Long-distance horse riding has played a pivotal role in carrying humans in a range of settings for explorers and warriors to cover, vast and difficult terrains. [1] This has eventuated to the modern-day use of the horse now primarily for recreational pursuits. There are two main types of long-distance riding, competitive trail riding and endurance rides. In an endurance ride, discussed in this article, the winning horse is the first one to cross the finish line while stopping periodically to pass a veterinary check that deems the animal in good health and fit to continue. As with human marathon running, many riders will participate to improve their horse's personal best performance and consider finishing the distance with a proper vet completion record to be a "win". Long-distance riding also refers to the equestrian sport of endurance riding that is recognised by the peak international governing body, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). Long-distance riding is not conducted as an Olympic event; however, it does compete at the World Equestrian Games that are held every four years (FEI,2020). The sport involves horse and rider taking mapped or unmapped routes in order to reach the finishing point. The distances covered in competition can differ depending upon competition length, and experience of both rider and horse. One day events typically do not exceed 160 kilometres in a day. In the United States, most endurance rides are either 50 or 100 miles (160 km) long. Shorter rides, called Limited Distance rides (LD), are organised for new riders to the sport or young horses being trained. Historically long-distance riding originated by riding along national and state trails across the United States. Then heading further afield and through harsh landscapes of the nomadic Bedouin people, that adapted to the challenging and isolating environment, and so went on to spread globally.
Any breed can compete, but the Arabian generally dominates the top levels because of the breed's stamina and natural endurance abilities.
The origins of long-distance riding can be traced back to hundreds of years ago with war horses in cavalry and early explorers. the earliest uses of the Arabian horse breed. [1] It was commonly used across the vast desert landscapes identified as North Africa, Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, the people of this region are known as the Bedouin people. The horses were utilised to carry their riders over long distances and, also involved in horse-to-horse combat. In the United States there are accounts of many long-distance rides occurring from 1791 when George Washington rode from Augusta to Columbia [2] that was nearly a hundred-mile ride in one day, taking ten and a half hours to complete. Long-distance riding has played a significant role in shaping the exploration across many frontiers and evolving into the equestrian sport it is recognised as today.
Though the need to ride long distances has existed since the domestication of the horse, endurance riding as an organised activity was first developed in the United States based on European cavalry (particularly Polish and Russian WWI) and breeding program tests requiring the ability to carry 300 lb (140 kg) over 100 miles (160 km) in one day. Organised endurance riding as a formal sport began in 1955, when Wendell Robie and a group of equestrians rode from the Lake Tahoe area across the Sierra Nevada Range to Auburn in under 24 hours. They followed the historic Western States Trail. This ride soon became known as the Tevis Cup, and it remains the most difficult of any 100-mile ride in the world because of the severe terrain, high altitude, and 100-degree (~37 °C) temperatures. Endurance riding first was brought to Europe in the 1960s.
There are particular aspects of physiological conformation that long-distance horses require to be best suited for long-distance. In particular an ‘endurance horse needs to take in a lot of oxygen’ and as such, it is necessary from a conformation standpoint to have large nostrils, good width between the branches of the jaw, and a clean throat latch all allow for easier air intake’. [1] A long-distance horse will also be clear of wind-sucking, this term refers to when a horse opens their mouth and sucks air inwards. This can be problematic from a conformation aspect as it can be a sign of further underlying issues such as ulcers, respiratory and dental problems. [3]
Well known breeds associated with long-distance riding include:
There are a number of common physiological attributes of these breeds, most prominently is their stamina to sustain and traverse challenging and long terrain. Psychologically a strong mental attitude is important in order for horses to successfully conserve energy. [4] The attribute of bigger is better does not apply for endurance horses as opposed to their performance and show horse counter parts. This is because the ability to evenly and effectively carry weight is of more importance in the discipline of long-distance riding. [4]
There are a number of governing bodies across a number of countries and their respective states and territories globally. That preside over regulations relating to safety and participation in long-distance riding
The peak international governing body Federation Equestrian International task is to provide; frameworks to ensure integrity in all disciplines. In specific regarding to the sport of endurance it emphasizes the intense tactical and mental demands for both, as well as the guidelines that place equine & athlete safety with paramount importance. Endurance became a recognised Fédération Équestre Internationale discipline in 1978, and the international organisation has since set down rules with the welfare of the horse as top priority. In the United States, endurance rides are sanctioned by the FEI, the AERC, or both and seldom by the FEI alone. Usually the stand-alone rides are special FEI rides like the North American Team Challenge. [5] When both the FEI and AERC sanction a ride, the FEI rules prevail.
