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Endurance and Limited Distance Ride for the new guy

13K views 80 replies 15 participants last post by  Joe4d 
#1 ·
I have looked into these events and am gonna join, American Endurance Ride conference, and Old Dominion Endurance, I may also look at events in PA, NC MD, We'll see how it goes. I have read a bit.
I'd like to start a thread for experienced people to share info, and for new people to ask questions. For me I frequently do 15-20 mile trail rides but at a leisurely pace.
I am looking at a wrist GPS, the Garman fourtrax 330 to keep track of my pace and distance,

Just a request, please no abbreviations , acronyms, or jargon until they are defined.
 
#2 ·
I'll join in. I am currently conditioning The Biscuit for a Limited Distance ride of 25 miles in February at the Houston International Airport! My endurance buddy is the Barn Manager where I board my horses and we are going to try to ride at a local park 3 days a week - we rode today for 7.3 miles.

We were trying out our new heart monitors - I have a wrist watch monitor and hers goes to her Garmin. I was thrilled to see Biscuit (QH) pulsed down as quickly as Legato (Arabian) did!!
 
#3 ·
I'll join.

I've not done anything huge and long, but I've done my fair share of long rides and some short thing with the Northwest endurance crew.

Rebel, Anglo Arab, came out of his first endurance ride at 18 years old in the first place, SO impressed with him.

He pulsed down incredibly fast. Even faster than the horses that came in after us, and much faster than most of the younger horses and more "Endurance-y" horses. All our game plan was, was to go out there, haul butt while it was cool outside and then relax when it got hot. Turns out we put a big enough distance in between us and the pack that they couldn't catch up! Soooo proud of him. No one expected the 18 year old, unregistered, gangly thing to do so well. He came out with not a drop of sweat on his body. I guess all the hard training for the shows transferred into some kinda cardio, huh? :D
 
#4 ·
I'm looking at pads, now, I have a fleece one that is ok, but it stinks bad if I dont wash it, and takes days to dry if I do., My problem is an odd saddle, I ride an austrailian saddle but it is long, many of the socalled Aussi pads are only 27-28 inches long and my saddle is 29" long.
Right now I have the fleece one, a thinner air grip one, and a quilted english style (pretty thin) that fits. Might be able to look at the toklaks, made for tucker plantations, as that brand made of aussies, actually dont fit my aussie.
 
#5 ·
can i join in even if i didn't do one yet :) my first ride is oct 29... i am so excited. it was supposed to be a 15 mile turns out its a 24 miles lol big difference me and my boy will take our time with this event as to not over ride him :)

as for gear i am just using my normal western tack (saddle- less than 20lbs, breast collar, reins that are not split but are long enough when walking he can kinda mosey if i want him to). i am thinking about investing in a felt pad as i hear they take the sweat from the horse and makes it a bit more comfortable but for this ride i will stick with my vented pad that he loves surprisingly (very picky horse :)).

i plan on riding in a curb bit in the beginning (since that is what he listens the best in) and i wont to have little room for horror if that shows up that day. but later in the ride i am switching to a hackamore so he can have better access to food and water that way.

(joe you and some other people gave me some great advice earlier on my post you should switch over or add it here like things to pack)
 
#6 ·
kait 18, I ddint wanna hijack your thread and get off you original questions, I am still looking for the perfect pad. I would prefer a wool felt, but not having luck finding one that fits as I'dlike to not have saddle bags rubbign directly on the horse, Bags also dont attach to a Aussi saddel to well without flopping all over the place. The fleece on I have sems to want to walk out the back, but I am afraid the aire grip one will grip to much and rub. I bought a Garmin wrist GPS model 301 ? or 3 something, I am doing a 22 mile ride saturday with a lunch break, I will check the Gen's pulse at lunch also see what it says.
I am looking at a 25 mile LD with a max time of 6 hours, Seems pretty doable but I will find out this weekend with actual instead of hearsay mileage.
 
