The Endurance Horse
So, you've decided that YOU might enjoy doing endurance. But will your horse?
What horses can do endurance?
You can find examples of just about any breed from ponies to draft horses doing endurance. Whether or not a particular horse is "good" for endurance cannot be determined by breed, age, or build. Rather, the personality of the horse and how the horse performs are the most important factors.
AERC does have rules that limit horse ages. The age of the horse is determined by their actual birthday, not the year. For an LD, the horse must be at least 4 years old. For a 50+ mile ride, the horse must be at least 5 years old. However, all horses mature at the same rate and do not stop growing until they are 5-6 years old (yes, even quarter horses and other "early maturing" horses). Thus, many experienced endurance riders wait to start their horses until they are 4-5 years old and do not compete until their horses are 6-7 years old. In general, this will increase the longevity of the endurance horse, and well-cared for horses often compete in endurance into their mid-twenties. There is no upper age limit, but a horse that is not deemed sound and able to start a ride when vetting in will not be allowed to participate.
Then why does everyone have Arabians?
Arabians are naturally equipped to do endurance since traveling long distances is what they were bred to do for thousands of years. Certain adaptations give them an advantage and they are generally more competitive (in both terms of distance and speed) because of this. Therefore, riders dedicated to endurance tend to gravitate toward Arabians when purchasing a horse they wish to do endurance with. However, not all Arabians make good endurance horses, of course. Some just are built sturdy enough and others aren't mentally equipped for the demands of an endurance ride. Still others simply may not like doing endurance at all and would prefer an easy trail ride or arena work. And, of course, there is always the history of the horse and the care of the rider that must be taken into account.
Is my horse a good endurance horse?
The decision of whether a horse is cut out for endurance is as individual as the horse and rider, but here are some things to consider:
If I'm purchasing a horse for endurance, what should I look for?
Again, whether or not a horse will be good at endurance is a determination that is as unique as the horse. Moreover, there are no guarantees until the horse actually does an endurance ride. However, here are a few things you should consider in addition to the questions listed above when buying a horse for endurance:
What if I don't have a horse that can do endurance?
No worries! Plenty of endurance riders manage to do so without having a horse that can do endurance for a variety of reasons. Some have a horse that simply is not cut out for endurance, others have horses that are too young or are not ready to compete for other reasons, and still others do not own a horse at all. There are still a number of ways that these riders can participate:
What horses can do endurance?
You can find examples of just about any breed from ponies to draft horses doing endurance. Whether or not a particular horse is "good" for endurance cannot be determined by breed, age, or build. Rather, the personality of the horse and how the horse performs are the most important factors.
AERC does have rules that limit horse ages. The age of the horse is determined by their actual birthday, not the year. For an LD, the horse must be at least 4 years old. For a 50+ mile ride, the horse must be at least 5 years old. However, all horses mature at the same rate and do not stop growing until they are 5-6 years old (yes, even quarter horses and other "early maturing" horses). Thus, many experienced endurance riders wait to start their horses until they are 4-5 years old and do not compete until their horses are 6-7 years old. In general, this will increase the longevity of the endurance horse, and well-cared for horses often compete in endurance into their mid-twenties. There is no upper age limit, but a horse that is not deemed sound and able to start a ride when vetting in will not be allowed to participate.
Then why does everyone have Arabians?
Arabians are naturally equipped to do endurance since traveling long distances is what they were bred to do for thousands of years. Certain adaptations give them an advantage and they are generally more competitive (in both terms of distance and speed) because of this. Therefore, riders dedicated to endurance tend to gravitate toward Arabians when purchasing a horse they wish to do endurance with. However, not all Arabians make good endurance horses, of course. Some just are built sturdy enough and others aren't mentally equipped for the demands of an endurance ride. Still others simply may not like doing endurance at all and would prefer an easy trail ride or arena work. And, of course, there is always the history of the horse and the care of the rider that must be taken into account.
Is my horse a good endurance horse?
