Endurance, the Arabian Horse Society of Australia

Congratulations to the Australian Endurance Team who finished sixth at Aachen in Germany!!

Linda Meredith riding INSHALLAH SOUVENIR and Caroline Fitzgerald riding PARADISE VALLEY PERFECTION. Photo credit - Pat Slater

“You don’t have to have an Arabian to compete, but you WILL have to pass one if you want to win!” Endurance is the sport of preference for many riders who love their Arabians. Today there are just as many dedicated endurance breeding studs as there are show studs, and Australian Arabians compete regularly on the world endurance circuit, often for teams from other countries.

Australian Arabians are held in the highest regard internationally. Australian Endurance teams have never failed to come home with at least one medal from any of the World Equestrian Games held so far, while other disciplines have yet to snare a single medal! The high point was reached in 1998 when Australia won Team Gold at the World Championships at Compeigne, France. Four years later they took Team Bronze in very difficult, slippery conditions in Jerez, Spain. Many of the other top riders from around the world were also mounted on Australian-bred Arabian horses! Several hundred are exported from Australia to the United Arab Emirates alone, every year.

Jennifer Gilber riding JUST U WAIT Photo credit - Sue Crockett

The first Tom Quilty Gold Cup was held at Windsor, NSW, in 1966. This event is regarded as the Australian Championship Endurance Ride. Today it is rotated among all the States to try to give as many riders as possible “the Quilty experience”. There are endurance clubs in all States, and rides to suit all abilities, from 2O and 4O km introductory and training rides, to 80 km, 120 km and 160 km Rides for the serious competitors. The endurance motto is - “To complete is to win” - and there is an emphasis on finishing a Ride with a healthy, sound horse.

The access to great riding country, the companionship of riding [and camping] with kindred spirits, and the ability to set and reach one’s own personal goals, are all attractive reasons to try endurance. Purebred Arabians and Derivative Arabians all compete.

More information from the Australian Endurance Riders Association.

Australia's gold medal winning team at the 2OOO World Endurance Championships in France -
[left to right] Penny Toft [who rode BREMERVALE JUSTICE], Martin Parker [holding cup] who rode PEMBAC PARK CALEB, Sue Reed [KEVISAN PARK ZAMIRA], Terry Wood [PEPPERSFIELD NABUCCO], Vet. Brian Sheahan [Chef d'equipe] in front
photo - Sue Crockett

The Australian Endurance Riders Association [AERA] has a lot of promotional and educational material, including videos, available to help newcomers to their sport which involves an overwhelming proportion of Arabian horses, both Purebred and Derivative. The following is an extract from a brochure they distributed during several Equitana Trade Fairs recently. It may contain material useful to someone wanting to get into endurance riding:

Interested in Endurance?

We’re here to help get you started in this fun pursuit!

The State Endurance Riding Associations exist to help new and current members of this fast growing sport. So if you are interested in learning more about this fun horse sport, please contact your state representatives, to be found on the AERA website.

Log onto the Australian endurance riders website: http://aera.asn.au which has lots of information about the sport, ride calendars and results and individual State web addresses. You can also join the aussieendurance chatline, for helpful emails from other riders, vets, farriers and breeders, etc.

A video is also available from the aera website, http://aera.asn.au/video.htm, or from Registrar Lyn Bailey – the “endurance riders seminar”- which has leading riders, breeders, trainers, strappers and nutritionists offering an hour of great advice for both newcomers and experienced competitors.

Talk to other members – they’re usually very welcoming and willing to help. Offer to strap for a current member so you can experience a couple of rides first-hand, or attend a local ride and offer assistance to the organizing committee. This gives you a good idea of what is required in looking after your horse at a ride, the procedures involved and what you need to take with you.

If you have a horse and feel you are both almost ready to attend your first training ride, you will need to join your State Association, or become a day member at the ride. It is a requirement that you complete 2 x 40km rides before attempting your first 80km ride. You need to be over 18 years of age, or if younger you can become a Junior Member with your parent/legal guardian’s consent.

There are often 20km social rides as well as the 40km training rides for newcomers to gain experience and ease yourself and your horse up to the longer distances. Check your State newsletter, or ring the Ride Secretary of the ride you are attending. This information is also in the Newsletter or on the website ride calendar.

There are also quite a few good publications available in your saddlery or local bookshop – books and magazines specific to endurance riding. An excellent publication is the magazine-style “Endurance, Beginners to Advanced”, available on the newsstands and also from AERA.