ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: [endurance] endurance rides in germany

Re: [endurance] endurance rides in germany

Frank Mechelhoff (fmechelh@germany.micrognosis.com)
Thu, 25 Jan 1996 13:52:34 -0800

Hi,
about endurance riding in germany. The organization for endurance
riding ist the VDD (Verein Deutscher Distanzreiter, address is in
the AERC-homepage).
We have 4 types of rides: Introduction- (up to 40 KM), short (40-59
KM), middle (60-79 KM) and long distance rides (80 and up).
Most rides are Intro- and short distance rides. Only the
Intro-rides are speed-limited. Like you, we have a limitation of
age for the horse. It must be 5 yrs. for limited rides, 6 for short
and middle and 7 yrs for long rides.
Of course, we have vet control, pre-, ride- and final examination 2
hours after for short and middle, the day after for long rides, and
new, the option to early final exam, 30 min after the ride. But
most rides still prefer the next-day examination.
At all checks horses must have pulse 64 within 20 minutes, or they
will be disqualified.
The shorter rides are often organized from local riding clubs, with
amounts of starters 60-80 and more (long rides less). winning tempo
is T3-3,5.
There are about 40 rides with 80 KM or more in germany (organized
from experience riders in general). Most trails are marked, some
not. Most trails are very beautiful, in middle-mountain region,
through nice woods, on public land, often with good footing,
and there are some riders who like it to go without shoes on these
rides. Fee is about 50 $ for 80 KM.
100-miler-rides we only have 3-5 per year, and about 30 horses
experienced in 100-milers. German riders are very careful, and
nobody starts om a 100-miler when he's not shure he can get it. And
on these rides, the vet decisions are often very hard and
discussed.
I think, both are the major issues that we have only a few
100-mile-horses. In addition, in germany only a few breeder have
big enough pastures for breeding really good endurance horses. Most
breeders and riders have their horses always stabled, or not big
enough areas for them.
Nevertheless, endurance is grewing up, and I think, the conditions
will be better sometime.
For arabs, since 1994 endurance is accepted as breed performance
test. Maybe other breeder's organization will follow this example.

Thanks for all who answered to my questions for AERC rules. We have
some people in germany who think that we need a big rulebook for
endurance riding (bigger than the FEI-rulebook) and it never works
with a few simple rules. You gave me the impression that it works
very good.

Thanks for that, Frank