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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 10:44:37 AM
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Hi - I am a Mum who is looking to get back into riding. Having had an arab as a teenager I am very keen to have another, and while looking for suitable horses for sale I came across Endurance riding. It sounds exactly the challenge I need now, and I am very interested to find out more. I have looked at the GB site, but I still have one question: does it involve any jumping? (something I am not too keen on). Thanks Susie x
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Crusaders Angel
Gold Member
England
531 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 11:25:03 AM
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Hi Susie
There's no jumping involved, although I have found it useful that my arab loves jumping - one particular ride had a track with fallen logs on it but the riders before me had made a track that day weaving through the trees to avoid them but we just jumped the whole row and saved a bit of time and had some extra fun as well 
Endurance is great as you can be as competitive as you want, costs less on a £ per minute basis than any other equestrian sport, is a great way of making friends and is also at the forefront of equestrian health and veterinary research and development of new products.
I got into Endurance as a bit of an after-thought really. I was given an arab on loan, Crusaders Angel, whilst her owner went to compete in Dubai and before Angel was put in foal, and decided to give a go by starting off with a couple of Pleasure Rides and then progressed to a Competitive Ride.
When the time came for Angel to go back home I couldn't let her go so bought her and in our first season I progressed from Novice to Intermediate Since then my ambition has grown but Angel's enthusiasm has decreased so I have not been able to get to Advanced.
Before having Angel I was content to just potter around the country watching the bunnies and the squirrels but now I have really been bitten by the Endurance bug to the extent that I have bought a 3 yr old gelding to take over from Angel as she no longer wants to do the longer distances. She's now 16 and has raced or done endurance since she was 4, including representing her country so I feel that she has earned herself and easy life 
Good luck, you'll have a blast 
Lucy |
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angb
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
112 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 12:06:03 PM
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Hi Susie
Completely agree with Lucy above. Have got an Anglo, who just loves it. He likes nothing better than to be out and about competing/pleasure rides etc. Like you I dont do jumping and picked endurance because of that, but even I have been known to jump the odd log in the forest and enjoyed doing it! If you join EGB now, you will join at the start of the 2009 season (membership runs Jan-Dec), or you can join from 1st July for half charge.
Watch out though, it is seriously addictive    Have already been and bought my next distance horse - only 8 months old at the moment
You wont regret it |
http://160kminoneday.blogspot.co.uk
http://smallholdingpleasureorprofit.blogspot.co.uk |
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 1:54:29 PM
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Hi Lucy and Angb
Thank you so much for your replies - I think I could cope with the odd log I just have to break it to my husband now what I am planning!
Thanks, Susie xx |
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Crusaders Angel
Gold Member
England
531 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 2:01:00 PM
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Hi Susie
What part of the country are you based in? Another AL member and me have got together to encourage each other/give each other a kick up the  when needed. We're based in Nottinghamshire and you are welcome to join us.
Lucy |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 2:36:45 PM
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Hi
I am based in Derbyshire, in the Peak District. I don't actually have a horse yet (have to start chatting my husband up), but would love to hear from people near by (or further afield!).
Susie x |
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Crusaders Angel
Gold Member
England
531 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 2:49:12 PM
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Hi Susie
There is a very active branch of Sport Endurance that operates in Derbyshire.
www.sportendurance.co.uk
They are the other endurance group that operates in the UK and are really friendly and helpful. You can be a member of EGB and SE but they have slightly different rules so you need to remember which rules apply when you are competing.
Lucy |
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 3:33:30 PM
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Thanks Pauline - that's really useful.
I have a couple more questions for anyone out there :
1) What should I look for in a good Endurance horse (arab of course!)?
2) Can anyone recommend any good books on Endurance Riding? Is there a "Endurance Riding for Dummies" for example! |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 4:02:16 PM
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| Marcy Pavord's 'Endurance: from start to finish' has a really good section on choosing an endurance horse. It's an excellent book - I would recommend it. |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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LAK
Junior Member
England
42 Posts |
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Stagborough
Bronze Member
England
54 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 6:08:28 PM
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| I have recently lost my first endurance horse who was 31 and my future prospect is 9 months! There are two in between who are currently competing. Although you have said you are looking for an Arab, and this is an Arab site, I would hate anyone to think that you have to have an Arab! The best horse to start on for most folk is probably the horse you already have and get on with. You can then decide the qualities you want in your next endurance horse.I personally like part breds and it depends on how far you want to go and if you want to do mostly ER's or lower distance rides. |
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Nicki
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
149 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 10:30:25 PM
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| I would definitely go for a horse you feel really comfortable with above all else. You are going to be the one that will be hacking out (potentially on your own) and maybe in a bit of a rush between school runs etc. So dont go for something that is what others tell you would be good. Go for something that you feel is the right horse for you, your lifestyle and above all else that you feel safe with and that You really really like from the first moment. A lot of people get really bitten by the bug but just dont want to do the really big distances and have great fun peaking at a particular distance. Dont forget you'll need a crew for the bigger distances and that will entail really chatting the hubby up and potentially more bribery !! |
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