Types of Ride

The distances start with social rides of 10km (6 miles) or less.  To get a completion rosette you need to ride at a minimum speed of 8km (5 miles) an hour.  Any horse ridden regularly and who is sound is capable of the lower distances, although you do need to go faster than you would normally hack at home (probably about 4 miles an hour).

Courses at all levels are clearly marked and a map is also provided.  Routes include bridleways, private land, forestry tracks and roads, often including permissive tracks only for the day of the ride.  This is a chance to see some wonderful countryside and enjoy riding your horse in a different place.  You will also find that the other riders and crew are very friendly in the sport of endurance.

There are different types of rides:

Non-members can take part in Group Social Rides, NCRs and CRs of up to 40km (25miles) by paying an additional £5 Temporary Day Membership.  This is a great way to see if you and your horse enjoy Endurance.  Offa’s Dyke Group run all of these types of rides (see Rides and Events section)

 

Group social rides (pleasure rides)

Local Groups such as Offa’s Dyke organise social rides covering a range of distance.  These don’t have a farrier or vet check and often have limited facilities.  The entry fees are lower than national rides.  Our group social rides cost £10 for Members and Associate Members and £15 for Temporary Day Members.  To get a rosette you need to complete the course at a speed between 8km and 12km per hour (5-7.5 miles per hour).

 

Non Competitive Rides (NCR)

These rides are listed in the EGB national rides schedule and are often run at the same event as Competitive Rides (CRs).  If this is the case then you will have a farrier and vet check before the ride and a vet check at the end.  The farrier will just check that your horse’s shoes are ok for the ride and the vet will ask you to trot the horse up to check it isn’t lame.

Distances are from 10-40 km (6-25 miles).  The speed parameters to claim a rosette are the same as a group pleasure ride – 8-12km per hour (5-7.5miles per hour).

Both Group Social Rides and NCRs are ‘pleasure rides’ i.e. you do them for the pleasure and/or experience but they do not count in any competitive record.  However, they are a good introduction as, (unlike comparable pleasure or sponsored rides run by local organisations) they require you to complete the distance within specific time parameters.  They may, if run alongside competitive rides, also introduce you to EGB vetting procedures.  You do not need to be a member or have a registered horse to enter.

 

Competitive Rides (CR)

Rides of between 30k (20 miles) and 80k (50 miles).  Members of EGB on registered horses can use these CRs to progress from Novice, Open to Advanced levels by increasing the distance and speed.  Horses will have all rides recorded on their permanent ‘master-card’.  Some members continue to enjoy CRs and don’t want to do the longer distance ERs.  This is absolutely fine, in Endurance you can continue to ride at whatever level suits you and your horse!

Non members and Associate Members can also take part in Novice CRs of up to 40km by paying Temporary Day Membership of £5 per entry.

All competitors have a farrier check plus full vetting pre and post ride (and for members riding over 50km a mid ride vetting also).

 

Competitive “Endurance Rides” (ER)

These are between 80k (c.50 miles) and 160k (100 miles).  These only have a minimum speed (no maximum) – the aim being to get round as fast as possible, taking account of terrain and conditions, and successfully pass all vet checks.  ERs are aimed at advanced riders and horses, and some are run as international rides under FEI regulations.  There are lots of things to learn about ERs (it is beyond the scope of this section of the website to give all the details!).  Come and watch or help at an ER competition to see what’s involved (see the Getting Involved page).