Two well-known American 100-mile (160 km) endurance rides are The Western States Trail Ride, \held in California, and the Old Dominion ride, held in Virginia.
One-day international competitions are 40–160 km. Multi-day competitions are longer but have daily distance limits. Those that are FEI recognized and are broken into the following categories:
Note: CEI is the notation that the competition is an FEI-approved international competition.
When first recognised by the FEI, there were only four international competitions. This grew to an average of 18 rides per year by 1998, when the first World Championships were held in the United Arab Emirates. The World Championships provided a huge boost to the sport, and, by 2005, there were 353 international competitions, second to only eventing and show jumping. Due to the huge increase in international competition, endurance is growing quite rapidly worldwide.
The United States Equestrian organisation originates from 1917 [7] its purpose was to unite riders, competitors, coaches and horse enthusiasts. As the national governing body, it endeavours to foster growth and participation across all sports. They also contribute to the greater protection and assistance of horse welfare in both crisis situations and natural disasters. The Federation also operates a number of committees for each discipline, safety & welfare, ethics and athletes. Endurance riding is defined by the United States as ‘sport covering variations in altitude, terrain, and weather that tests the fitness and stamina of the horse as well as the athlete’s discipline and horsemanship skills. Periodic checkpoints occur throughout the competition to ensure the health and fitness of the horse and athlete. Given their ability to meet and master physical challenges’. [7]
The majority of American endurance rides are sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), founded in 1972 as a governing body for long-distance riding. [8] AERC's motto is "To finish is to win." Though the first horse and rider to finish the race are technically the winner, the majority of AERC riders aim for a "completion" rather than a placing. The majority of competitors are amateurs that participate in endurance as a hobby rather than a profession, generally owning a small number of horses and riding them themselves.
In addition to traditional "endurance" distances of 50 or more miles, AERC includes a Limited Distance (LD) division. LD's are at least 25 miles and can be as long as 35 miles. Though originally introduced as training rides for beginning riders and horses, they evolved into their own level of competition.
All AERC clubs are required to offer completion awards to all horse and rider teams who meet completion criteria including the horse being judged "fit to continue", as well placings and Best Condition awards. Various regional clubs and organisations offer further recognition's and awards. Widely acclaimed riders are typically those with high lifetime mileage accumulation and minimal non-completions.
The Equestrian Federation of Australia [9] [10] was first formatted on a state by state basis, which led to recognition and creation of a national body in 1951–1952 in order to format end facilitate the acceptance of an Olympic Equestrian Team. [11] It also now serves as national body to improve equestrian safety with a dedicated committee to assist with incident planning & management, concussion protocols and advice. Equestrian Australia oversees all equestrian sport pursuits including Endurance riding. It is role as the national body ensures good practice towards the animals with strict veterinarian checks to ensure they a fit to perform and be ridden. Internationally and within Australia the winner is deemed by being first past the post and to clear a veterinary check. [12]
Participation in endurance riding is permitted as long as approved equipment and personal protective equipment is used. The Australian Endurance Riders Association lists guidelines [13] in order to compete and complete courses in Australia, that includes: Approved specialised riding helmet, Saddle pad or cloth and the saddle that is typical -all purpose, western or a stock saddle and bridle. At an introductory level of competition whips and spurs are not permitted, or the use of anything that may be used to whip a horse.
At a state, national and international level endurance events [6] are held for all riders of different abilities. The premier Endurance rides are the ‘FEI World Equestrian Games, staged every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle; the FEI World Endurance Championships, held in every Olympic year; and the biannual FEI European Endurance Championships.’ FEI stipulates the high-performance events that have global participation.
