Cate Langley from Tregaron has been competing since 1999 and here, she writes about her passion for endurance riding.
"Endurance or long distance riding is one of the fastest growing equine sports in the world. More countries competed in the World Equestrian games in Endurance than in dressage.
Long Distance Riding is a family sport, open to anyone with a horse. It is about going out and meeting people, riding through our countryside, and most importantly having fun! You don't need any special equipment, particular breed or type of horse to get started, just you, your horse and your normal riding tack.
For the most part, riders are not competing against each other, nor is there a single winner. The one feature that is most commonly remarked upon is the unique atmosphere of camaraderie and support. Wales has three groups North Wales, Mid Wales and South & West Wales.
Competitive Endurance Riding
These are long distance rides which start at 30 km (20 miles) and horses must be registered with Endurance GB and have a logbook. Rides progress between 30 km to 160 km (100 miles) over multiple days or in a single day.
Depending upon the class entered, various speed parameters and conditions apply, but in all the welfare of the horse is paramount and strict veterinary inspection takes place both before and after the rides, also during the ride if the distance is over 55km (34 miles).
This means that even if you come first over the finishing line you may still not win, sometimes the tortoise wins...
How did I get into endurance riding?
I don't have a typical endurance horse; Harvey is an Irish cob cross something. However, endurance was the only thing that Harvey enjoyed doing and allowed me to stay in the saddle for anything longer than 3 minutes.
We could have won loads of rosettes in a who can sit on the floor fastest in a show ring competition. Endurance however he loves. Bloody-mindedness is a typical trait of successful endurance horses.
We started doing pleasure rides, up to 20 miles at around 5-6 mph. Then in 1999, took the plunge and registered him and me with the national society and started our novice year of 10 25 mile rides.
We're now 4 years down the line and riding at advanced level with two 50-mile rides under our belt and planning to go further. At 13, Harvey is relatively young for an endurance horse so we should have a few years yet to achieve our goal the 1 day 100 miles.
Why endurance?
Because we're mainly competing against the clock rather than each other, the sport is very friendly with international riders riding along novices and everyone happy to help each other out.
Though to start with there's no need for special kit, if you ever come along to a ride one thing you will notice is what a colourful lot we are. Brightly coloured jodhpurs, bridles and saddles being very common.
You can compete at your own level, no pressure and then sometimes you find you've won when all you intended was to finish.
Best and worst moments?
Best moments have been representing Wales in Home Internationals and the Celtic challenge, either riding or as back up crew. And watching my daughter start her career. Beth went on to prove that there's nothing stopping an 11 hand Welsh pony competing in endurance and beating some of the bigger horses.
Worst? Because our horses are vetted before rides, after rides and during rides the paranoia of them not being sound is ever present.
2002 nearly landed up as the year Harvey retired when he slipped his sacro-iliac joint but only went obviously lame at 30 miles + making it difficult to get our vet to see where the problem was.
Luckily for us, an international vet at one of the rides saw him, worked it out and we were sent to a McTimmony chiropractor who sorted him out. Harvey hasn't looked back since (touch wood) though my paranoia persists.
Welsh Team
The pinnacle of my first competitive year was being picked to ride for Wales in the Home International at the Red Dragon ride, Royal Welsh Show ground (1999). There aren't many sports that allow a complete novice to compete with those who have represented their country, but the home international does.
2000 saw me crewing in Ireland, where we won, all 6 horses home. In the home international, the team is made up of 2 doing 100 miles over 2 days, 1 doing 75 miles over 2 days, 1 doing 50 miles, 1 doing 50 miles over 2 days and a novice doing 25 miles.
2001 was wiped out by foot and mouth.
2002 saw Wales entered for the Celtic challenge for the first time and Home International in Scotland. Wales won the home international again.
2003 saw us all in Cirencester and yes, we did it again, with the added bonus of this year having a 7th rider, junior, who also happens to be my daughter. (Oh yes forgot to say husband rides too, a case if you can't beat them, join them).
How successful is Wales in this sport?
Wales is very successful in endurance. In North Wales, we have Tricia Hirst who has represented Great Britain and her son Phillip who has represented Great Britain at Young Rider level.
In Mid Wales, we have Liz Cooper who has won the prestigious Golden horseshoe and is regularly in the top placings in 1 day 100s.
