed. If you join up with someone else and they are riding faster than you like, leave them, slow down, their horse may have been doing it for years.
- If you need to pass other riders, ask. Go slowly, especially if their horse looks excitable -it may be their first ride or new horse. (Care green ribbon means novice, red ribbon means may kick, blue ribbon means stallion)
- Let others past as soon as it is wide enough. Let them know if you are worried about the speed they may go away from you
- Stewards and helpers should always be thanked (they are volunteers and often stay there for 6 to 8 hours)
- Please be courteous, polite and exercise caution with walkers and dogs and anyone else that you may meet.
Finish
- Vetting has to be within 30 mins of finishing but you can go at anytime within that 30 mins
- Clean your horse and cool if necessary with water, or keep it warm, or put a rug over its quarters
- Monitor heart rate. It must be under 64bpm when vetted to pass (to get grading a lower heart rate is necessary)
- Walk it a little. If it stands for 30 mins, it may stiffen
- Walk steadily to vetting area and let horse look around and settle for a minute or two
Collect your rosette!
You and your horse can now relax and have something to eat and drink. Remember to keep yourself fed and hydrated after all that exercise! Give the ride secretary time to process your paperwork (particularly on a competitive ride) and then return your number bib and collect your rosette.
Enjoy the ride!
Those of us who participate in endurance riding feel that it is one of the most enjoyable equestrian sports both for us and our horse. Ask for help if you need it. People are generally very supportive and helpful.
Enjoy your horse and the fact that they have carried you across some wonderful countryside. Any rosettes at the end are a bonus and are often reminders of what a good day you had.
After
the ride, you and your horse will enjoy a well earned rest.
Not sure about going?
Offer to help so you can see that the types of horses and riders are probably no different to the rest of us. If you need to learn more - offer to crew an experienced rider they will tell you what they want done and how to do it!