FAQ – ENDURANCE PLEASURE RIDE 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is EPR a competition?

No. EPR is a recreational, time-controlled endurance ride, without racing or sports ranking (except the seasonal Ranking).
The focus is on safety and horse welfare.

2. Do I need a national federation licence to participate?

No.
A licence is only required if you want to be included in the Annual Rider–Horse Ranking.
To take part in EPR itself, no licence is needed.

3. Do I have to ride fast?

Speed is not the goal.
You must stay within the time window, which means:

too fast → elimination (FTQ)
too slow → elimination (FTQ)

Recommended pace: 8–12 km/h.
In each event’s rules, you’ll find the exact time limits in minutes (e.g., between 45 and 80 minutes).

4. Can I ride in a group?

Yes!
You can ride alone, with one person, or in a group — whatever you prefer.
Just remember to maintain your own pace, not the group’s.

5. What does the veterinary check look like?

Your horse is checked before the start and after finishing.
The vet evaluates:

heart rate (max 64/min)
soundness (you trot the horse in hand on a straight line)
overall condition and welfare

If the horse does not pass the vet check, it cannot continue or complete the ride.

6. What should I bring?

Mandatory:

helmet
riding boots with a 12 mm heel or safety stirrups
horse passport with up-to-date influenza vaccination
mobile phone (recommended)
basic cooling equipment
water buckets for cooling
stethoscope (recommended if you want to check your horse’s heart rate before entering the vet gate)

Whips, spurs, draw reins and any device restricting head/neck movement are not recommended.
They are strictly forbidden in sport endurance — in EPR you decide, but it’s worth trying to ride without them.

7. Can I have someone to help me?

Yes — but only at the official Service Point.
Any assistance on the route is not allowed (on foot, by bicycle, by car, or on horseback).

8. What happens if I lose the trail?

You simply return to the spot where you made the mistake and continue correctly.
Losing the trail does not mean elimination, as long as:

you return to the route, and
you stay within the time window.

9. How do I make sure I don’t exceed the time limits?

You can:

ride with someone more experienced,
use GPS or a speed-tracking app,
control breaks and observe your horse’s breathing,
start a stopwatch the moment you depart.

In EPR, the pace should be steady and calm, not fast.

10. Can juniors participate?

Yes.
Minimum age: 10 years.
Juniors ride independently, but their guardian must remain on the venue and sign all required documents.

11. Does my horse need to be a sport horse?

No!
You can ride any healthy horse:

Hucul pony
leisure/lesson horse
Arabian
leased/riding school horse
competition horse (great preparation!)

The key point: the horse must be healthy, fit, and in regular work.

12. Can horses with a break in training participate?

Only if they have returned to regular training and have rebuilt fitness.
EPR is not a test of “whether we can manage after the winter”.
Your horse must be able to complete 10–21 km in a steady pace.

13. Are there prizes?

Yes!
Anyone who completes the ride successfully and passes the final vet check receives:

a medal or rosette, and
a Ranking point entry (if eligible).

14. What if my horse fails the final vet check?

Unfortunately, this means the ride is not completed.
Horse welfare comes first, and the vet’s decision is final.

15. Is EPR suitable for experienced endurance riders?

Absolutely — it is excellent for:

conditioning training
pace practice
testing recovery
preparing young horses
maintaining form between competitions

Technical routes and vet checks provide conditions similar to official endurance competitions.

16. What about safety?

EPR requires:

no alcohol or psychoactive substances
following all instructions from organisers and vets
respecting the trail and other participants
taking responsibility for yourself and your horse

Arabian Spirits – Masters of Long Distances