Long-distance riding at the highest international level is at the World Equestrian Games, the distance of competition for each horse and rider partnership is run over 160 km course completed in one day. Rules in place for competing at the FEI level state that each country can send a maximum of four horse and rider combinations. And that the course will have five loops, that need to be completed, at the end of each loop there will be a compulsory veterinarian check, the horse needs to successfully pass the check in order to be allowed to continue on. On completion of the race all horses are checked again over a specified period of time. The individual winner is decided by the first horse past the post, having completed and passed all vet checks on course. The three fastest times from each competing country will determine the overall champion teams component of endurance competition at World Equestrian Games.
In Australia events [14] run across all state and territories and are put on by each state organisation the follow long-distance rides are listed as events on the Australian Endurance Riders Association.
Equestrian sports are among the most dangerous sports, this includes long-distance riding. The combination of an unpredictable animal and rider can equate to a large risk with involvement in the sport. Ensuring and improving safety is an ongoing and of paramount importance for both the horse and rider. The incidence and ‘severity of injuries tend to vary somewhat among different countries, making identification of key factors and direct comparisons difficult’. [15] The statistical data from 2008 from Loder showed the most common way to sustain an injury from horse riding is by falling off. [15] Also noted was being kicked, dragged, crushed underneath, and trodden on. There are a number of considered variables in order to mitigate injury is managed by accounting for rider experience, conditions during the competition, the animal and unexpected conditions. Horses are attuned to strong awareness of humans Hausberger researched understanding of the power of gaze, posture, speed and approach between horse and human interactions . This research investigated how aspects of human body language can impact equine behaviour. Specifically related to endurance riding inherent risks identified were a young or inexperienced horse or a young rider are more likely to be at a greater risk of injury. [15] This calls for consideration of attributes for rider psychology when assessing horse and rider potential risk and ability to perceive and assess changing conditions when riding. To further provide safeguarded measures there is stipulation needed for practices to protect the rider need to be integrated into daily riding and training, however while necessary steps and policies can be taken to improve equestrian pursuits and riding there is a need for awareness and consideration that horses still remain unpredictable and will not always behave in a predictable manner. [15]
Notable riders include Anna Hingley across Australia, and Aimé Félix Tschiffely across South and North America. [16] Considerable discussion has occurred over daily distances made by horses in various situations, and contexts. [17]
Dressage is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrian sport defined by the International Equestrian Federation, dressage is described as "the highest expression of horse training" where "horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.".
Eventing is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combine and compete against other competitors across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test that required mastery of several types of riding. The competition may be run as a one-day event (ODE), where all three events are completed in one day or a three-day event (3DE), which is more commonly now run over four days, with dressage on the first two days, followed by cross-country the next day and then show jumping in reverse order on the final day. Eventing was previously known as Combined Training, and the name persists in many smaller organizations. The term "Combined Training" is sometimes confused with the term "Combined Test", which refers to a combination of just two of the phases, most commonly dressage and show jumping.
Equestrianism, commonly known as horse riding or horseback riding, includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the use of horses for practical working purposes, transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, and competitive sport.
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has been mostly unchanged since at least classical antiquity.
The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace its bloodlines to 18th-century England. They are solid, well-built horses with good dispositions. In addition to harness racing, the Standardbred is used for a variety of equestrian activities, including horse shows and pleasure riding, particularly in the Midwestern and Eastern United States and in Southern Ontario.
A Hanoverian is a Warmblood horse breed originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and has won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numerous, and most successful of the Warmblood breeds. Originally a cavalry horse, infusions of more Thoroughbred blood lightened it to make it more agile and useful for competition. The Hanoverian is known for a good temperament, athleticism, beauty, and grace.
A horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and international championships in a given discipline or breed. Most shows consist of a series of different performances, called classes, wherein a group of horses with similar training or characteristics compete against one another for awards and, often, prize money.
Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope, or the gallop. Originating from working cattle, reining is often described as a Western form of dressage riding, as it requires the horse to be responsive and in tune with its rider, whose aids should not be easily seen, and judges the horse on its ability to perform a set pattern of movements. The horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. A horse that pins his ears, conveying a threat to his rider, refuses to go forward, runs sideways, bounces his rear, wrings his tail in irritation or displays an overall poor attitude is not being guided willingly, and is judged accordingly.