#7 ·
Ill join in.
I started doing endurance when I was 8 on a welsh quarter horse cross pony. We competed in 50 miles right up there always in top ten, but 50 mile races was his max. Still pretty impressive for a 14 somethin pony! I decided I wanted to move up in distance and be more competitive so I got my big white arab Miles, appropriate name eh? :) Miles and I spent several years almost exclusively doing endurance. I basically grew up in the sport and absolutely loved it. Some of the funnest times I will remember.
This is just a few of my observations through competing in the sport...
AERC (american endurance ride conference) is a great organization, but I would only really suggest it if you are competetive in endurance. Otherwise I found the local groups to be better, example PNER (pacific northwest endurance rides) in my location.
For endurance I found Orthoflex saddles to work the best with my horse. The pads slip over the saddles flexable panels and you can add shims in for the horses comfort. Even after long 100 milers we never had saddle problems.
Heart monitors and GPSs are a great way to get started. I started using them but with experience comes the ability to better gauge your horse, pace and thier recovery.
....Sorry if I'm babbling. Was just excited to come across an endurance thread and more people interested in the sport :)
 
#8 ·
Thanks for the info Chica!! My riding buddy and I are going up to Ebenezer Park Wednesday to train. They used to run endurance rides up there years ago and there are miles of trails. Lots of up and down on the hills, sand, creeks, downed trees, etc. Way too much fun up there. We are going to ride for approximately 6 hours and see how many miles we can go in 6 hours. My backside MAY fall off and I may be in a coma on the way home but we are going to give it a go!!!
 
#9 ·
The 22 miler turned out to only be 17, I did it in 4 and some changehours, but horse wasnt even sweating coming in. He was tired and ready fpr camp though.
The 4 mph average was including a lunch break, and I also had to get off and walk the second mile or so as Bo was wound up like a top and and wanted to run and i felt like i was out of control. Plus I was a little gunshy still healing broke ribs from our last ride. But once I got back on he was perfect. We'll see next time, gonna pick it up a bit from the get go supposedly get up around a 7mph average.
 
#10 ·
Broken Ribs? Gaaaaaa!!!! Glad you are better and getting off is sometimes the smart thing to do.

I got off a few weeks ago and took some heat for it...I said "I was still walking that afternoon...and that is what is important to me...that I am still walking!!!!" Biscuit got a little excited and reared up a bit after a parade. Loads of concrete, tons of people...nope...I got off...and walked. Better safe than sorry
 
#12 ·
This is my 5th season riding endurance and I am loving every minute of it. I am a member of both AERC and the OD.

Just last weekend was the final leg of the OD Triple Crown at Fort Valley, VA. While my mare Dreams is done for the season due to lyme disease, I was able to ride a friend's gelding in his very first LD there! It was rather bittersweet though, as I had really been hoping to get our Triple Crown this season. Maybe next year.

There is a ride up here in jersey in the middle of November, if you are interested in a bit of a road trip to check things out and maybe volunteer. I have a couple maybes in terms of horses to ride, but I will be there to crew and volunteer if nothing else.
 
#13 ·
Training ride - learned so much!

Phantom, sorry your horse is laid up right now and hope she is better soon.

I went on a training ride with my endurance buddy yesterday. OMG we had a blast and laughed like fools a few times. We hauled 100 miles to a park that used to have endurance rides years ago. Miles and miles of trails in all kinds of terrains.

Lee Ann had been to an endurance clinic with Darolyn Butler and she had all kinds of hints and tips. One was wearing a fanny pack with water bottles attached in case one becomes separated from their horse they will have water on them.

Ok...I trot myself to Academy and purchase a deluxe fanny pack and I can tell you I am at this moment in my life THE LAST person on earth who should frame their backside with a fanny pack!! :shock::shock::shock::shock:

My fairly new Justin Gypsy's toe came loose so I replaced them with Ariat riding shoes and now I need half chaps. Anywhoo...Tractor Supply switch the Gypsy's for the Ariat's and I bought some :oops: pink Anti-Monkey Butt powder :lol::lol::lol:, zinc oxide (otherwise known as diaper rash ointment!), another water bottle with a koozie thingy on it.

Ok...we are ready to ride. We tack up - heart monitors in place, watch monitor was working, GIANT fanny pack like a rocket pack on, socks rolled up over my pants - folks, I was a fox! I think Biscuit looked away so I wouldn't see him roll his eyes at me. Ok...my two water bottles of frozen water were HEAVY. I discard one water bottle, zinc oxide, a few Fiber One bars to lighten the load and off we go. Ok...the pack is throwing me off MAJORLY :evil:. A few times the bottle went under my backside. It was hot...it itched...it was unbalancing me. Biscuit was thinking "darn...she needs to shut the heck up and just ride" :wink:

After 3 miles or so I took off the fanny pack and strapped it to the cantle of the saddle. I couldn't stand it another minute!

