Competitive Trail riding????

eventergirl09 · 09-24-2009, 08:44 PM

Does anyone know anything about competitive trail riding? Is it like endurance? Would an eventing horse be able to do it? How is it judged? Do you win money or is it a just for fun kinda thing? Any information anyone knows would be awesome

RenosGirl · 09-24-2009, 08:51 PM

I have done endurance before and I have been told that it is pretty much the same thing. You wouldn't win money but they would give you like a bucket of sweet feed or something, and then it will just go down from there. You are not judged your horse is. Like you are vetted twice during the race and once before you start. If you have any questions just pm me so i can give better answers.

Painted Horse · 09-24-2009, 09:58 PM

I used to do a LOT of CTR and even sponsored a CTR for several years.

There are several organizations that put on CTR and each has their own rules. i am familar with NATRC so I will speak from what I know of their rules.

CTR is different from and Endurance Race. Endurance is a Race. Simple put 1st horse to the finish line wins. Doesn't matter how you get there. Ride the horse, run along side the horse or get bucked off, if you cross the finish line first you win. ( if your horse has reasonable recoveries, you can't run the horse to death). Endurance also gives out an award for Best Conditioned horse. so two awards. Everybody else is just competing with themselves to complete the ride. And the slogan is " To Finish is to Win". Endurance advocates keep track of their miles complete, not neccesarly their win ribbons. Endurance rides come in Limited ( 25 miles ) and regular 50 mile races that need to be completed in less than 12 hours. Around here most of the winners complette the 50 in 4to 5 hours. There are also the 100 mile endurance events like the Tevas.

CTR is more like a Road Rally. Finish too fast or too slow and you are out of the game. You have to be able to rate you horse speed through out the ride. Every horse competing has to complete the trail with in the alloted time, Usually a 15 minute window. You have to ride the horse when ever it is progressing down the trail. No running along side the horse. Hence each horse will complete the same distance in relatively the same amount of time, while carrying a rider the entire distance. So the judges can compare horses on a apples to apples basis. A horse whose rider got off and jogged alongside the horse for 20 miles will not be as tired as a horse that carried the rider the entire 25 miles. They have two judges. A vet judge who job is to mainly watch the horse. It's conditioning, how well it recovers etc. And a horsemanship judge that will judge your horsemanship skils and how well your horse responds to those skills. Everybody starts with 100 points and points are deducted if you fail certain checks. ie horses heart rate is too high at the check point. horse has a sore back after the ride.

CTR is usually 45-50 miles in length, spread over two days. So maybe 25 miles on Saturday and 20 miles on Sunday. They have a Novice, Competitive Pleasure and Open class and Lightweight and Heavy divisons in each class.

Most CTR events are weekend events. You check in friday afternoon and they start watching you from that moment on. The CTR is over sunday afternoon and they stop watching you as you check your horse out for the final check out. You are judged on camping with your horse. handling the horse in hand, ie lunging for the judge, judged mounting ( does your horse stand still for the mount). Some of the judging is out in the open. A judge may ask you to open a gate from horseback or to sidepass over to hang a coat on a tree branch. Or they may be hidden such as a judge in the bushes watching you cross a creek or a series of blow down logs with out you knowing you are being watched. Here in the Mountain States the judges try to use as many natural obsticles as possible.

The vet judge will look at your horse at check in. He will note how the horse moves, any nicks or rock bites on his legs, his gut sounds and pulse and respiration at resting rates. He will then look at the horse 3-4 times during each day and compare his findings to what he saw of the horse before he started teh event.. One of the vet checks is back in camp with the saddle off to see if the horse is stiff or sore from the days work or showing any lameness.. No artificial items can be used to help the horse. ie leg wraps to prevent filling. lintiment for sore legs or back. A good trail horse should know how to take care of himself through out a ride and be conditioned so he does not need those aids.

I learned a LOT about my horse by competing in CTR events. And while I don't compete any longer, I still remember how to take care of my horse on a trail ride. It's a great sport, I'm sure you will enjoy it. Google NATRC and look at their calendar and see if they have an event near you.

eventergirl09 · 09-25-2009, 05:53 PM

Thanks for all the info. It was really helpful

eventergirl09 · 09-27-2009, 04:55 PM

Would you consider endurance more fun or competive trail riding..I would like going long distance (I wouldn't run my horse down though) just me, maybe a friend, my horse and the forest/mountains/open.

Harmonyhill* · 09-27-2009, 07:55 PM

In the past, I have done several competive rides and have found them to be s-l-o-w!

I found myself having to waste time or I would be docked for coming in too soon.

I think that endurance would be more my thing

And yes, your eventing horse would be able to do a competive ride!

I did enjoy them and learned alot, the people that did the competive rides were a very friendly group and were always willing to help or answer questions.

You should give them a try!

Painted Horse · 09-27-2009, 10:14 PM

I think it depends on where you live and how close either ride is too your location. It's no fun to drive 10 hours to attend a ride once a summer vs an event that takes place every 2 weeks and is closer to home. Look up both websites and see who has a calendar of events closest to you.

