Tell me about Endurance!

[DingDing]

Good morning!

I have lurked on this forum for a few years but never made a profile until now. For the last few years I wondered “I love having a horse but I am not specifically interested in any western or English. My favorite time as a rider was when we just hacked in the woods so why not try out endurance!”

I currently have a 5.5 year old Arab/APHA gelding. He is in training right now and doing extremely well. I was not looking for a horse at the time and I had gone to look at this free horse for my sister. He turned out to be exactly what I wanted so I brought him home.

I’d love for someone to detail things about endurance. I’ve done a lot of reading and searching. I am currently looking for a mentor in my area…hint hint Northern California…

My questions are, what are the essentials that you carry with you? Do you absolutely need a crew? I don’t have many friends that live near me that would be willing to go to all these rides with me :(. How exactly does an endurance ride work? Inspections?

I can’t seem to post photos of my kid so it will have to wait. Thank you in advance for the answers

[GotMyPony]

Check out the sticky at the top of the Endurance forum topics (called Endurance FAQs). Then visit the American Endurance Riding Conference website at http://aerc.org, where you’ll find FAQs, a list of willing mentors for different regions, and several videos taken at actual rides so you can see what goes on. And find an endurance ride near you to go see - the rides are listed on aerc site. If you like what you see, you can volunteer at another ride to learn more.

And you can do a search of the endurance forum here - try “new to endurance” for example - to find answers to questions similar to yours that have been asked in the past. Lots of good info out there. Good luck!

[ehwaz]

What part of NorCal? There are alot of endurance riders in NorCal, but its a big area. If you want,you can pm me and I might know someone to get in touch with close to you.

The essentials vary alot- distance you are planning on going, weather, how long you plan to be out, etc.

I personally always carry water, food(granola bars), spare hoof boots, a rainjacket, a knife and multitool, haystring, maxi pad(makes a good emergency bandage) and duct tape. The longer the ride/more remote, the more food, medical supplies, clothing and other"oh s***" supplies I carry. That said, I tend to bring more stuff with me than average- I have crewed for a rider who would carry 2 waterbottles and a hoofboot per loop, even at Tevis.

You definitely don’t need a crew. They are nice to have, but I rarely have one.That said, a great way to learn is to crew for someone else or volunteer at a ride.

General Timeline of an endurance ride
Friday

• check in
• vet in ( the vet checks over your horse, trot out, pulse, gut sounds,etc)
• ride meeting/dinner

Saturday

• Ride starts
• At least one vetcheck, more dependent on distance, basically the same as vet in
• You finish the ride
• Another vet check - called a completion check
• Awards dinner/ more food

Sunday- drive home

If you are interested in learning more, google Endurance 101- really good book to learn more about endurance, plus it is funny.

[DingDing]

Thanks! I pmed you Ehwaz and I also emailed one of the mentors that is sort of near to me. None of them were very close, but I guess a couple hours away will have to do.

[Lieselotte]

Another NorCal endurance rider here! (East Bay area.)
Let me know where you’re at and we’ll get you going. There are lots of rides in our region and it’s just the best for year-round training.
Welcome!

[irish_horse]

Another Nor Cal rider here too! (Auburn area) Endurance has been the best, worst, coolest, scariest, bravest, most fun thing I’ve ever done. I’ve learned more about myself and my horse in a few years training for endurance than any other time.

I think the best thing to do is visit a ride. Start talking to the ride manager, they’ll find something for you to do, even just hold a horse, any little bit helps. Seeing how things work is really interesting. It is the beginning of the ride season, I know there is something in your area! I’m no mentor, just a beginner, but I’m happy to help or point you in the right direction.

Good luck!

[DingDing]

Anything is appreciated! I am in Middletown (lake county). Do I have to be a member to volunteer?

[Lieselotte]

No, you don’t even have to be a member to ride. It just costs a bit extra.

I definitely second the idea to volunteer first, or to crew for your new mentor… You will learn so much right away, see the variety of tack, horses, riders, camp styles, etc. Come to the Whiskeytown Chaser near Redding on 4/19 & 4/20 and check it out!

You are also very close to two very nice rides, the Cooley Ranch ride (June) and Lake Sonoma (early November) and you live very close to the best farrier around, IMO. PM me if you’re looking for input about your horse’s feet before you get going with your Endurance training.

[irish_horse]

The Cache Creek ride is right around the corner from you! Great ride, I’ve volunteered it and ridden too. Wonderful management, they’d be glad to have you. I went and stayed the night, took in the ride meeting, talked to folks, and the next day helped at a vet check. It is May 14 this year.
http://www.cachecreekride.com/Cache_Creek_Ride/Home.html

[DingDing]

[QUOTE=Lieselotte;7520167]
No, you don’t even have to be a member to ride. It just costs a bit extra.

I definitely second the idea to volunteer first, or to crew for your new mentor… You will learn so much right away, see the variety of tack, horses, riders, camp styles, etc. Come to the Whiskeytown Chaser near Redding on 4/19 & 4/20 and check it out!

You are also very close to two very nice rides, the Cooley Ranch ride (June) and Lake Sonoma (early November) and you live very close to the best farrier around, IMO. PM me if you’re looking for input about your horse’s feet before you get going with your Endurance training.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately the mentor nearest me that I contacted has a recovering lame horse and is training a new one. She said she isn’t the best person to ride with right now but she will help me however she can.

[DingDing]

It would be fun to work with the vets. I work as a Vet Tech at a large/small animal hospital and I love it!

[DingDing]

[QUOTE=irish_horse;7520187]
The Cache Creek ride is right around the corner from you! Great ride, I’ve volunteered it and ridden too. Wonderful management, they’d be glad to have you. I went and stayed the night, took in the ride meeting, talked to folks, and the next day helped at a vet check. It is May 14 this year.
http://www.cachecreekride.com/Cache_Creek_Ride/Home.html[/QUOTE]

I am going to try to get the time off work so I can volunteer at this one! It is pretty local to me

The volunteer form says it is May 11th.