The ride was fantastic and Biscuit is in pretty darn good shape. He was trotting fast and had a heart rate at its highest of 125 and he pulsed down nearly immediately each time. He pulsed down as fast as his Arabian buddy, Legato. We only rode 13 miles but we got to use our Garmin's to find our way back to a waypoint and navigate by directions on the Garmin to "go southeast"!!! Also found out that Biscuit's has a wonderful sense of direction and once went the wrong way and he stopped himself, looked around and then turned around! I had to laugh at him. His name is now Biscuit Navigator Garmin....I think that is a great name for an endurance horse!

We had a great time and I am pretty darn sure we are ready for a 25 miler and hopefully sometime next year a 50 miler. At any rate we are having a blast training for it!
 
#21 ·
Ok...the pack is throwing me off MAJORLY :evil:. A few times the bottle went under my backside. It was hot...it itched...it was unbalancing me.
Have to say, I was laughing so hard at this, the cat abandoned my lap! :lol:

I cannot stand to ride with any sort of pack on.. how people manage to ride distances with fanny packs or camelbacks on is beyond me. The couple times I have tried sounded exactly like your experiences.

So jealous you are out there riding though!


Dreams has another 4 weeks totally off, then I will put her back into light riding for a month and see how it goes. She's certainly looking much better, so hopefully one round of doxy is all it will take. I am lucky to have friends' horses I can ride, but it's not the same at all.
 
#16 ·
Kiviknon, I have read a little bit about their organization and would TOTALLY love that. I got my Garmin for Christmas last year and have had a blast mapping trails with it. I do not know ANYONE using one so I have had to learn to use it on my own and looking at the few Youtube videos I could fine. The local university had advertised a class and I called to sign up and it was cancelled. : ( I have called Garmin and they are super nice but it is not the same as someone sitting down with you and explaining/teaching you to do everything it can do!
 
#18 ·
I would start with a local orienteering club. It's dismounted but still lots of fun navigating with a map and compass. I learned for the military, and I go with other former military guys and we do this at night. Sometimes without maps and a compass. Just navigate by the stars. It's a very cool feeling to find your way around like that.
 
#17 ·
I get the heebee jeebee's thinking about crossing the potomac, But I have heard the fort royal terrain is extremely rough. I will be back at work the second through the 17th. I'll look at calender for Jersy ride. Wed I rode and am working at getting my pace up, ended up with a 4.6 mph over 12.2 miles. Bo had serios case of, "I don wanna go" for the first mile and the first mile after about a 20 minute break. He kept doing the turn around, or walk slower and slower and zig zag side to side, was really aggravating. I am gonna target an LD somewhere in VA, NC, PA or NJ and work towards that.
 
#20 ·
Wed I rode and am working at getting my pace up, ended up with a 4.6 mph over 12.2 miles.
that isn't too far off the pace i normally train at, which is about 6 mph. sounds like you are def on the right track to be able to comfortably do an LD ride.

if you decide to come up to jersey, let me know. looks like i will be crewing on saturday and riding in the LD on sunday.
 
#19 ·
wow wee that would be totally cool! My grandfather was a seaman and he navigated by minutes and degrees. I have his "little book" that he had for years with several phone numbers for Ridley Scott who became his wife/my grandmother! Grandpa also had directions out to his favorite fishing spot in the Gulf of Mexico by degrees and minutes from some jetty. LOL I would end up in Cuba if I tried that! I would love to know more and I will see if there is a club around here. I have asked at Gander Mountain and Academy if there were any classes on GPS/Compass stuff with no luck.
 
#22 ·
Hope Dreams is better soon so your team can get going!

I don't think the fanny pack is going to work for me....I will just have to make sure I never come off of my horse or if I do, reins stay in my hands!!! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I rode for right at 8 miles today with my cousin, my hubby and another friend. We rode through the woods and down the bayou. We crossed a bridge and came back up the other side of the bayou which we haven't done in awhile. I think I finally got the feel for posting correctly at a fast trot!!! We did a little cantering but mostly Biscuit did some pretty fast trotting and walking. Our moving average was 4.1 mpg.

I am having a blast and hope we can go for a ride tomorrow.
 
