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Endurance
Endurance Riding is one of the newest and perhaps the fastest growing branch of equestrianism. Although organised endurance rides were held in the US as early as the mid - 1800s, the modern sport of endurance riding really began in the in 1955 when the Tevis Cup, a one day 100 mile ride from Squaw Valley, Nevada to Auburn California, was first run. In the UK, The Golden Horseshoe Ride, a two day, 100 mile ride has been running since 1965 and is a true test of the horse’s stamina and ability.
Most people starting out in endurance use their current horse, and it is true to
say that any healthy horse can compete at the lower levels of endurance. Arabian
horses are often thought of as the ideal endurance horse, but at any endurance ride
you will see representatives of many horse and pony breeds competing successfully.
In
general a good endurance horse will have a balanced conformation, a relatively light
build, and feet with strong, deep, concave soles.
Conventional metal shoes have been widely used in endurance and have been the best option for many years but they transmit rather than absorb shock and limit the hoof’s natural ability to flex during high impact movement. However, their protective role is essential in maintaining the integrity of the hoof wall over a variety of different surfaces.
