About Endurance

Types of Rides

Local Group Pleasure Rides – These are very informal pleasure rides up to 34km, run by our network of 23 local groups. Enter via the Endurance GB website.

Pleasure rides (PRs) are non competitive rides up to 34km. When they are held alongside a Graded Endurance Ride or Competitive Endurance Ride, horses will be trotted up in front of the ride veterinary surgeon before and after the ride. Horses that complete the course and pass the vet will receive a rosette. 

Graded Endurance Rides (GERs) are between 20km and 160km and require the horse and rider to complete the course within the speed criteria for the class and the horse undergoes a veterinary check before and after the ride. Longer GERs also require the horse to pass mid way veterinary checks (vet gates). Successful horses receive a Grade on completion based on their final pulse rate and speed. 

Novice GERs are between 20km and 50km and should be ridden between 8-15kph. A novice rider needs to complete 5 x novice GERs of 30-50km to progress to open level, and a novice horse needs to complete 3 x novice GERs of 30-45km to progress to open level. Novice GERs of 20-29km are called Foundation GERs. 

Open/Advanced GERs are between 30km and 160km and should be ridden between 10-18kph. An open level horse or rider needs to complete 2 x open level GERs of 60-90km (at least one must be 80km in a day) to progress to advanced level. 

Performance Formula GER classes of 30km and above will be placed based on highest Performance Formula points and those placed 1st-3rd (1st-6th for classes with 15 or more entries) will receive a placing rosette/keepsake. The Performance Formula is calculated as follows: (Speedx2 -Minimum Speed) x 100 divided by heart rate; speed in kph; heart rate per minute. In case of the same result for two or more competitors, the lowest final heart rate would determine the highest placing between them.

Competitive Endurance Rides (CERs) are at least 80km in length. The horse and rider must achieve the minimum speed for the class and must pass all of the veterinary checks. Successful horses are ranked in order of completion. Competitive Endurance Rides may only be entered by advanced horse/rider combinations. 

Elevator rides are rides where the rider may exercise the option to retire from the ride at a vet gate and be credited with the distance to that point, providing they have passed the veterinary inspection and compulsory re-examination, and are within the time parameters up to that point. GERs with a vet gate of any distance and CERs over 100km can be treated as elevator rides.

FEI classes are similar to CERs but are run under FEI international endurance rules and may only be entered by suitably qualified combinations who are registered with the FEI.

What kinds of Endurance GB membership are there?

There are several membership options:

Day Membership. Non members pay a temporary day membership fee of £10 (included in the non member entry fee) which will enable them to participate in Endurance GB Pleasure Rides. Riders will need to register as a supporter (free) on the Endurance GB website in order to enter online. Day members are covered for public liability insurance whilst at events. If you sign up to be an Endurance GB supporter on the website, you will be able to purchase day membership alongside your ride entries.

Club Membership. Endurance GB has a mutually beneficial arrangement with partner organisations (for example Riding Clubs who are registered for the Riding Club Championship, the Pony Club, the Riding for the Disabled Association, Horses 4 Health and Retraining of Racehorses). Qualifying members of these organisations can join Endurance GB as a free ‘Club’ member and take part in pleasure rides and Novice GERs up to 40km on payment of a temporary day membership fee per ride. Club members are covered for public liability insurance whilst at events. 

Associate Membership. Associate members can enter national pleasure rides and local group events at member rates. Associate members are covered for public liability insurance whilst at events. 

Full Riding Membership. Full riding members can enter any Endurance GB ride at member rates. Full Riding Members have year round public liability insurance as part of their membership benefits. 

Non Riding Membership. Non riding members are generally volunteers who do not ride at present. They can enter local group events at member rates. Non Riding Members have year round public liability insurance as part of their membership benefits. 

Para-Equestrian Endurance Riding. Riders with a long term physical or a mental condition which impacts their ability to participate in events and competitions run by Endurance GB can register to be a Para-Equestrian Endurance Rider and compete in the Para League. Para-Equestrian Endurance Riders can also apply for reasonable adjustments to be made to help them to participate in the sport. If you wish to apply to register as a Para-Equestrian Endurance Rider then this can be done through your online membership record. Para-Equestrian Endurance Riders will be issued with their own set of blue P (para rider), E (escort) and C (crew) bibs as appropriate. Contact our Para-Equestrian Endurance Committee or look at the Para-Equestrian Endurance page for more information

Local Endurance GB Group Membership. All Associate and Full Members of Endurance GB will automatically be joined to their local Endurance GB group. The local groups organise local rides, events, training and awards, and are always on hand to help and support new riders and members at rides. See the Endurance GB website for more information.

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