In South Wales, we have more young rider team members and Lesley Dunn who breeds and competes on some of the most successful endurance horses, she won the Solstice 100 miles in day this year. We also have a high number of talented juniors.
Joining in:
To do social or pleasure rides, you dont need to be a member. Everyone is welcome. To find out more you can contact Endurance GB or some local papers and equine magazines advertise rides.
Endurance's motto is "to complete is to win" so come and join us who know you could be riding for Wales to next year."
Written by Cate Langley from Tregaron.
your comments
Tony la Monica, Pembrokshire
Myself and my daughter would like to do some endurance riding and would like to know if there is any novice rides to start with close to us.i did go to one once in the brechfa forest but my horse was too young then.
Tue Mar 3 15:40:36 2009
Remi Hart, Stafford
I have a 2 year old Arabian called Scooter. I can't wait to start doing endruance rides on him! I haven't done so many this year! Does anyone know the next one near Stafford?
Tue Sep 18 09:03:56 2007
Cate Langley - Tregaron
As requested here comes an update. Cate crewing like mad since Beth started race riding - 50 miles plus - problem with teenagers is that they grow and nab horses off you. Beth's competing on a 14hh arab HS Ametista and on August 11th will be representing Great Britain in Germany at FEI 3* event doing 120km (75 miles) - which just goes to show you what good grounding it is starting your endurance career on native ponies. Will try and find some updated photos and info.
Fri Aug 3 09:31:14 2007
Kelly Ritton, West Midlands
Hey, I have a fell cob who is reasonably fit and does a fun ride every 2 months at a steady gallop do you think he will be suitable for endurance riding? Also, I do not know much about endurance riding so could you tell me please do you have to jump or are there optional jumps?
Sun May 20 14:39:15 2007
Aimee-Claire from Somerset
I've had my 13.2 new forest mare Sadie for 2 years now. I was very nervous when I first had her and endurance taught me how to become a team with your horse and I love it - as does sadie especially when she gets to eat ten times her normal amount of feed at rides. Sadie loves endurancing and luckily has a very low heart rate which is great for the grading. I am selling Sadie at the moment, which is a literally heartbreaking thing to do for me, but thankyou to endurance for bringing the best out of me and my pony.
Sun Mar 11 11:53:00 2007
Harry Ingram
Hello everyone endurance is great and everyone should do it. But why not come and do it in north west england for our team!!!
Mon Mar 5 15:05:44 2007
Jane , Newtown
Worth also mentioning that the Gold Award winner at the Golden Horseshoe in 2006 (100 miles in 2 days)was Sarah Thomas from Llandinam, Powys. Yet again a Welsh rider. She is only 20 yrs old so will be "one to watch" in the future.
Thu Dec 28 09:15:40 2006
Val from Bradford
I also have a horse from Pearl Island Arabians who will be geared for Endurance in a couple of years.
Good luck with Sengoran, he looked a beauty.
Thu Nov 9 12:49:39 2006
Louise Rich, Bristol
Hi everyone,
I would just like to say well done to everyone who has done well this year.
Also well done to my mum and Sarah Rogerson and Fiona Hamilton for the Marthon.
and Beth,Kay,Carri-ann,Dace and everyone else who competed in the YR 122k at Red Dragon.
Hope everyone does as well next year.
Wed Nov 1 11:47:34 2006
Jenni Davis
The article only mentions - EGB as the organisation you have to join to do endurance riding.There is another endurance group- Sport Endurance - with a full competitive and pleasure ride program over much of the country.It is very welcoming to all,friendly and about having fun.Can ride as meber or non member.
Tue Sep 26 17:22:15 2006
Christine Matthews from North East Wales
I am interested in Endurance riding. I have never done any. How do I get started?
Mon Sep 25 09:10:00 2006
Cathy Wheatcroft
I have started doing pleasure rides this year with my Welsh D and we are loving it! We typically do up to 25km and make sure we get round in the correct time! It is brilliant and although we have a way to go on our speed (currently around 9.5 km per hour) I will be entering our first 32km early next year and see how we go from there. It is fab!
