Endurance Riding- 101 For 1st Timers and Rookies
So you’ve decided to give endurance riding a try. Congratulations! It’s a great sport and I’m glad you chose the Shamrock as your first or one of your first rides. Everyone wants you to be successful, have a good experience and finish with a sound and healthy horse so here is a “cheater sheet” to answer your questions and help you achieve that goal.
- The Pre-ride vet-in. We will vet horses in up by the barn from around 5pm until 8pm on Thursday night. Bring your horse and your rider card to the vetting area. We will vet 55 milers first on Thursday night and if there is time or the lines aren’t long, we will vet some of the 30’s as well. All remaining horses will be vetted in the am. We will start vetting at 6 am and once again will vet 55 mile horses 1st so that they will be ready for the start. Keep your vet card in a safe place and have it with you at all times during the ride. It is wise to fold it and put it in a small ziplock back to keep it dry during the ride. I have bags in the office if you need one.
- Pre-ride briefing-You will also receive a pre-ride info sheet. READ IT! It serves as your pre-ride meeting. If you have questions, Ask. If you want someone to take you through the vet check process or need help with anything else we will be glad to have someone do that with you the night before the ride. There will also be people with yellow “Ask a Mentor” buttons who are there to help you.
- The Start: Ten minutes before the ride begins you should check in at the start with the ride manager. Roll call will be called at that time. The start is in the open area down by the trees/corrals. You should warm your horse up before the start. Once you’ve checked in, you may move away to an open area and walk your horse around or even go back to your trailer. This will help keep him calm and also help warm him up. We have a semi-controlled start which means every one walks out to the entrance of base camp and then the ride begins. You do not have to go out with the crowd if you are worried that your horse will be too excited or difficult to control or get caught up in a pace that is too fast. You can wait 5-10 minutes and then get on the trail.
- Where do I go? The Shamrock (as are most rides) is marked with surveyor ribbon and flags, pie plates/signs and arrows on the ground. Three flags very close together indicate a turn. At the Shamrock, we use a combo of flags and plates and arrows on the ground. You will follow the trail as it is marked. Since over the course of the 3 days riders will be riding the ride in the opposite direction, you must pay attention to the color of the arrows on the ground. On Friday and Saturday, you will follow the white arrows and on Sunday you will follow the orange arrows. The rest of the markings will all be correct for the days ride. (We go back and change all the signs and pie plates each morning before the ride) Even if you are riding with a friend or a group, pay attention. It is very easy to be chatting with others and miss a marker or turn. Shamrock is very well marked so you shouldn’t have any problems. If you are a “visual” type you might want to check out the large trail map in office to get a picture of the layout of the trail. There are no individual maps-you don’t need them!
- Riding the ride: Once you are on trail, take it easy and proceed at a pace that your horse can handle. Do not go faster than you have trained for. As a matter of fact it is always wise to go slower at the start, that way you should have plenty of horse to finish the ride. Walk steep hills both up and down. It will save your horse’s energy and your horse’s legs. Horses are herd animals. Be careful not to get caught up in a group of horses that is carrying your horse along at a pace that is faster than he can handle. If this happens, pull up and tell the others to go ahead, or wait at a gate or water tank until they are out of sight, then you should be able to ride your own ride. (Often someone else in the group wants to slow down as well and may stay back with you) There are several gates on the ride. It is common courtesy to take turns opening the gates. Always wait for everyone in the group to be mounted and ready to go before proceeding on from a gate.
- Water/Grass: Water is you and your horse’s friend. Just about every bad thing that can happen to your horse metabolically is caused by dehydration. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER pass up a water stop.( If you come to water and your horse is breathing heavily, give him a few minutes to catch his breath, better yet walk when you see water coming up.) Offer once, offer twice. Make sure you give your horse every opportunity to drink. There may even be puddles-don’t pass them up just because you think they look muddy. Your horse will surprise you. Allow your horse to graze for a few minutes periodically while out on the trail. Grass is full of water and nutrients and the very best thing you can feed your horse. Don’t forget yourself either. Carry water with you and drink it while on the trail-even if you don’t feel thirsty. You’ll be glad you did.