#23 ·
Looking at calender I was planning my first event around Sandhill state forest in South Carolina 26 Nov, only 5.5 hours away and fairly easy terrain. Usually SC weather is pretty mild. Kinda miffed at the lack of info though. The flier with directions seem to be written for people that already know where it is. With local slang for the roads and camp areas instead of an actual address, Also the email address on the flier is no good. Not giving me a good feeling about the level of organization. Did another 7 miles today but at a slow 3.2 walk the hole way. Beauregard didnt break a sweat. Will run him hard tuesday. Then he'll get 2 weeks off while I go to work.
 
#42 ·
got a 8.5 mile ride in this morning with a 5.8 mph average. Bo's learning it is ok to go sometimes. Was hitting 16 mph with him on some of the clearer trails.

The pic is us on a fun ride last month, he has beafed up some and I am wearing helmet now.
Ha Joe! Whne I saw this pic, I did a double take. You added me to the wanted/sales trail riding group a few weeks ago on FB. So now that we're "friends" i saw this photo a few days ago! What a small world. You guys look like you had a great time!
 
#28 ·
Joe - y'all look great!!! Bo is a pretty boy!!! I had 2 Aussie saddles and they are terrific. I loved them!!!

My riding buddy and I are going out tomorrow to ride in the local park. Yesterday and today we worked on feet - we are into barefoot trimming and I almost have Biscuit's feet like I want them to be. I have owned him one year today and his feet were not too great when I got them. We had a barefoot clinic this past February with Darolyn Butler who is the superwoman of endurance riding! It is hard work but it is rewarding.

I am looking for someone to ride with me Thursday and then I am going this weekend too...can't get enough of it!
 
#29 ·
Joe, I find most horses that are being rode several times a week can do a limited. Usually the problems is not the soft tissue, but getting the hard tissue conditioned. The soft tissue develops pretty quickly. ( muscle, lung heart) The hard tissue is what takes a little longer. ( Bones, tendons, ligiments)

The repeated pounding of long slow miles builds stronger bones, tendons and ligiments. The hard tissue is also the type of injuries that take longer to heal when and if they get damaged.

I showed up for my first endurance race, expecting to compete in the limited. The folks I knew twisted my arm and convinced me to just ride along on the 50 miler. Which I did. I quickly learned my horse wasn't in shape to stay with the leaders who finished that 50 in 5 hours. But we finished with a respectable 7.5 hours for our 1st race.

The biggest challenge I had was getting my horse to slow down and not worry about the crowd. He could see all the other horses moving out at strong trots and wanted to stay with the group. I had let the main mob leave the starting area before I left. Unfortunately they all got lost and I stayed on the trail. So a few miles into the ride the leaders came flying by trying to make up time for getting lost and sucked my horse into trying to stay with them.

Determine the speed you will travel and hold your horse to that gait. Don't get influenced by the speed that others may run the course at a faster clip. And I guarantee that the first few competitions you attend, that will be your biggest challenge.

I understand that is some areas, The endurance races are set up as laps around a set course. Here in my area, we have enough space that we rarely back track or travel the same trail more than once in any given race. So if you let the leaders go ahead, most of the time, you will never see them until you arrive back at camp. But if you ride a looping course where they might occassionally pass you, it creates a different challenge for keeping your horse at the set gait.

As far as packs, I pack everything into cantle or pomel bags. I don't plan on getting seperated from my horse. And hopefully if I came off, Somebody would catch and return my horse. With P&R spaced along a ride. You can cache supplies with the P&R crews to replenish your cantle bags. You don't need to take everything with you the entire length of the ride.

 
#30 ·
Thanks for the info Painted Horse. I believe Biscuit and Legato can easily do a 25 mile ride right now. They are rode frequently and we have been doing the LSD type training. The 13 miles we did the other day didn't phase either one of them. LOL Last March 8th we went to McKinney Roughs in central Texas - lots of hills/rocks and is a terrific training ground. I rode two rides that day on Biscuit - for a total of about 17 miles split almost evenly with about a 2.5 hour rest in between. Last ride lots of extended trotting at 11.5 mph for Biscuit. We got back to the place we were staying and Biscuit laid out flat in his pen! LOL He was tired!!! Now...he just goes and goes...but he was still putting on weight back then and was what my barn manager calls a "semi-rescue". He has gained between 200 to 300 lbs since I bought him a year ago!!!
 
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