ENDURANCE PLEASURE RIDE 2026 — QUICK GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS & ADVANCED RIDERS

 

🐎 1. What is EPR?

A recreational time-controlled endurance ride — no racing, no pressure.
The focus is on safety, adventure and horse welfare.

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🩺 2. Veterinary checks

Before and after the ride, vets assess:

• heart rate (max 64/min),

• soundness,

• general condition.

Vet decisions are final.

 

📏 3. Distances

• LL – 10 - 19 km, approx. 10 km

• L – 20 - 39, approx. 21 km

You may ride alone or in a group.

 

⏱️ 4. Pace & time window

EPR is a time-controlled ride, meaning:

• too fast → elimination (FTQ)

• too slow → elimination (FTQ)

Recommended speed: 8–12 km/h
Before the finish line, there is a monitored section, ridden at least at trot.

 

⭐ 5. The most important rule

Horse welfare comes first.

If the horse fails the vet check, the ride ends immediately.

 

🎒 6. Mandatory equipment

• riding helmet (fastened),

• riding boots with min. 12 mm heel / safety stirrups,

• horse passport with valid vaccinations,

• mobile phone (recommended).

Prohibited:
whips, spurs, draw reins, any device restricting head/neck movement.

 

💧 7. Assistance

Allowed:

• cooling and watering the horse in designated service points,

• phone and GPS.

Not allowed:

• any form of escorting the rider on the route (foot, bike, horse).

 

👶 8. Junior riders

• Minimum age: 10 years.

• Juniors ride independently, without a guardian on the route.

• A guardian must stay on the venue and is fully responsible for the child.

 

🏅 9. Awards

Every rider who finishes successfully and passes the final vet check receives a:
medal or rosette

• may earn points for the Annual Rider–Horse Ranking.

 

📝 10. Practical tips

• Ride at your own pace — don’t follow others blindly.

• Cool your horse properly after finishing.

• Keep your phone charged.

• Listen to the organisers and veterinarians.

 

🏆 11. For licensed endurance competitors (SRK)

EPR is an excellent opportunity to:

• train your horse under competition-like conditions,

• ride on technically demanding routes,

• test pace, fitness and recovery,

• introduce young horses to sport safely,

• perform controlled conditioning between events.

It’s a safe, non-competitive training platform with full veterinary supervision.