The decision of whether a horse is cut out for endurance is as individual as the horse and rider, but here are some things to consider:
- Does my horse do well on the trail?
- Does my horse enjoy long rides?
- Does my horse enjoy trotting for long distances?
- Would I enjoy riding my horse for at least 4-5 hours at a trot?
- Does my horse take care of themselves, including eating and drinking?
- Does my horse behave in a group of horses?
- Could I leave my horse alone at camp?
- Does my horse focus and behave when being examined by a vet or when other things are going on?
- If the answer to any of these questions is "no", is it something that can be fixed with training and conditioning?
If I'm purchasing a horse for endurance, what should I look for?
Again, whether or not a horse will be good at endurance is a determination that is as unique as the horse. Moreover, there are no guarantees until the horse actually does an endurance ride. However, here are a few things you should consider in addition to the questions listed above when buying a horse for endurance:
- Breed - as stated above, any horse can do endurance. If you're looking to be competitive, you will likely want to narrow your search to Arabians or Arabian crosses. However, many people prefer the smoothness of gaited horses, the will of mustangs, and even the self-preservation of mules. What is most important is that you are comfortable with the personality and characteristics of the individual horse.
- Previous experience - Has the horse done endurance before? If so, check the horse's endurance record. This can tell you a wealth of information, such as at what age and how fast (or slow) the horse was started. If the horse doesn't have previous endurance experience, how has it performed on the trail? Has it been asked to do anything that requires hard work over long hours? Horses that have done well in sports that ask horses to train and perform for a length of time, such as eventing and drill team, typically do well in endurance.
- Bloodlines - There are many endurance bloodlines (usually Arabian) and each rider has their own preference. Some breeding facilities specialize in breeding horses specifically for endurance. Research the bloodlines and ask other endurance riders for more information about them.
- Conformation - Good conformation is always a good thing, but it isn't everything. There are plenty of horses with thousands of AERC miles that you wouldn't expect to do well at endurance based solely on their conformation. Generally speaking, the better the conformation of the horse, the better the horse will fare over time and distance. Specifically speaking, endurance riders typically look for good, thick bones in the legs; a short, strong back; a deep, wide chest indicating a strong heart and large lungs; a powerful hind end and loin; a correct, sloping shoulder which enables the horse to extend forward. In addition, the type of muscle is important as bulkier horses tend to have a harder time moving
- Movement - Efficient, forward movement is preferable to cover distance. Rather than the high, leg-lifting action or short steps sometimes desired in arena sports, look for a horse with extension where energy is devoted to covering ground. The horse should reach under with their hind end and propel the horse forward, but keep an eye out for any interference as well (including the hind legs interfering with one another). Remember you'll be riding this horse for hours on end, so you want to look for movement that is both beneficial for the horse and you. A choppy horse may take the fun out of riding it even 25 miles, much less 50-100 miles.
What if I don't have a horse that can do endurance?
No worries! Plenty of endurance riders manage to do so without having a horse that can do endurance for a variety of reasons. Some have a horse that simply is not cut out for endurance, others have horses that are too young or are not ready to compete for other reasons, and still others do not own a horse at all. There are still a number of ways that these riders can participate:
- Volunteer at a ride - This is the best way to become familiar with endurance and no horse is necessary. Doing so will also open up opportunities, such as the ones below
- Crew for another rider - Nearly every rider would appreciate a willing and ready crew that knows them and their horse.
- Help another rider condition their horse - some riders do not have the time to condition and ride their horse(s) like they would like to. Some just have multiple horses and would just like someone to ride with, and they're willing to provide the horse. In either case, this is often a great opportunity to learn from another rider and even have the privilege of riding an experienced horse
- Borrow a horse - If you develop a good relationship with a rider through crewing and conditioning, they may even allow (or ask!) you to use their horse to compete in endurance. Depending on the situation, they may even cover your ride fees (discuss this with them!). Most will ask that you stay with them during a ride as it is their horse, but occasionally riders with a good reputation and record may be given the opportunity to ride on their own. Either is a fantastic opportunity for a horseless rider to compete!