Equestrian Sports - Endurance

Endurance Ride An Endurance Ride is a competition to test the speed and the endurance ability of a horse. To be successful, the competitor must have knowledge of pace and efficient and safe use of the horse across country. The competition consists of a number of phases.. At the end of each phase, no phase to exceed 40 km in length (30 km for 1 Star level), there will be a compulsory halt for veterinary inspection. The Veterinary Commission should be consulted on the distance of each phase and the hold times in each Vet Gates. In a 160 km ride there must be at least five Vet Gates plus the final inspection. An Endurance Ride is a competition against the clock. The horse that finishes the course in the shortest time will, in general, be classified as the winner of the competition. Competitions shall be organised to allow competitors to establish their pace to compete against the clock. The length of the course under controlled speed and/or set pace depends on the given circumstances but should not exceed 5 km and there should not be more than one section under controlled speed and/or set pace per phase of the course.

Types of Events In most countries in the world there is a local organisation controlling the administration of endurance helped and guided by the F.E.I. And in most countries there are local clubs and associations holding training sessions and competitions for their members. Each and every organisation has its own rules and guidelines. Each country has its own titles for the different levels in its national competitions but the International including the World Championships competitions are controlled by the world wide controlling authority, the FEI.

CEIs They must comply with the requirements of the General Regulations and the Rules for Endurance Riding. In these Rides, there must only be an official individual classification. Where there is a team competition, it may not be considered as an Official Team competition and each member of the team will automatically be considered as an individual competitor. The number of teams which can be accepted is at the discretion of the Organising Committee. Teams may consist of three or four competitors not necessarily of the same nationality. CEIs are divided into four different star levels as follows: CEI****: Senior Championships of a minimum of 160 km in one day, Junior Championships of 120 km in one day, World Cup Finals and finals of series or major rides approved by the FEI Endurance Committee. However for Regional Championships the OC can apply for a change of distance to take into account local climatic conditions. CEI***: All rides of 120 km and more in one day or 80 km and more per day over 2 days or more. CEI**: All rides between 80 km and 119 km in one day or between 40 km and 79 km per day over two days or more. CEI*: All rides between 40 km and 79 km in one day.

CEIOs They must comply with the requirements laid down in the General Regulations and the Rules for Endurance Riding. At a CEIO, there must be an individual and a team classification. Each nation may enter only one team. A minimum of three teams is necessary for the team competition to be considered as the official team competition. Each team must be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of four competitors of the same nationality. The three best results will be considered for the final classification. In the event that only two members of one or more team are classified, these teams shall be placed in order after all teams with three classified members.

Championships The Endurance Ride Championships must comply with the requirements laid down in the General Regulations and the Rules for Endurance Riding.

Regional Games Endurance Rides at the Regional Games must comply with the requirements laid down by the various IOC affiliated Regional Games Associations.

Individuals In an endurance competition, the winner is the one with the best time. The schedule of the competition must clearly define the method of classification.

Teams The winning team is the team with the best time after adding the final classification of the three highest placed competitors in the team. In the case of a tie, the winning team will be the one whose third competitor has the best time.

Course Course in Endurance competitions can contain hazards (ditch, steep, climb, descent or water crossing), hard surface roads, sand surface roads etc. The type of terrain and altitude differentials must be clearly indicated in the schedule of the competition. In principle, the course should not contain more than 10% of hard surface roads intended for vehicular use. In general, the more demanding part of the course should not be near the end. The finish must be long and wide enough to enable several horses to finish at speed without interfering with each other. Each competitor will be given in advance a map or plan showing the track of the course and the location of any compulsory halts or obligatory hazards. The marking of the course must be done in such a manner that there is no doubt on how to proceed along the course. The markings can be flags, ribbons, indicators, lime, paint etc. The competitor must complete the entire course in the direction as marked on the map. Any error of course must be corrected from the place where the error has started under penalty of elimination.

Assistance Outside assistance during the course is only allowed in order to help the competitor to water and wash down the horse. Access to water and/or the provision of a crewing point must be available on course at least every 10 km. The competitor may be assisted to adjust his/her equipment and to remount, or he/she may be handed anything he/she needs (water, food, equipment). In any case, for example after a fall or if the competitor is separated from his/her horse, or in the case of loose or lost horseshoes, he/she may be assisted to recover his/her horse, to replace the shoes and to remount, or he/she may be handed any part of his/her equipment, and this while he/she is dismounted or remounted. Any other assistance is forbidden under penalty of disqualification.

Dress Protective headgear, of recognised equestrian/endurance Standard adequately secured, is compulsory in all Endurance competitions. Dress must be appropriate and not detrimental to the image of Endurance Riding. It is strongly recommended at all Endurance competitions and it is compulsory at Championships and CEIOs to wear the following dress: - breeches or jodhpurs or riding tights, - Footwear without a heel only permitted when using caged stirrups or similar, - a shirt with collar - for ceremonies a uniform dress with appropriate head gear, protective if mounted, hunting cap or recognised helmet and with long-sleeved jackets or wind breakers, shirt and team tie (or equivalent) is required - in inclement weather, appropriate dress may be added.

Inspections Endurance Riding is a test of the rider’s ability to safely manage the stamina and fitness of the horse over an endurance course in a competition against trail, the distance, the climate, the terrain and the clock. Therefore, the most important responsibility of the Technical Delegate, the Ground Jury, the Stewards, the Veterinary Commission, the Chef d’Equipe, the Team Veterinarian, the Grooms and most importantly, the rider is to ensure the health and welfare of the horse by diligent application of their skill and a caring, knowledgeable attitude by the rider. The Veterinary Commission has total control on all matters concerning horses health and welfare. Only horses which have passed all the inspections and examinations are entitled to be classified in the final list of results. All the relevant information required at the inspections and examinations must be recorded on an individual veterinary card for each horse and must, in principle, be available at all subsequent inspections and examinations. Competitors are entitled to see and copy the record referring to their horses immediately after the inspection or examination. The arrival time into the Vet Gate must be recorded and the horse must be presented within the presentation time as indicated in the schedule to the Veterinary Commission for inspection. The compulsory halts are operated by establishing a vet gate with an examination area that the competitors/grooms enter with the horse when they decide that the horse is ready to pass the veterinary inspection. When riders/grooms have entered the examination area, they must proceed with the horse directly to the nominated vet at a reasonable pace. No more than three people can accompany an individual horse within the examination area. During this period, the horse may be inspected more than once if the Veterinary Commission so decides and time allows. However, before the scheduled presentation time has elapsed, the horse must demonstrate its fitness to continue which is assessed upon three criteria: pulse recovery, metabolic stability and no gait irregularity that is consistently observed at the trot, straight out and back, without prior flexion or deep palpation of the limbs that causes pain or threatens the horse’s immediate athletic performance. These examinations for pulse recovery, metabolic stability and soundness must be conducted at the same time and the horse must meet the minimum criteria for the Star level of the event.