Wed Aug 2 15:39:40 2006
Krissie jones, Hereford
I am an advanced endurance rider, have only been enjoying endurance since 1996, have just sold my advanced horse, Red, and bought my new chap, novice, baby, just 5yrs, Sengoran, from Pearl Island Arabians, Hereford. Just getting out and about this year enjoying the relaxation of not having to tear about accumulating mileage and points!! (that will come next year!) Such a good boy for a relatively inexperienced chap, bought him as an entire in march after much deliberation (all teeth and attitude!)Since gelding he has settled and totally chilled...Phew!!
Tue Jul 11 16:18:37 2006
Alison, Cannock
Hi, I would like someone to tell me how to get into
endurance and how to go to about it. My horse is fifteen years old and is full of life and I think he would really enjoy endurance.
Tue Jul 4 15:51:05 2006
Emma Richards, Kent
I would love to do endurance rididng on my new horse who is eleven and loves to ride out for hours. If there are any rides near me could you let me know as I am finding it difficult to find them.
Fri Jun 23 11:20:52 2006
Laurie Belle
Hello, I'd like to have some information about the next CEI races in Cirencester 2006.
Mon May 8 15:10:26 2006
Emlyn Jones
Well done Cate and Beth. Great to see you all doing so well with the endurance. Hope William is pitching in too! Will try to get my daughters into it. Just started training for summer shows on lead rein with the eldest.Good luck.
Sun Mar 19 21:49:52 2006
Becky , North Wales
I was wondering if there are many TB's going for endurance? I have a 14yr old TB mare, done a bit of everything but so far mostly seems to enjoy fun rides. She is bred to stay, she did a 7mile fun ride mostly at a steady gallop and still was game for more on finishing!
Sat Mar 4 11:12:57 2006
Kerry - Leeds
To find out more about endurance in your area, first you need to have a look at the Endurance GB website
http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/
The website gives details of how to get started, what rides are on during the season, entry details, details on how to join the society and also shows you the many different groups which cover the country.
http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/html/groupslist.html
If you live in West or South Yorkshire, we have a group website, please click below to find out more about what we're doing in your area!
http://www.freewebs.com/west_riding_egb/index.htm
Mon Feb 20 11:54:10 2006
Laura Nairne, Aberystwyth
What a nice article. Reading this has prompted me to ring my local Endurance rep. Let's hope I can get started soon!
Wed Feb 15 13:55:10 2006
Victoria Evans, Swansea
Hi
As a horse owner myself, it's great to see Welsh equestrian stars being well publisised. I'm 13 and competing is soooo fun! I want to be an Olympic Showjumper, and help put Wales on the map! Keep up the good work Cate!
Wed Feb 1 19:04:04 2006
sophie tompson from Newtown
endurance riding is class it's one of the best riding activities you could do i recomend it to anyone!
Tue Jan 31 13:07:47 2006
Sara Allen, Somerset
I think endurance is going to be my way forward in the horse world. I'm only 13, but I just know I want to be an endurance rider. I don't want my horse to be strangled in bits and martingales and spurs, in a cross country course, I want it to be a horse. But can endurance riding be a source of income?
Tue Jan 3 13:37:40 2006
Catherine Moreton, Kettering
How can I find out more about endurance my pony is so bomb proof and he enjoys hacking but he hates dressage (as do I) and he refuses loads in jumping.
Tue Jan 3 11:54:58 2006
Ceri Roberts, Mold
Good to see Endurance riding is getting sport coverage on BBC wales website. Less football, more horses!
Endurance riding gets prime sports coverage in Arab Emirates - good on them.
Sat Oct 1 18:10:21 2005
Rebecca from Cumbria
Hi, my name is Rebecca. I own a relatively fit 13.1hh fell mare, and we are preparing for a non competitive pleasure ride soon. We will be stopping halfway for lunch and for the horses to graze, and my pony currently has a cottage craft bridle that converts to a headcollar. The problem is the noseband is nearly under her eyes, due to how the bridle is designed. (If I put the noseband any lower, the bit will bang on her teeth!)Can anyone reccomend a good easy to care for bridle? I was thinking of Libbys exmoor bridle, as I want one with an adjustable nose. Thanks.
Sat Sep 24 14:59:41 2005
Mrs Baker Tregaron area
How can I find out about Pleasure Rides
which may take place in this area?
I would love to do Endurance but must start on shorter rides first.
Sun Sep 18 21:13:45 2005
Becky
Hi there I've just got a polish Arabian does any one know what these are suposed to be like at endurance the Polish breed Arabs.
