Getting Started in Endurance Riding

So, you are interested in learning more about Endurance or perhaps looking at attending your first endurance ride and not sure how to go about it ??

Hopefully we can help answer some of your questions or guide you to where the info is.

Joining your local club

Whilst you can enter endurance events without becoming a member of a local club, most would agree joining a club is invaluable especially if you are new to the sport. There are many experienced endurance riders that are only too willing to share helpful advice and support to get you started or even show you local tracks to train.

Endurance rides would not be possible without the hard work of Ride Organisers and Volunteers, without them Endurance Ridng would simply not exist. Being involved within your local club will enable you to learn what happens behind the scenes and allow you to give back to the sport. You will also make some great friends along the way!!

Murrumba Endurance Riding Club welcomes new members. Our club is a friendly bunch who enjoy training together and looking out for one another at endurance events. We hold meetings regularly to organise up and coming events, We would like to see you there.

To join our club please go to our about page for details and membership form and fees.

Joining QERA (Queensland Endurance Riders Association)

(If you are in a State other than QLD, please see our links page for the association relevant to your State) You can enter Social, Intro & Training Rides without joining the State body, such as QERA. However joining becomes compolsory when you are looking at entering your 80km rides. Joining QERA initially is recommended as it will provide you with insurance coverage along with the newsletter which will keep you abreast of the latest ride information and rule changes.

Please refer to the QERA website for further details.

Sources of Information
Joining a new sport can be daunting and overwhelming, for that reason we recommend you attend an Education Seminar to learn the ins and outs of Endurance. Please refer to our ride calendar to see if one is coming up. Like many of us you will most probably get bitten by the bug, at this point joining your local club would be a great start.

There is also a wealth of information readily available, you may find some at the following locations;

Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) QERA has a great 'Helping Hand' section which covers;

The Process - Where should I start
What should you expect at your first ride
Commonly asked questions
History of Endurance Riding
Horse Containment Guidelines
Endurance Ride Etiquette
The Spirit of Endurance Riding
Feeding & Training the horse for a first Endurance Training Ride
Strapping the Endurance Horse
TPR Bay & Vet Ring Etiquette

They also have a great library of dvd's and books available to hire free of charge to QERA members (except postage)

They also have the latest;

Rule Book
Newsletters
QLD Ride Calendar
Nomination Forms
Links to Endurance Sites

Please refer to QERA for further details, see 'Helping Hand' on their navigation menu.

Endurance Magazines - available at your local newsagent or from VINK PUBLISHING

Endurance Beginner to Advanced
Endurance News

What equipment will I need (courtesy of Melissa Longhurst)

Apart from your float/truck/gooseneck, this is a list of gear that you may find yourself needing at an endurance ride.

For the Horse	For the Rider	Camping
Portable yards/Electric Energised Fence Feed Water Molassas Electrolytes Rugs - different thicknesses Baby Powder, Vasaline, White Healer Hoof Pick First Aid Kit Buckets Sponges & Scraper for Strapping Sponge for Saddle Towels for Strapping Stethescope Stop Watch Spare Halter & Lead Bridle & Saddle (check for wear) Saddle pad/s Brush boots Spare Shoes/Boots	Membership Card Entry Fee money Spare Joddy's Wet & Cold Weather Clothes Clothes Logbook Helmet Riding Headlamp/Torch & Batteries Spare Night Torch/lantern Toiletry Bag & Towel Hat Watch Sunscreen Camelbak or Water Bottles	Swag Tarp/Tent Cooking Utensils Food Water Electrolytes

A few points to remember

Always check your vehicle/float/gear for wear and tear well before the weekend of the ride
Always test new gear for fit and comfort during training and never at a ride
Remember to plan your rides well in advance, look at maps and work out where you are going ahead of time.
Leave with plenty of time to arrive at the ride base with your horse and yourself refreshed prior to pre-ride vetting
If you need help, don't be afraid to ask. Everyone has been new at some stage
Always listen to your horse and plan/ride accordingly.

Great Endurance Reads

How to Survive 400kms with horse in hand and hubby in tow - written by Anne Barlow, Murrumba Member.

2008 Tom Quilty - Nanango - written by Anne Barlow.