Australia: Endurance riders saddling up for big Easter

Tamworth.yourguide.com.au

06 March 2008 - 9:00AM

The Tenterfield Endurance Riders' Association will be conducting an education seminar, introductory rides, training rides and competition rides at the Girard State Forest, east of Tenterfield, over Easter.

The weekend is especially geared towards encouraging newcomers to the sport.

Most endurance ride events are conducted over 80km.

The horses take a mandatory one hour's rest after 40km where they must pass veterinary inspection before being allowed to continue.

Major events like the Quilty Cup are conducted over 160km.

There is great camaraderie among the riders and the events are remarkably enjoyable.

It seems that the horses enjoy themselves even more than the riders.

On Easter Saturday commencing at 9am there will be a two-hour education seminar for newcomers and interested people.

The seminar will cover the basic rules of the sport, how to get started, veterinary checks, and strapping procedures.

Experienced riders will share their knowledge.

Then at 1.30pm for those who bring their horses with them, there will be a 20km introductory ride which will be conducted at a gentle pace to allow newcomers and their horses to gain familiarity with the sport.

While all this is going on, already established endurance riders can join in with one or more of three 40km training rides, one of each being conducted on the Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

On Easter Sunday there will be an 80km open event for established competitors.

There is a lovely campsite at Girard State Forest and everyone is encouraged to come and join the camp.

The camp atmosphere with its bushland setting and all of the horses is most serene.

There will be on-site catering for the weekend but please make bookings for the Saturday evening dinner.

Because of biosecurity protocols, anyone who wants to bring a horse must pre-nominate, and provide information about the horse’s origin and other details.

Please contact Phillipa Lillyman (02) 6737 5438 or Caroline Windle (02) 6736 4612 for pre-nomination and for more

information.