The first weekend in August will see horses and riders take on the state forest tracks across a variety of endurance rides on offer via Kiwarrak Endurance Club.
Rides will run on Saturday and Sunday (2-3 August) with shorter distances of 20 kilometres right through to a competitive 80km ride. The club missed out on running an event in 2024 but secretary Linda Henley said things are shaping up well for the 2025 ride.
“The ride hasn’t run since 2023 due to not having enough committee members to organise it, but it’s always been a popular event and when it last ran there were 135 entries,” she said.
“We are hoping to get 100+ entries. Hopefully we’ll get riders from greater Sydney, Hunter, Newcastle and Northern Rivers as well as local Mid North Coast riders.”
The Kiwarrak event also draws local riders who don’t necessarily follow the endurance calendar but like to get out and about with their horses.
Henley said they have changed things up with a more cost-effective program for riders wanting to participate on both days.
“We’ve bundled up some rides so riders that would like to ride on both days (20/20km, or 40/40km or 20/40km) on the same horse can save on entry fees,” she said.
“One entry fee means less costs from NSW, so we can pass on the savings to our riders.”
The last time the Kiwarrak ride ran (in 2023), there were several challenging forest tracks included. But they have removed them this time.
“We’ve simplified the track from previous events and taken out the large climb up to the lookout, and back down again,” Henley said.
“The track is lovely undulating forest gravel roads, which are nice and wide, and with good shade, and very few rocky sections. The track has been shortened from 84km to 80km.”
There’s also an emphasis on the community aspect endurance riding is renowned for. The club has organised stall holders, catering and a communal campfire.
“This year we’re ramping up the social aspects of the sport and hold communal bonfires each night so riders can network before pre-ride talks and dinner, plus we have some great local trade stalls and EMPF (pulse therapy) demonstrations, a Monsta Raffle with the first prize of a drone to be won, and eight riding events to select from,” Henley said. “It should be a great weekend!”
Following Kiwarrak, the Mid North Coast will host an event at Johns River from 27-28 September.
For more information or to enter, visit aeraonline.com.au. For more information on endurance riding in NSW and to view coming rides in your area, visit nswera.asn.au
