I'd agree with Wendy's comments. I have a 3/4 Arab (Polish--not into all the
crosses and stuff, sorry but that just doesn't get me down the trail) mare
who turns five this year and we'll only be doing NATRC and IAHA Competitive
rides for this season. This mare is a little excitable and the slower pace
will be much better for her til she's more experienced.
Liked Wendy's comment about the starts. I finally had the nerve to start a
50 when they said "Go" last fall (usually wait til everyone else is on their
way, don't like to go that fast!) I had butterflies in my stomach while I
was riding my Morgan mare around at a walk waiting for 6:00 a.m. to arrive.
There is a huge "rush" in starting in a pack of horse in the dark at an
extended trot/canter down a fire road following glow lights. Definitely not
for the faint of heart or on a horse that you don't have a great deal of
faith in!
It sounds like you might do better to try an NATRC ride first. If you do
decide to go on an AERC ride, try a 25-miler and leave after the first group
has galloped off. In my experience an AERC 25-miler is generally faster
paced than even an Open NATRC ride, but that may have to do with where I
live. In my part of California the rides can be quite hilly/mountainous, so
the rides are usually timed about 4.5 - 5 MPH, although this may not be true
in your neck of the woods (all you NATRC riders out there, I'm getting better
@ my disclaimers!). On AERC you have to maintain 5+ MPH no matter what the
terrain to finish in the time allowed.
If you can, time yourself on a pre-measured distance and see how fast you
normally ride. If nothing else, figure out how far it is around your arena
and count how many times you go around at various speeds in an hour (or half
hour for that matter.)
Good luck.
Sue