NATRC CTR avg about 5 mph Which means the 25 miles you do on Saturday and the 20 miles you do on Sunday will pretty much take all day ( with lunch and vet checks) AERC winners will avg 4-5 hours for 50 miles. So you are moving at a much faster pace.

So do you enjoy speed or challenging obsticles? Each has it's own challenges.

RenosGirl · 10-06-2009, 06:21 PM

it must be different up in canada. Many things what painted horse said was true. However to don't run our horses to the ground (not meant to sound rude or anything) but it is the first one to finish but also the first one to get there horse's pulse down wins.

My first race I walked the whole thing and it was a 30 mile one and I finished it in I think 4 hours

theoldbear · 10-07-2009, 10:17 AM

I've helped put on a competitive trail ride or two, and an endurance ride. The endurance ride is a race! And frankly, I found the endurance riders much more "competitive" (almost cut-throat) than the "competitive trail riders."

In "Competitive" as it happens here in Florida, grooming, conditioning, even condtion of tack, count. I really think it should be called a "Judged" Trail Ride.

After volunteering at both, I decided neither was for me!

Painted Horse · 10-07-2009, 07:18 PM

I hope I didn't imply that endurance riders "run their horses into the ground" They are just as concerened about their horses lasting as anybody, in fact they take great pride in showing off horses that have completed 7, 8, and even 9000 total lifetime miles.

sparkyharky · 11-06-2009, 10:11 AM

The Endurance motto is: To Finish Is To Win. That doesn't mean the horses are not well cared for and loved. It DOES mean that the winning horse MUST be fit to continue! Limited Distance is 25 to 45 miles, anything 50 miles and over is a regular endurance race and it is a race!. I have seen 100 milers complete in 8.5 hours. I work about 6 rides a per year while my horse is still growing. You can only compete limited distance with your horse as a four year old or older. You cannot start riding 50 miles and above until the horse is a five year old. The vet judges really watch the horse's condition on these rides and they have final say as to whether you go on or not. The endurance racers I know are more than willing to help and give advice. I was at a ride once where one of the riders got lost on the trail and they sent a crew looking for this rider. We didn't go to bed until the rider was found safe on the trail. I prefer trail riding to showing any day of the week.

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09-24-2009, 08:44 PM
eventergirl09 Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 143	Competitive Trail riding???? Does anyone know anything about competitive trail riding? Is it like endurance? Would an eventing horse be able to do it? How is it judged? Do you win money or is it a just for fun kinda thing? Any information anyone knows would be awesome __________________ A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart, and wins with its character. ~ Tessio

09-24-2009, 08:51 PM
RenosGirl Long Yearling Join Date: May 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 1,251	I have done endurance before and I have been told that it is pretty much the same thing. You wouldn't win money but they would give you like a bucket of sweet feed or something, and then it will just go down from there. You are not judged your horse is. Like you are vetted twice during the race and once before you start. If you have any questions just pm me so i can give better answers. __________________ Go and love your babies today, and everyday...you never know when it could be the last time.

09-24-2009, 09:58 PM
Painted Horse Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 21	I used to do a LOT of CTR and even sponsored a CTR for several years. There are several organizations that put on CTR and each has their own rules. i am familar with NATRC so I will speak from what I know of their rules. CTR is different from and Endurance Race. Endurance is a Race. Simple put 1st horse to the finish line wins. Doesn't matter how you get there. Ride the horse, run along side the horse or get bucked off, if you cross the finish line first you win. ( if your horse has reasonable recoveries, you can't run the horse to death). Endurance also gives out an award for Best Conditioned horse. so two awards. Everybody else is just competing with themselves to complete the ride. And the slogan is " To Finish is to Win". Endurance advocates keep track of their miles complete, not neccesarly their win ribbons. Endurance rides come in Limited ( 25 miles ) and regular 50 mile races that need to be completed in less than 12 hours. Around here most of the winners complette the 50 in 4to 5 hours. There are also the 100 mile endurance events like the Tevas. CTR is more like a Road Rally. Finish too fast or too slow and you are out of the game. You have to be able to rate you horse speed through out the ride. Every horse competing has to complete the trail with in the alloted time, Usually a 15 minute window. You have to ride the horse when ever it is progressing down the trail. No running along side the horse. Hence each horse will complete the same distance in relatively the same amount of time, while carrying a rider the entire distance. So the judges can compare horses on a apples to apples basis. A horse whose rider got off and jogged alongside the horse for 20 miles will not be as tired as a horse that carried the rider the entire 25 miles. They have two judges. A vet judge who job is to mainly watch the horse. It's conditioning, how well it recovers etc. And a horsemanship judge that will judge your horsemanship skils and how well your horse responds to those skills. Everybody starts with 100 points and points are deducted if you fail certain checks. ie horses heart rate is too high at the check point. horse has a sore back after the ride. CTR is usually 45-50 miles in length, spread over two days. So maybe 25 miles on Saturday and 20 miles on Sunday. They have a Novice, Competitive Pleasure and Open class and Lightweight and Heavy divisons in each class. Most CTR events are weekend events. You check in friday afternoon and they start watching you from that moment on. The CTR is over sunday afternoon and they stop watching you as you check your horse out for the final check out. You are judged on camping with your horse. handling the horse in hand, ie lunging for the judge, judged mounting ( does your horse stand still for the mount). Some of the judging is out in the open. A judge may ask you to open a gate from horseback or to sidepass over to hang a coat on a tree branch. Or they may be hidden such as a judge in the bushes watching you cross a creek or a series of blow down logs with out you knowing you are being watched. Here in the Mountain States the judges try to use as many natural obsticles as possible. The vet judge will look at your horse at check in. He will note how the horse moves, any nicks or rock bites on his legs, his gut sounds and pulse and respiration at resting rates. He will then look at the horse 3-4 times during each day and compare his findings to what he saw of the horse before he started teh event.. One of the vet checks is back in camp with the saddle off to see if the horse is stiff or sore from the days work or showing any lameness.. No artificial items can be used to help the horse. ie leg wraps to prevent filling. lintiment for sore legs or back. A good trail horse should know how to take care of himself through out a ride and be conditioned so he does not need those aids. I learned a LOT about my horse by competing in CTR events. And while I don't compete any longer, I still remember how to take care of my horse on a trail ride. It's a great sport, I'm sure you will enjoy it. Google NATRC and look at their calendar and see if they have an event near you.

