A (Brief) History of the Sport

The first organized 100 mile ride was held in 1955 and  stretched from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California.

Endurance Riding was first sanctioned as a national sport by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) in 1972, and is credited to Wendell Robie (above left) and friends, who organized the first Western States Ride (now the Tevis Cup). A decade later, Endurance Riding became global and was recognized by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). By 1990, Endurance was included in the FEI World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

A Sport for All Sorts

Witchdance Trail in the Tombigbee National Forest

One of the wonderful aspects of endurance riding is that there are almost no restrictions on who can compete--you don't even need to own a horse!

Bankhead National Forest

Rides vary from Intro level (up to 15 miles) to overnight 100-milers, and usually require you to camp out with your equine partner.

Intro Rides

Getting ready to head to the starting line at Rock Bridge Canyon Ride in Hodges, Alabama.

Intro rides are perfect for young horses and new riders, alike. These rides feature a pre-ride and a post-ride veterinary check, a score card and no completion time limit. They are a much less intense alternative to the longer distance rides.

Hanging out with friends on the trail at RBC Ride, Hodges, AL

There are usually experienced riders on young horses who will accompany you along the trail on Intro rides. They are almost always happy to share pointers, answer questions and give helpful advice!

Limited Distance Rides

For new endurance riders looking to compete for AERC points, Limited Distance (LD) rides are a good place to start. These rides do not have weight class categories, and are typically 25 or 35 miles long. Horses must be 48 months old to compete in LD's, but riders can be any age!

Race photographers are positioned along the trail.

The race photographer captures riders coming up a hill on the first loop of the Witchdance LD.

Pulsing down.

At each vet check, the horse's pulse is taken. When it reaches 60 bpm or below, the horse is cleared to advance on the course.