The Selle Français (SF) is a breed of sport horse from France. It is renowned primarily for its success in show jumping, but many have also been successful in dressage and eventing. An athletic horse with good gaits, it is usually bay or chestnut in color. The Selle Français was created in 1958 when several French riding horse breeds were merged into one stud book. The new breed was meant to serve as a unified sport horse during a period when horses were being replaced by mechanization and were transforming into an animal used mainly for sport and leisure.
Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognized by the FEI. There are endurance rides worldwide. Endurance rides can be any distance, though they are rarely over 160 km for a one-day competition.
The Criollo, or Crioulo, is the native horse of the Pampas with a reputation for long-distance endurance linked to a low basal metabolism. The breed, known for its hardiness and stamina, is popular in its home countries.
The Western States Trail Ride, popularly called the Tevis Cup, is a 100-mile endurance ride. The amateur event has been held annually since 1955 except in 2008 when it was cancelled due to forest fires and in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ride is sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) which has recognized Tevis as the founding ride of endurance riding. The ride is sponsored by the Western States Trail Foundation (WSTF).
Equestrian sports were first included in the Olympic Games in the Summer Olympics of 1900 in Paris. They were again included in 1912, and have been included in every subsequent edition of the Games. The Olympic equestrian disciplines are dressage, eventing, and show-jumping. In each discipline, both individual and team medals are awarded. Women and men compete on equal terms.
Gillian Rolton was an Australian Olympic equestrian champion. She competed in two Olympic Games, the 1992 Barcelona Games and 1996 Atlanta Games, winning a gold medal in team eventing both times on her horse, Peppermint Grove. At the 1996 Atlanta Games, she broke her collarbone and ribs, but remounted and completed the course. She was only one of four Australians to win multiple equestrian Olympic gold medals.
A sport horse or sporthorse is a type of horse, rather than any particular breed. The term is usually applied to horses bred for the traditional Olympic equestrian sporting events of dressage, eventing, show jumping, and combined driving, but the precise definition varies. In the United States, horses used in hunt seat and show hunter competition are often classed as sport horses, whereas the British show hunter is classified as a "show horse."
Equestrian Canada, formerly known as Equine Canada and commonly known by its acronym, EC, is Canada’s comprehensive national governing body for equestrian sport. It is the executive branch of Canada's Olympic and Paralympic equestrian teams; the national association and registry of Canadian equestrian athletes; the national regulatory body for equestrian coaches, competition organizers, and judges; and the national federation of Canadian horse breeders and Canadian breed registries.
Margaret "Meg" Wade is an Australian equestrian and endurance champion, the youngest daughter of electrical engineering manufacturer William Glenn Wade and nursing sister Betty Alice Mitchell. Her maternal grandfather, Walter Steadford Mitchell served in the 11th Light Horse regiment during World War I.
Jonathan "Jock" Paget is a New Zealand equestrian who won a bronze medal in Team eventing at the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2013 he became only the second rider to win the Badminton Horse Trials on debut after fellow New Zealander Mark Todd.
Para-equestrian is an equestrian sport governed by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), and includes two competitive events: One is para-equestrian dressage, which is conducted under the same basic rules as conventional dressage, but with riders divided into different competition grades based on their functional abilities. The other is para-equestrian driving, which operates under the same basic rules as combined driving but places competitors in various grades based on their functional abilities.
Equestrianism have a major economic and cultural significance in Qatar. After the Emirate gained its independence in 1971, the Al Thani family invested to make Qatar one of the major players in horse racing and equestrian sports. The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) was created in 1975, and the prestigious Al Shaqab stables were created in 1992. Qatar now has top-level jockeys and world-renowned purebred Arabian horses. Since the 21st century, it has been organizing highly endowed horse races and important equestrian sports competitions, such as the Global Champions Tour, and international endurance riding competitions. While equestrianism remains less prominent than in neighboring Arab states, the sovereign family still aims to invest heavily in this field. The sudden burst of Qatar on the international equestrian scene is also followed by controversy due to cases and suspicions of doping, especially in endurance and horse racing.
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