Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: RE: [RC] Number of horses and riders in France

I think you are wrong and make a confusion between FEI rides and others.

 

In Europe, only rides over 100 kms are FEI. Emerging european countries organize FEI rides on lower distance, but these rides shouldn't be FEI rides, this is just bullshit, so let's not consider that.

 

So in the 'traditional endurance european countries' - nice _expression_ - other rides are NATIONAL RIDES. Distances are generally 20km (no need for a license), 30km (depends from country to country), 40km to 60km (2 loops), 60 to 90kms (3 loops). Most of the time, in lower distances (20, 40, 60) horses do not do a mass start, but run against the chrono.

National Rides are sanctioned by the NF' regulation of the country, so there can be differences, but most of the regulations are similar.

 

The 6000 riders in France are real endurance riders. OK, most of them just own one horse and do not compete at the highest FEI level, but nevertheless most of them already have done 60km rides.

 

In some european countries one can find alternative organizations beside the Equestrian Federations organizing endurance rides not sanctined by their NF. Maybe some 10% more riders, I don't know actually.

 

We don't have the multi-days rides like you guys and this is too bad because this is nice to bring new horses. 

Leonard, Belgium

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From: Linda Marins [mailto:coldeye22@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 5:11 PM
To: LIESENS Leonard (COMM); ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] Number of horses and riders in France

OK, I understand.  Next question:

 

The short version of the question is:  In France and Belgium, is

FEI and *endurance* riding the only organized trail riding

competition event that there is?  Is it pretty much the "only

game in town?"

 

The long version of the question is:

 

When you give the 6500 approximate figure, does that represent

pretty much everyone riding their horses over trails for, say 20+

miles in organized, competitive events?  Or is it just a small upper

strata, with a much larger pyramid of riders and horses below that

participate in organized, multi-mile trail riding competitions, but who

never get counted because they don't ride FEI?

 

In the US, if one is interested in "trail riding" in a competitive way,

there are lots of different organizations that do that.  There are

little local clubs of less than 100 members who might hold a

"judged pleasure ride" (not to mention a "poker run" or a "turkey

hunt.")  There are regional organizations that hold competitions, but

under different types of rules (New England Horse and Trail--

whoever rides the most miles in a year gets a prize;

NACTR--competitive trail, with manners and ability to negotiate

objects part of the judging; ECTRA--competitive trail, but judged

on condition of the horse only; AERC--endurance, first over the

line that passes a vet check wins; but there are all sorts

of others as well).  I suppose FEI-endurance is a whole new tier.

 

I'm trying to figure out whether we're counting the same thing.

One of the hallmarks of the American equine industry is how

extraordinarily heterogeneous and balkanized it is:  thousands

upon thousands of clubs organized around breeds or disciplines

or interests or racing--none of whom have the slightest thing to

do with one another, or any interest in any of the other

organizations.

 

Linda Marins

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Leonard.Liesens@xxxxxxxxxxxx

The whole process is managed by the Federation according to its regulation. Nothing related with government. It is the same with other disciplines.

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From: Linda Marins [mailto:coldeye22@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Is the license issued by the *governments*?  Or is there an association...