09-25-2009, 05:53 PM
eventergirl09 Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 143	Thanks for all the info. It was really helpful __________________ A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart, and wins with its character. ~ Tessio

09-27-2009, 04:55 PM
eventergirl09 Halter broke Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 143	Would you consider endurance more fun or competive trail riding..I would like going long distance (I wouldn't run my horse down though) just me, maybe a friend, my horse and the forest/mountains/open. __________________ A horse gallops with its lungs, perseveres with its heart, and wins with its character. ~ Tessio

09-27-2009, 07:55 PM
Harmonyhill* Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 269	In the past, I have done several competive rides and have found them to be s-l-o-w! I found myself having to waste time or I would be docked for coming in too soon. I think that endurance would be more my thing And yes, your eventing horse would be able to do a competive ride! I did enjoy them and learned alot, the people that did the competive rides were a very friendly group and were always willing to help or answer questions. You should give them a try! __________________ Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain.

09-27-2009, 10:14 PM
Painted Horse Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 21	I think it depends on where you live and how close either ride is too your location. It's no fun to drive 10 hours to attend a ride once a summer vs an event that takes place every 2 weeks and is closer to home. Look up both websites and see who has a calendar of events closest to you. NATRC CTR avg about 5 mph Which means the 25 miles you do on Saturday and the 20 miles you do on Sunday will pretty much take all day ( with lunch and vet checks) AERC winners will avg 4-5 hours for 50 miles. So you are moving at a much faster pace. So do you enjoy speed or challenging obsticles? Each has it's own challenges.

10-06-2009, 06:21 PM
RenosGirl Long Yearling Join Date: May 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 1,251	it must be different up in canada. Many things what painted horse said was true. However to don't run our horses to the ground (not meant to sound rude or anything) but it is the first one to finish but also the first one to get there horse's pulse down wins. My first race I walked the whole thing and it was a 30 mile one and I finished it in I think 4 hours __________________ Go and love your babies today, and everyday...you never know when it could be the last time.

10-07-2009, 10:17 AM
theoldbear Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Arcadia, Florida Posts: 771	I've helped put on a competitive trail ride or two, and an endurance ride. The endurance ride is a race! And frankly, I found the endurance riders much more "competitive" (almost cut-throat) than the "competitive trail riders." In "Competitive" as it happens here in Florida, grooming, conditioning, even condtion of tack, count. I really think it should be called a "Judged" Trail Ride. After volunteering at both, I decided neither was for me!

10-07-2009, 07:18 PM
Painted Horse Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 21	I hope I didn't imply that endurance riders "run their horses into the ground" They are just as concerened about their horses lasting as anybody, in fact they take great pride in showing off horses that have completed 7, 8, and even 9000 total lifetime miles.

11-06-2009, 10:11 AM
sparkyharky Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 836	The Endurance motto is: To Finish Is To Win. That doesn't mean the horses are not well cared for and loved. It DOES mean that the winning horse MUST be fit to continue! Limited Distance is 25 to 45 miles, anything 50 miles and over is a regular endurance race and it is a race!. I have seen 100 milers complete in 8.5 hours. I work about 6 rides a per year while my horse is still growing. You can only compete limited distance with your horse as a four year old or older. You cannot start riding 50 miles and above until the horse is a five year old. The vet judges really watch the horse's condition on these rides and they have final say as to whether you go on or not. The endurance racers I know are more than willing to help and give advice. I was at a ride once where one of the riders got lost on the trail and they sent a crew looking for this rider. We didn't go to bed until the rider was found safe on the trail. I prefer trail riding to showing any day of the week. __________________ In Loving Memory of my mother: Leona T. Harkenreader September 19, 1936 to November 23, 2007. You are missed!