Endurance Racing

Question
Hi Sarah,
I am twenty seven years old.  I have a horse named Dally, she is a Arabian/Morgan breed she is about fourteen.  I am a beginner horse rider.  I am interested in becoming an endurance rider.  I need to read some books about endurance riding so that I can approach the sport with the right attitude and understanding of the competition. Whatn titles and authers would you suggest.  Also, what brand of saddle, bridle and shoe would you suggest.

Thanks!

Answer
Since I truly don't know much at all about endurance riding I turned to a friend of mine who has spent many years doing competitive trail riding.  She explained to me that they are quite similar sports with a key difference being the aspect of a "race to this finish line" for endurance riding.  The books she had on her shelf and highly reccomended are:
  America's Long Distance Challenge - The Complete Guide to the Sport of Endurance and Competitive Riding
  By Karen Paulo
  ISBN:0525248455

  The Endurance Horse: A World Survey from Ancient Civilizations to Modern
  By Ann Hyland
  ISBN:0851314708

  Long Distance Riding
  By Marcy Drummond, Drummond
  ISBN:0876058616

She also suggested two web sites that provide helpful information and links:

  http://www.ectra.org/  (Eastern Competitive Trail Riding Association)
  http://www.natrc.org/ (sanctions most of the rides in the western part of the country)

Here is what she recommended for tack -
Lightweight saddles are best as you want to keep the horse more comfortable on long rides.  People use endurance saddles, or all-purpose English saddles for the most part.

Here is what she recommended for shoes -
Work with a good farrier who has experience shoeing horses used for long distance riding. Pads are usually necessary since the horse will be moving quickly over rocky terrain.  


My wonderfully helpful friend also had this to tell you -
"A great way to see what it's all about is to find a ride that's close to home and volunteer to help - they always need people to be judge's scribes, timers, pulse and respiration takers, etc."

I hope this is helpful to you.  I wish you fun and safety on your rides!