Described as the ultimate challenge, Endurance riding involves extreme distances across breath-taking landscapes. Intense and tactical, the mental and physical demands of the sport provide a test of mind as much as body, with athlete and equine welfare paramount at all times.

2018 FEI Endurance facts and figures

Top 3 NFs with events in Endurance:

Greatest increase since 2017: France with +23 events

Top 3 NFs with registered athletes in Endurance:

Greatest increase since 2017: Iran with +73 athletes

Top 3 NFs with registered horses in Endurance:

Greatest increase since 2017: United Arab Emirates with +964 horses.

Major events in 2018

It was a complex year for Endurance, with the FEI World Championship event cancelled in Tryon (USA), and issues at the European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Pisa (ITA). At the FEI General Assembly 2018, the Endurance Temporary Committee was set up by the FEI Board to address the challenges and concerns in the discipline. The Committee’s remit was to conduct a full review of the rules in order to identify the most effective way of bringing the discipline back to its original roots of Endurance riding as opposed to Endurance racing, with horse welfare and horsemanship at its core. The roadmap would see the proposed new rules at the FEI General Assembly 2019 following an in-depth consultative process with National Federations and stakeholders.

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FEI World Equestrian Games™, Tryon (USA)

These were difficult FEI World Equestrian Games™ for Endurance. Confusion at the start resulted in the ride being restarted over a 120-kilometre course, but when heavy afternoon rain resulted in a potentially dangerously high combination of heat and humidity, and also affected the conditions out on the trail, the difficult decision was taken to cancel the remainder of the competition.

The FEI tasked the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU), which was onsite at Tryon, to do a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the false start. The findings of the investigation, which included interviews with officials, volunteers, Organising Committee and all other relevant personnel, were presented at the FEI General Assembly and published as part of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 wrap-up here.

FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Horses, Samorin (SVK)

In Samorin, seven-year-old horses from all over the world convened to showcase their talent over a 120km ride at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Horses. Chestnut mare Gelny came in as the new champion under the saddle of Mohd Ahmed Hassan Al Abbar for the United Arab Emirates. The pair were closely followed by Qatari riders Khalid Sanad A.s Al Nuaim on Demonjoi Al Shaqab, and Atta Mohammad P. Mohammad on Aiz Shaqab, who respectively took silver and bronze.

Podium