If you love horses and love the bush, endurance riding is a great experience for anyone of any age and horses of all breeds. You get to explore Australia's great riding trails over long distances, on your own or with family and friends.

BY REBECCA BRAMICH

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IF YOU LIKE riding, the satisfaction you get from completing a long endurance ride is like no other. The feelings of empathy, admiration, respect and companionship you build with your horse is priceless. Whether it is a 60km ride to 160km, there are many hours spent in the saddle on an endurance ride, often in freezing cold and pouring rain, so it helps to be mentally tough to take up the pursuit.

But it's not always enduring: immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the countryside under open blue skies, soothed by the rhythm of your horse's gait, chasing the horizon or wondering what's around the next bend on a beautiful day is an experience you can get no other way. If you enjoy camping and riding, then this is a perfect way to do both.

Many types of horses participate in endurance. Arabians are the most common but you will also see Standardbreds, Anglo Arabs, Quarabs, Thoroughbreds, Stock Horses, various pony breeds, Morgans, Appaloosas, Walers and Saddlebreds. There is a saying that you don't need an Arab to compete in endurance, but you'll have to pass a lot of them to win! They are built for long-distance riding.

Starting out, you might do a training ride over distances of five, 20, 40 or 60km. Once you reach the competitive level, rides are between 80km and 160km in a day. A competitive endurance ride is broken into legs. For example, an 80km endurance ride would typically consist of two legs of 40km; a longer ride of 160km may have five or six legs. In between legs, riders must take their horse for a compulsory full veterinary check, where he is checked for hydration levels, heart rate, gut sounds, muscle tone, gait and overall alertness. There is also a pre-ride vet check, and a final check at the end of the ride. If your horse does not meet all the healthy parameters then it is "vetted out" and you do not get a completion.

During longer rides, your horse might be checked by a vet five or six times to monitor his health and wellbeing and to make sure he is not pushed over his limits.

Training rides always start in daylight, but competitive rides can start at crazy times, day or night. Many 160km rides begin at midnight and most 80km rides start at 4am, or earlier or later, depending on the weather. If it's forecast to be a hot day, it's best to get as many kilometres under your belt during the cool of the night – a good helmet torch is essential for an endurance rider! During a ride out on the trail, you come across a number of checkpoints where you have to call out your bib number to the  monitor as you pull in. The checkpoints are also to allow your horse to drink and eat before you continue on the course. 

Plenty of hours are spent in the saddle leading up to a competition to make sure your horse is fit enough to go the distance. We do a mixture of arena work and riding through the hills of the forest. You should aim to do roughly the distance per week that you are aiming to do in an endurance ride. If you want to do a 40km training ride, aim to do 40km in training through the weeks leading up to the ride. The week of the ride, taper it down slightly (making sure you reduce the feed slightly as well).

The right feeding regimen is important leading up to an event: everything from protein levels to electrolyte balances and fibre intake must be spot-on for an endurance horse. If your horse is shod, get new shoes a week before a competition to reduce the risk of losing shoes on course, as it can end your ride if you aren't carrying an Easyboot! Many riders put pads under a horse’s shoes to protect the sole if they know the ride is going to be particularly rocky. There are also many endurance riders who compete their horses unshod.

If you are new to endurance or planning to go to your first competition, here are a few pointers. Firstly, most important is the comfort of you and your horse. A well-fitting saddle and nice wooly saddle-pad help your horse deal with the miles with ease. A bum bag or small saddlebag is also great for carrying carrots for your horse, muesli bars, your mobile phone, a drink bottle or a hoof pick!

It can also be a good idea to put a sheepskin girth sleeve on a thin-skinned horse, as a rub can easily end in a "vet out''.  A lot of riders swear by anti-rash baby powder for them as well as their horse! You can sprinkle some under the girth or between your horse’s boots if you are worried about rubs. Properly fitting tack for your horse is a must. A lot of endurance riders use Biothane tack, a patented synthetic leather material that is lightweight and easy to keep clean. Keeping tack clean is extremely important as dirty tack can cause rubs. I use a bridal that doubles up as a halter, which is handy for quick strapping, a breastplate, and I ride with rope reins because they can double as a lead rope. 

It is a personal choice whether to use splint or tendon boots. Some riders believe they heat a horse's legs too much, others believe they prevent injuries from ground debris, falls and your horse knocking themselves when tired. If you choose boots, they must fit properly, be clean and checked after every leg for things that might become caught in them. You can’t vet your horse through with boots, so they must be taken off for vetting. It is also handy to carry a hoof boot in case your horse pulls a shoe. Spurs and crops are not allowed in the sport of endurance.

Rider comfort is important, too. The better you feel and ride, the better the horse will cope, so make sure you have comfortable and worn-in waterproof boots and gaiters. My second option is runners and suede chaps, which are so comfy and easy to keep clean. I wear runners on a leg when I know I'll be getting off and walking or running beside my horse a lot. Runners are allowed as long as you have caged stirrups. In terms of pants, I love the tights but it’s really whatever you feel comfortable in. Seamless options are good as there is less chance for rubs. Many endurance riders ride in skins, either on their own or under jodhpurs or jeans. A lightweight, breathable helmet is essential as it’s on your head for long periods of time. An item that is not essential but is very handy is a GPS watch, especially one that one that logs riding time, the distance and average speed. 

To vet your horse through, you must have a heart-rate monitor or stethoscope. A stethoscope is handy because you can tell if your horse’s heartbeat is steady or fluctuating. Buckets and sponges are needed to strap your horse before vetting and to give them a quick clean-up. Cooling the neck and back when the horse is hot will help lower the heart rate – avoiding the rump as it can easily stiffen if it gets too cold. In winter, you may not need to strap with water if it is a chilly day; a woolen rug over the hind end is a better option, as well as keeping the horse moving so it doesn't stiffen up and get cold.

Feeding your horse on a ride can be tricky; if they are a bit hyped up they may be off their food. Plenty of carrots and apples are handy, and I like to bring water from home as you have more chance of them drinking it. I offer a molasses water and plain water that is not chilled. Ice-cold water can lead to colic.

After the ride it's important to take care of your horse's legs. Either ice boots or poultices are good options. You should also take your horse for a walk once it has had a bit of down time in the yard to stretch its legs before the float ride home.

The most important thing to remember is keeping you and your horse comfortable.  You should train in the tack you are planning to use and the clothing you are planning to wear so that any rubs or discomfort are sorted before the event. Monitoring how much your horse is eating and drinking is also vital and it’s important not to change its diet close to a ride or at a ride. 

It is very easy to get involved in endurance. The endurance community is extremely friendly and always welcomes newcomers. If you want to get involved, you can contact me about my Endurance Clinics. I cover everything from what to pack, what to expect at your first ride, how to strap your horse and how to train for your first endurance ride. Also, check out all the information at the Australian Endurance Riders Assocition website at www.aera.asn.au and click the State Divisions tab on the left to find out about rides in your area. The Queensland endurance website has some helpful articles under "Starting Out". It is www.qldendurance.asn.au

This article first appeared in Equestrian Life magazine, for more like this pick up your latest copy today.