Pony Club Endurance

Endurance dates for 2012

South East region

If your horse or pony can travel one kilometre in six minutes, you are capable of riding for over two and a half hours, and you ride at least three times a week, including some canter work - then you and your horse or pony should be able to manage any Pony Club Endurance ride up to Kestrel/Novice level.

When you and your horse/pony become fitter, then the further distances of Osprey and Eagle level are well within the capability of the average Pony Club Member. Endurance Riding is for all Pony Club Branch and Centre Members aged eight years and over

What is an endurance ride?

It is a ride, usually over open country, along a specified route for a set distance with specific speed requirements. You will be issued with a map of the route a few days before the competition, which you will need to study carefully, in order to plan your ride pace, and finish in time. There will be checkpoints along the route at which you  must ensure the steward records your competitor number.

Most competitive rides also require the horse or pony to be vetted before and after the ride.

The main body for overseeing Endurance Riding in England and Wales is Endurance GB (E.G.B). Pony Club members are allowed to enter all EGB competitions at members’ reduced rates.

What do we do within the Old Surrey and Burstow Pony Club ?

• Training rallies

These involve riding set distance rides (c11miles/17.7 km) at a target speed (c 6mph/10kmph)
We check the ponies’ heart rates and soundness before and after the ride
Sometimes we run an afternoon session on map reading skills

• Instructor led rallies

Last July we had an International level trainer come and run training sessions for us at Carewell. We learnt about managing heart rates, riding at set speeds, hydration, and many other aspects of endurance.

• EGB training rides

We treat these as competitions and can use these to qualify for the championships. There are several of them set around the south east, in lovely locations. We are ‘vetted’ by the organizers.

• EGB competitive rides

These are formal competitions with official vettings. We can also attend and qualify at these. Again there are many lovely organised rides around the area.

• Distance badges

Will be awarded in 2011 for distances ridden either on rallies or logged on your mastercard.

• Annual awards

For our most successful riders

Dress

Pony Club uniform is not required for endurance, because it is vital that you are comfortable for several hours of riding. You must however be clean and tidy, as must your tack.

Hat standards are the same as for any other discipline, and your hat must be tagged. At an EGB ride your hat must be presented to the organiser to check it is tagged.

Similarly the organiser will need to see that you are wearing a completed medical armband.

Most tack and bits are acceptable for endurance

Adult supervision

All children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult (18 yrs or over) on horseback, with a maximum of two children to one adult. The Member and accompanying adult must compete together, and if there is a problem on course they must stay together. I have a couple of volunteers who are willing to escort members on rides this year if required.

Levels of competition :

Merlin Training Rides

• Distance 8-15km

• Speed max 12 km per hr

• Not a qualifying ride

Kestrel/Novice Qualifying Rides

• Distance 16-25km

• Speed 8-15km per hr, optimum is 10 kph

• Horses vetted before and after ride

• Combinations will be graded based on speed/soundness/heart rate

Osprey/Intermediate Qualifying Rides

• Distance 26-35km

• Speed 8-15km per hr, optimum is 11 kph

• Horses vetted before and after ride

• Combinations will be graded based on speed/soundness/heart rate

Eagle/Open Qualifying Rides

• Distance 36-50km

• Speed 8-15km per hr, optimum is 12 kph

• Horses vetted before and after ride

• Combinations will be graded based on speed/soundness/heart rate

Generally riders don’t compete against each other, but compete to get the best grade possible ie a Grade 1. At some rides, and at the Championships, Performance Criteria will be used to decide on placings and award a winner. Master cards must be completed and authorised for every qualifying ride.  You need 3 rides at one level to qualify for the championships.  Qualification is based on the pony/rider combination.  As with other disciplines, 3 starred rallies are needed to enter the Championships.  Membership must be paid before 31^st January 2011 to qualify.

The Championships

Sunday 18^th Sept  2011 nr Bedford.  We will travel up on the Saturday and camp overnight

In 2009 one of the Old Surrey & Burstow Members (Grace Wheeler) came 2^nd in the Novice championship

We can enter :

• A senior individual – 13 yrs or over at any level of competition
• A senior team – 13 yrs and over, 3-4 riders to have all qualified at the same level of competition
• A junior individual – 8-12 yr olds at any level of competition
• A junior team – 8-12 yr olds, 3-4 riders to have all qualified at the same level of competition

It is our intention to enter a junior team at Novice level, and possibly also one at Intermediate level.  All riders will also be entered as individuals.

Class               Distance for Championships Optimum Speed for Championships

Novice              32km                                        10km per hour

Intermediate      40km                                        11km per hour

Open                 40km                                        12km per hour

Please contact Suzie Vickery, suzannevickery@dsl.pipex.com, 01342 850680, for any further information about endurance, rallies, entering competitions, training for competitions, the championships, mastercards, rule books – and anything else endurance related !