West Riding Group EGB
Welcome to the West Riding Group of Endurance GB Website
Top Tips
Always send your entries in in good time and read the entry form. If it says include A4 sized SAE don't send a DL sized one. Make sure the SAE
has the correct postage and address
Find 'someone' who already rides with EGB - take a look at our group buddy list, there's always someone happy to help you, whether it's just to give you hints and tips, or to ride with you round your first ride.
Go to a couple of rides without the horse, wander around and see what goes on and have 'someone' explain what's happening and why, we're all very friendly and we don't bite.
When you think you have checked everything - go back and check again you will be surprised at how many times you find something you have missed.
Always allow sufficient time for your journey so you can arrive at the venue calm and collected.
Don't look at all the pretty arabs and think you have to have one. You don't need an arab to enjoy it and may learn more with a fluffy monster.
Learn to read a map, measure the route and work out timings. Always check times and distances on maps, and identify any landmarks - in Wales it's quite difficult as usually one conifer looks much like another.
Turn your watch to midday when you start the ride so you know how much riding time has elapsed.
Don't follow the horse in front, they may also be lost 
Being the tortoise is fine because sometimes you get to beat the hares and you get more time to enjoy the scenery.
Always carry a mobile with you and arrange it so that you can dial your crew or the organisers by just pressing the green button. (hint: make
sure it is the last number you have dialled before setting out)
Always be polite to other riders, officials and even your crew - a smile, "please" and "thank you" cost nothing and reaps dividends.
When approaching other riders slow down and ask if it is OK to pass before doing so, take care when passing and avoid passing in narrow spaces. Move away carefully before building up speed to ensure the other horse is OK.
If you see another rider in trouble always stop and ask if you can help - it may be you next time.
Buy a stethoscope and learn to use it.
Look after the horse before you look after the rider 
Remember: riders are expendable, horses are not.
Don't forget both you and your horse need to eat and drink at crew stops. Eat and drink - to avoid large bucket of water being poured over you when you get ratty or being force fed with banana.
Crew your crew when they ride so you can get your own back for above.
Breathe at all times.
Introducing children and partner to sport ensures you ride less but get to go to more events!
Smile, especially at the vets, organiser, TS, time keeper,gate openers and anyone else you come across. If you think you could do a better job of organising the ride than the organisers don't just whinge, ask if you can help next year, there is only one way to find out. If nothing else you will appreciate their problems a bit better 
Ride to finish not to win; remember "to finish is to win".
The Rules can be viewed on the following web site http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/html/ridingrules.html please try and read these so are familiar with what is expected.
It's ride day - what to expect
First things first, don't panic, you're going to have a ball and come back with a grin bigger than a cheshire cat's
As you’ve made sure you loaded up your transport with everything you might possibly need the night before and put everything where you will find it whilst you’re half-asleep then all you have to do is get to your yard and wake up the ned..... 
RideDay!.doc
You don't have to have an Arab...
You might not have the best looking horse, you might not have a horse with the shiniest tack, your plaits might not be perfect, you might not have a horse perfect conformation and clean legs, you might have a horse with a gait abnormality, but don’t let that stop you. Horses and riders of all shapes and sizes, fitness and capability can enjoy endurance rides, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been riding.
You don't have to have any special equipment and you definately, definately don't have to ride an Arab.
To read more click
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/west_riding_egb/Introduction to Endurance.doc
Crewing hints and tips
A crew is one or more people, usually family members or friends who assist the horse and rider in many ways over the course of the event.
The crew carries plain water and sugarbeet water around the course for the horse to drink, and they assist in cooling the horse. They also carry some of the emergency supplies.
Anyone and everyone can take part in an endurance ride as back-up crew from your children to your granny and helps to makes it a unique “family” sport.
Click Crewing.doc to read more about just what a crew is and what one does to support the horse and rider around the course.
Maps and Map Reading
Knowing how to read a map will also open up the countryside around you and help you to find your own routes when you want to take your horse out training from home, with good map-reading skills you will be able to devise your own routes from scratch, or more easily adapt those already devised by other people.
To find out what the symbols and squiggles mean click here MapsandMapReading.doc
Entering your first Endurance Ride
Endurance Rides proper in this country start at 65km (40 miles) and run up to 160km in a day (100 miles) or up to 240km (150 miles) over 4 days. They differ from graded rides because they have a massed start, the horses are judged on a 'fit to continue' basis only, and when all the horses have finished, placings are given out - first horse past the post that is judged by the vet to be 'fit to continue' is the winner.
To find out more click here EnteringyourfirstEnduranceRide.doc
Mimi's website.....dedicated to Endurance riding - Nikki Routledge
Put together by Nikki Routledge, this website contains lots of information to help you discover more about Endurance and succeed in Endurance, including a fittening programme for those of you training for rides of up to 50 miles (80km), and how to use quality work to fitten your horse regardless of what level you are riding at.