- The Vet Check: When you come into camp, get off and walk your horse in the last 100 yards. This will help your horse cool down faster. Stop at the water tanks and allow your horse to drink. Loosen the girth on you saddle. Then sponge your horse off with cool water. You should sponge your horses neck, shoulders and belly. (Do not put water on his rump as this could cause a hot horse to cramp up particularly if he is heavily muscled.) There will be sponge tubs with sponges in them at the check. Take your horses pulse, if you don’t know how to do this you should learn but don’t worry the P/R people will do it for you when you get to the P/R area. When you think your horse has recovered to the required pulse, go to the TIMER and tell them your number, have your vet card out and proceed to the P/R area and ask for a pulse. Give your card to a Pulse taker. If your horse has met criteria, your pulse time will be recorded on your card and then you can proceed to the vet area. Pay attention to other horses as well as your own making sure that no one is too close so as not to risk an accident (kicking/biting). If there is a line, wait until your turn. There will be grass hay, apples and carrots in the vet area. Let your horse eat while you are waiting. After your horse has finished seeing the vet and you are cleared to proceed, take your card to the Timer and they will record your out time. Put your card back in a safe place and go back to your trailer. It is during this time that your horse should be unsaddled and allowed to eat and drink. Hay and water are best at first and then you may feed some grain or mash. There is also LOTS of grass in base camp-take advantage of that as well. Make sure you also eat, drink and relax during the check. About 15 minutes before your out-time, saddle your horse, fill your water bottles, and get ready to go back out. You should electrolyte your horse just before leaving your trailer. You should electrolyte your horse before and during the vet checks but wait until just before you leave since some horse won’t eat after being given electrolytes. If you do not have electrolytes, see one of the vendors, borrow some or see me. If you don’t know how to give them or how much, see a vendor, a mentor or me. You need to check in with the timer and they will release you at your out time.
NOTE: If during the vet check , your horse doesn’t seem right or isn’t eating or drinking, bring him back to the vet. Don’t take chances if you think something isn’t right-You know your horse better than anyone.
If you get pulled or decide to not continue on, you must have the vets see your horse and you must let the timer know.
- The Finish: 55 milers: When you have crossed the finish line, you need to give your vet card to the finish line timer so they can record your time on your card. The finish line is out away from camp for safety reasons. If you are in the Top Ten you may show for Best Condition. (See the pre-ride info sheet for process). After the Top Ten horses have crossed the finish line, all other horses will finish at the in-timer area. You should let your horse drink and cool him off and then go to the vets to get your completion. You have 30 minutes from crossing the finish line to pulse down and you have the entire hour to present to the vets for your post-ride check but you may show at anytime during that hour. It’s advisable to go for you completion as soon as your horse has reached criteria (64 pulse and fit to continue).
The finish is slightly different for LD riders. Your ride time does not stop until your horse has recovered to a pulse of 60. When you come into camp, take him to the P/R area for a pulse. (You may want to water him and sponge him first) After your finish time has been recorded by a pulse taker, take your card to the IN-Timer so they can record your finish time. . If your horse has not recovered, go back to the water area, unsaddle and sponge some more. You have thirty minutes for your horse to reach finish criteria. If you are one of the top ten riders, you may show for BC. (See pre-ride sheet for process or ask me), if you are not top ten you may go to the vet for your completion any time within 30 minutes of completing the ride. Proceed to the vet for your completion exam
- Post-Ride: After you have received your completion exam and your horse has earned a completion, go back to you trailer and allow you horse to eat and drink . Grass and hay are best at first. It is also nice to sponge your horse off and clean them up since they will likely be dirty and sweaty. It is also good to get some cold ice water and sponge your horses legs, it will help cool them out, ward off any inflammation and clean up any nicks and dings that they might have gotten on the trail. If you have ice boots, use them. If not, ice water will work just as well. Monitor your horse for a few hours after the ride. Make sure he’s eating, drinking and resting comfortably .
Congratulations! You did it. Sit back, relax and pop open a beverage of your choice-a cold adult one rarely tastes as good as it does after completing a ride! We hope you’re hooked! And we’ll see you at dinner for a celebration of your success.