[Lindsayanne]

There's an endurance ride coming up near me that offers a little mini-endurace 15 mile ride for absolute beginners to the sport. My question is, can any horse do that without special conditioning? I mean, can an average horse getting a good workout three or four days a week pull off a 15 miler without having to train/condition for it?

I like to do different stuff with Regal to keep things interesting, but don't have the time out of our show season to do conditioning rides instead of lessons and schooling. What do you think?


On a side note, we're counting time/miles this year for a frequent-rider championship and we're up to 105 miles accumulated so far this year!

[POA]

I'd think that a horse would need special conditioning for that sort of thing.

[CowGirlUp1833]

Do I think you could go out and canter or gallop the whole thing? No....but I think a horse in good working condition could handle 15 miles if not pushed beyond his limit. Typically they will have check points.... just don't push him to hard, and if you get to a check point and he's not faring well...stop. If you have even a week to prepare, try going out on a few long trail rides...this will help. Finally, talk to your vet.

[Top Dun]

if you go just to finish and not to race to the end then YES you can take a horse who works 3 to four days a week. Just so you know most longer distance endurance riders (50-100 miles) only work their horses three to 4 days a week. But for longer and longer periods during the day. Your horse should be fit enough to compelete the 15 miles if you are. Remember there is at least one vet check for a 15 mile ride where your horse will be examined to determine if he/she is fit to continue also. Another think to consider is if your horse gets excited or nervous when other horses are leavign him/her behind, then you may have trouble bringing the heart rate down for the vet check.

I'd say go, Take it easy on the ride and don't push your horse and above all HAVE fun!!

[UsaHrsRidr2000]

yeah a 15-miler is good...just make sure that you dont push him hard if you havn't conditioned him a little..cause you dont want his PR to be soo high and it takes forever to get him back down...maybe like one day if you know you have like a 15 mile trail or something maybe take your horse out on it...but like with the 15miles you have about 2 loops that i know...like an 8 and then a 6 mile loop so like when you practice do it like a race..this might help...

[SweetSavannah]

if you're riding him well 3 or 4 times a week (eg not just a quickie 20min workout) he should be fine depending on how he deals with terrain.

best way to figure it out is endurance horses have to have a heart rate about 60 beats per minute to continue on the next leg so take your horse for a hard ride, bring him home, and if his heart rate drops to within 60bpm within half an hour he should be fine to go on the ride.

just make sure he is used to difficult terrain (could be very embarrassing if your horse spooks at a water crossing, or stampedes down a hill into someone's horse's butt!)

[TrickPony]

They could probably do it - but I'd do a few 5 and 10 mile rides beforehand to see how they went.

[Jess!]

I ride endurance.

I rode Anna four times a week, about 10 miles each ride. Lots of cantering, trotting, and working her lungs and legs. She finished 3rd out of 85 riders.

I have not ridden Anna since October...maybe more than once every two weeks. We did a 17 mile ride yesterday, and she finished fine. Hydrated nicely, nice gut sounds, and sound on all four.

I think that you and your horse can do a 15 miler with no problem whatsoever.