Nikki has ridden and worked with horses from an early age, competing regularly in showjumping, dressage, eventing and, more recently, in Endurance competitions. She completed the 100 mile Golden Horse Shoe Endurance Event on Exmoor in 2000 on her previous horse, Moment of Justice, winning a bronze standard and the Fernausch Trophy for the highest placed competitor taking part in the event for the first time. Nikki recently came a close second in the 120km (75 mile) International Endurance ride at Cirencester Park 2005 on her current top horse, Ca Shia Merishia (Mimi).
She graduated with an 2.1 Honours degree in Equine Science at the University of West of England in 1998 and qualified as a McTimoney Animal Therapist after successfully completing a two-year Post Graduate Diploma at the McTimoney College of Chiropractic. This focused primarily on equine and canine anatomy and physiology coupled with intensive hands-on practical training in palpation and manipulation skills.
She is a qualified Equine Sports Massage Therapist certified by Equinology in California, USA. ‘Equinology’ is an established therapy in the USA and is recognised internationally.
As part of her training, she spent a year working with Gillian McHugh, who was the official physiotherapist for the Spanish Event Team at the Atlanta Olympics (1996), aiding in the treatment of top racehorses, eventers, showjumpers and dressage horses. She also trained with other Chartered Physiotherapists in the treatment of horses and dogs and spent time working with vets.
She is trained to BHSAI level with Intermediate Stable Manager qualification.
She has written articles for and appeared in Your Horse, Endurance GB magazine, Horse Matters and Riding magazine.
Three Lows Endurance website - Dorothy Bodle
http://www.zen86464.zen.co.uk/
Dorothy Bodle
Born the youngest of four daughters, I started riding in 1984 at a local riding school in Exning. Was fortunate enough to ride a large number of different horses including ex racehorses, and event horses during this period. I then went to University and studied Biochemistry, Physiology and Nutrition of Farm Animal 's graduating with a BSc (Hons). While at University I played polo for three years at Checkendon Equestrian Centre. Upon graduation I went to work at the Animal Health Trust for a year and during this period was riding Charlotte Bathes Eventers on weekends. I then moved to a government funded research institute near Cambridge. At this point I was given my first horse a grey thoroughbred just out of training. Unfortunately things did not go as planned and he had to be put down within a few months due to a brain tumour.
As I had a broken collar bone at this time I took a bit of time off from horses and in the new year purchased Snoopy. Not long after purchasing Snoopy I was asked by a friend if they could borrow him for a team ride at Cirencester as they were putting together a TB team for there FEI Endurance Rides sponsors, Tattersalls, to compete in a team challenge ride as a thank you. I agreed to lend Snoopy for this ride. The day before the team competition I saw my first ever 100 mile ride finish, I was amazed and hooked from that point on.
Cloverville Endurance - Andrea Waistell
http://uk.geocities.com/clovervillendurance/
Andrea discovered endurance riding in 1984 and from then on endurance became her main riding discipline. She has competed throughout the north of England, and Scotland.
Andrea is an advanced endurance rider and her website gives you a wonderful start to endurance riding with information on getting started, training, crewing and equipment.
Take a look!
Want to learn more? There's some wonderful books out there...
If you are interested in reading more about endurance riding, there are several books available:
Go the Distance: Complete Resource for Endurance Riding; Nancy Loving; Kenilworth Press Ltd; 2006 (latest edition)
In this manual Nancy Loving explains everything a rider needs to know, from selecting a horse and investing in equipment to evaluating fitness and nutrition. There is information on: athletic foot care; intelligent nutrition; conditioning principles and training philosophy; methods of evaluating fitness; conditioning for specific terrain and climactic factors; cooling strategies during training and competition; and evaluation of metabolic health and soundness. The work should help experienced long-distance riders improve their training and competitive skills, as well as guide anyone who is thinking of trying long-distance riding.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1872119026/ref=pd_bxgy_text_2_cp/202-3371496-2889420
The Complete Guide to Endurance Riding and Competition; Donna Snyder-Smith; Howell Book House Inc.,U.S.; 1998
An absolutely fabulous read - BUY IT!
Endurance: Start to Finish; Marcy Pavord; J.A.Allen & Co Ltd; 1996
A basic explanation of the sport and its ethics, advice on selection of the horses, the suitability of different breeds, how to build fitness, feeding and endurance equitation. Advice is given on riding at each progressive stage from beginnings to the ultimate experience of riding 100 miles in a day.
Endurance Riding: from first steps to 100 miles. Clare Wilde; Kenilworth Press Ltd; 1996 (paperback 2006)
A guide to the increasingly popular sport of endurance riding, offering advice and encouragement for those starting on their first rides, as well as professional tips for the dedicated competitor working towards a 100 mile ride
Riding Long Distance: Anne Hyland; J.A.Allen & Co Ltd
A starter guide for those wishing to combine the pleasure of a long ride with the spice of competition. The author covers types of rides, training and fitness, equipment and preparation, riding the route, budget and assistance, plus the specialized care of the long-distance horse.
The Endurance Horse: Anne Hyland; J.A.Allen & Co Ltd; 1988
A comprehensive and fascinating study of all aspects of the sport including endurance feats in history, the development of endurance riding, practical instruction on training and riding from novice to 100 milers, advice on equipment and saddlery, a survey of international riders and cameo portraits of top horses and riders
