What is endurance?
When we talk about endurance , we are talking about an equestrian discipline that is practiced outdoors. We can compare endurance to a marathon because it is a race that is practiced over distances ranging from 20 kilometers to 160 kilometers at limited or free speed. Approved by the FFE since the 1980s, endurance is found in the title of the World Equestrian Games. What is endurance? We talk about it in this article.
Equestrian endurance, what principle?
During an equestrian endurance race, both riders and horses race over a distance that can range from 20 to 160 kilometers on empty terrain. They must maintain a speed of 12 to 19 km per hour during the race. This is always done with respect for the horse.
The other main difficulty in endurance racing is that you have to go fast while being careful to manage the efforts of the rider/horse pair. In this case, you will have to train the horse to cover long distances. The rider must also be able to manage the potential of his animal.
Equestrian endurance can be practiced individually or in teams. In the latter case, teams that are formed of four couples take turns. In general, the race routes are marked. These routes can be run freely or at a set speed.
Throughout the race, veterinarians are made available to ensure that the horse that is entered is indeed a horse fit to continue the competition, under penalty of elimination. The horse must also be equipped with the necessary accessories. Many riders obtain these accessories from La Sellerie Française .
Respect for the horse's health and endurance
In endurance racing, it is necessary to keep in mind that the health of the horse that is racing is a very important factor. This is why veterinary checks take place before, during and after the race. This is true regardless of the level of competition in question.
It is therefore important to undergo a first veterinary check before the start of the race. This way, the horse's consistency is checked and its health record is entrusted to the veterinarian for the entire duration of the race.
Every 30 to 20 kilometers, the horses are then stopped in order to undergo a veterinary check. The checks are exhaustive and allow, among other things, to verify whether the horse's heart rate is not above the values predefined by the regulations. The quality of the gaits, the breathing rate as well as the coloring of the mucous membranes will be checked.
If during any of the veterinary checks the horse shows any physical weakness, is too tired or has lameness, the rider/horse pair will not be able to race. It will therefore be simply and purely eliminated. If the outcome of the check carried out by the veterinarian is positive, the horse will have to rest for a period of 40 to 50 minutes before even setting off on the next stage.
It must also be said that it is important that the rider has an assistant during the race. The rider cannot take part in a race if he does not have an assistant. Assistance is important because it is from this that certain care for the horse will come, such as rehydration. The assistant will also be able to inform the rider of the distance separating him from these other competitors.