Thanks ever so much xx
Wed Sep 7 08:28:02 2005
Kerry - Leeds
Yes, Connamara x Arabs have loads of stamina, perfect breed mix for endurance.
Wed Aug 31 11:51:04 2005
Bex
Does any one know if a Connamar Arab has a lot of stamina?
Mon Jul 25 08:54:47 2005
Mandy Jones from Carmarthenshire
If anyone in the South Wales area is interested in joining EGB or would like more information, please ring me on 01550 750288 (evenings) and I will be happy to help.
Fri Jun 24 10:52:35 2005
Pam Turner
Join sport endurance, it's much more competitively priced and they have lots of rides on offer.www.sportendurance.co.uk.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Thu Jun 23 23:10:04 2005
Kath Williams Llannon, Carms.
I have just bought a 10 year old Arab who I'm told would excel at endurance. I am 48 and have not had a lot of luck with the last 2 horses I 've owned. I must add that I'm not very fit but love a challenge and would really like to be involved in an activity with other riders. Please can you let me know how I can get involved?
Thanks,
Kath.
Thu May 26 12:59:26 2005
Lin Martin _Thomas
Hi, just to let you know , I entered my first training ride of 10 miles on my 5yr old heavy cob x mare. I completed it in 2hrs 12 mins (not the fastest time) but we enjoyed and went on the Brechfa Forest ride a week later over 8 miles in 1hr23mins. Fantastic scenery, my mare really enjoyed trying to be an arab all the way round. Great fun I am 48yrs with a couple of crumbling discs and arthritis but not going to let it stop us from enjoying. Thanks to everyone who made me welcome. We will be back! Lin and bess.
Fri Mar 25 21:55:53 2005
beth langley, tregaron
this article is soooo old, i have now succesfully competed for wales 3 times and trained with the great britain under 21 squad. Wales does very well in the endurance world and we have outstanding riders some that compete for great britain. It is my personal view that the media should pay us more attention because were not always losing and we have people that deserve to be seen doing what they do best and i can assure you we are good at it. Thanks for your message Beth. Ifyou or your mother would like to submit an updated article, let us know - Mid Wales Web Team
Sat Feb 5 16:57:08 2005
Becky
hiya i would like some one to tell me how i can get started in endurance and how to be a member. If you could, that would be great.
Wed Jan 12 20:36:11 2005
rachel from plymouth
id love to get into endurance riding
Tue Dec 14 15:06:06 2004
Mrs L Martin-Thomas
Hi, I would love to enter some pleasure rides ,to try this sport but cant seem to find venues or dates in or around the carmarthenshire area Help! need something different to try ,Please let me know contacts as getting desperate as not computer literate Thanks Lin and Bess [the horse]
Fri Oct 15 22:43:30 2004
Cate Langley - Tregaron
If you'd like to see some of the best endurance horses and riders in the UK then you need to come to the Royal Welsh Show Ground, 1st,2nd,3rd October. Staurday and Sunday will see the Home International, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales - come and support Wales and see if we can retain the championship for the 4th year running. Also competing the Celtic Challenge.
Or if you want to ride contact Endurance GB and they can give you the ride organisers contact no (02476 698863.)Go on come and join us.
Mon Aug 30 15:10:32 2004
Victoria Cornock
My name is Victoria Cornock I first started endurance last year when i was 15 years old and my pony sambella is a 10 year old arab cross cob. I used to be into show jumping and cross country eventing until i heard about endurance. I found it very interesting and thought that me and my pony could make it to the top, so my mum sent away a form for me to become a member. I am now at intermidiate level and i am starting to race ride my first race ride is man verses horse which this ride isnt under endurance GB. My next race ride is at cirencester park i will be racing for 50 miles against the young riders in the intermidiate team. At the end of the season i am hoping to put my name down to ride for Great Britain intermidiate team as, i believe that my pony and i have can do it. Without my pony's level of fitness, stamina speed and determination to win i wouldn't be able to do it. She is so special. Let us know if you get chosen for the GB team! - Mid Wales Web Team
Mon Mar 15 10:29:23 2004
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They're often referred to as the "snowboarders" of the equine world but endurance riders say they get little publicity - despite the Welsh team's success in the sport. 
