FAQ

Endurance Racing

2008-11-25 16:00:00 - by Horsetype

Endurance racing in France Photo : G. Naron Bancel	Zoom

[ SPORTS ] Endurance racing is an equestrian discipline and a sport. The goal of endurance racing is to travel the full race distance, which is quite long, in a minimum of time and without exhausting its mount. Usually, the competitors travel from 12 to 100 miles in one day or twice 60 miles over two days. Any horse breed is generally allowed, but the Arabian horses, small, resistant to heat and accustomed to prolonged efforts, are particularly adapted to this discipline.

Regular controls are carried out throughout the course by veterinarians, to disqualify the tired or lame horses. The horses' level of dehydration and pulse is verified. Only the horses which passed all the tests can continue.

The participants must know their mount well and control their speed throughout the race. They must detect any sign of tiredness of their horse if they don't want to be eliminated.

In some countries, winning is determined by the combination of speed and rate of recovery of mount. In other countries, all those who finish the race inside the maximum time allowed at the beginning are declared winners.

A well-known endurance race in the United States is "The Western States Trail Ride", usually called The Tevis Cup. It is held in California, since 1955. This race lasts 24 hours and covers a distance of 100 miles. The 2008 race was cancelled due to health concerns over wild fires, but the 2009 race should be held as usual on August 1st.

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