Competitive trail rides are races against the clock to see who can finish closest to a predetermined time. Soundness, condition, manners, or way of going are other criteria considered. Endurance rides are races to see who can finish first while remaining sound and healthy. Both comprise distance riding where horses and riders complete routes up to one hundred miles or more.
Contestants are identified by number...the trail is indentified by painted rocks, or ribbons, pieplates, and blazes on trees.
Rest
Stops / Veterinary Checks
Long distance riders are marked by compulsory stops where
veterinarians carefully examine horses' pulse,
temperature, and respiration.
One of the most famous 100-mile in 24 hours endurance rides,
the Tevis Cup traces old miners' routes through the rugged Sierra
Nevada Mountains.
For more information on endurance riding, visit the Endurance Riding home page. If you're interested in pleasure riding and camping in back country areas, we'd suggest visiting the "Leave No Trace" Web pages.