Welcome to Endurance

Endurance is a long-distance competition against the clocktesting the speed and endurance of a horse and challenging the rider over their effective use of pace, thorough knowledge of their horse’s capabilities and ability to cross all kinds of terrain. Although the rides are timed, the emphasis is on finishing in good condition rather than coming in first.

Endurance started as a sport in the United States, where the US cavalry tested its horses on a five-day, 300-mile (483km) ride, with each horse carrying over 200lbs (91kg). It did not become a competitive sport until the 1950s, when Wendell Robie traced the Pony Express route from Nevada to California in under 24 hours.

Each rider must safely manage the stamina and fitness of their horse and each course is divided into phases – in principle at least every 40km – with a compulsory halt for a veterinary inspection, or ‘vet gate’, after each. Each horse must be presented for inspection within a set time of reaching each ‘vet gate’, which determines whether it is fit to continue.

Arabian horses dominate the Endurance discipline though the most successful rider to date is Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton on her French-born gelding Nobby.

The premier Endurance rides are the FEI World Equestrian Games™, staged every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle; the FEI World Endurance Championships, held in every Olympic year; and the biannual FEI European Endurance Championships.

Latest Department Updates

  • 18 Jan 2016
    Endurance - Message from the Liaison Office to NF’s

    Dear National Federations,

    This is to remind that the 2016 Equine Prohibited Substances List became effective on 1 January 2016 and is available in PDF format for download from the FEI Clean Sport website or directly here. The concept of Specified Substances has also been introduced from 1 January 2016. Substances that fall into the category of Specified Substances have been accordingly highlighted in the Equine Prohibited Substances List.

    The review process for the 2017 Equine Prohibited Substances List changes is now underway and details regarding this process are explained here

    We invite all National Federations, veterinarians, athletes, grooms, judges or other interested parties to submit their suggestions for consideration by the List Group in preparation of the 2017 List. 

    Please use the FEI Prohibited List Suggestions Form and complete all fields, including information regarding the substance, its use, application and specific reasoning for inclusion or change of category as applicable. All suggested changes should be received by Caterina Termine no later than 21 March 2016 for consideration during 2016.

  • 13 Jan 2016
    Endurance - REMINDER - Participation to 2016 Championships
    This is to clarify the FEI rules concerning the participation of Young Riders, Juniors and Children in FEI Endurance Championships.
                   
    Two articles of the FEI Rules and Regulations are relevant in this regard:
     
    A)          Article 124.1 and 124.2 of the FEI General Regulations:
     
    1.    Athletes of the appropriate age may take part in FEI Competitions and FEI Championships of more than one (1) Category for Young Riders, Juniors and Pony Riders, but in each Discipline only in one (1) of these FEI Championships in any one (1) calendar year.
     
    2.    Athletes may take part in FEI Senior Competitions and Championships from the beginning of the year they reach the age of (eighteen) 18 but they may only take part either in a Junior or a Young Rider or a FEI Championship for Seniors in the same Discipline in any calendar year. Further exceptions regarding age limits are set forth in the Sport Rules of the relevant Disciplines.
     
    B)          Article 815.1 of the FEI Endurance Rules:
     
    1.  Any person from the year in which he/she reaches his/her 14th birthday and who is duly authorised by his/her National Federation is eligible to take part in all Endurance Rides (CEIs, CEIOs and Championships – Senior and Junior/Young Rider).
     
    From the above mentioned articles it shall be concluded that:
     
    -      Athletes of the appropriate age (either Young Riders, Juniors or Children) can participate in FEI Endurance Championships ONLY in ONE of these categories (either Young Riders, Juniors or Children) in ONE calendar year;
    -      If a Young Rider or a Junior or a Children has participated in a FEI Endurance Championships in any of these categories in one calendar year, they CANNOT participate in other categories in the same year, including the category of Seniors.
    -      Article 815.1 of the FEI Endurance Rules ONLY sets an exception to the age limit to participate in FEI Endurance rides, subject to the conditions expressed in such article; but DOES NOT ALLOW to participate in FEI Endurance Championships in more than one category in one calendar year.
     
  • 18 Dec 2015
    Endurance - REMINDER - Different appointment of Officials for CEI's on the same day

    REMINDER - Endurance Update of the 09.09.2015

    Dear Endurance Officials,

    In order to gain experience and speed up the promotion process, some officials cumulate roles during a day for different CEI categories at the same venue.

    This kind of practice has its advantages, but also disadvantages. While it’s true that an Official gains experience in different roles, it’s also true that he/she doesn’t take decisions alone as there will be other senior officials involved in the decision making process which is an integral part of the learning process.

    Therefore, in order to have a better grasp on the promotions to be approved by the FEI Endurance Department, the FEI Endurance Technical Committee have approved for trial period of six months, that requested promotions be approved only if the PGJ of the higher star ranking event of that day, makes a recommendation for the promotion.

    The trial period will run from  1 January to 1 July 2016. Should the trial prove efficient and appropriate then it will be continued, and if not, other measures will be sought for the evaluation of promotions.

    Endurance needs better equipped officials, and in order to do achieve this and increase the level of responsibility, a better evaluation system needs to be put in place.

    Before the event starts the PGJ will receive a form to be completed and returned signed to the FEI Endurance Department. Without this form duly received at the FEI, no promotion will be possible based on events were officials have officiated in the same day in more than one CEI.

    Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the FEI Endurance team.

    With kind regards,

    Manuel Bandeira de Mello

    The Evaluation form for FEI Endurance Officials can be found here after:

    http://www.fei.org/fei/your-role/officials/endurance/reports

  • 18 Dec 2015
    Endurance - Best Wishes for 2016 !

    The whole FEI Endurance Department send his best wishes to all his stakeholders and look forward the 2016 coming season! 

     

  • 17 Dec 2015
    Endurance - 2016 Notes for Guidance

    We are pleased to announce you that the 2016 Notes for Guidance for Endurance are now available on our website:

    http://www.fei.org/fei/regulations/endurance 
  • 17 Dec 2015
    Endurance - 2016 championships / qualification system
    The 2016 Endurance Qualification System Championships are now published here
     
    The exact dates of qualifications will be known  once the schedule is approved and published.
    The qualification system will then be update. 
  • 14 Dec 2015
    Endurance - FEI World Endurance Rankings 2016
    As stated in the FEI Endurance Rules for 2016, Annex 4, the FEI World Endurance Rankings (for Seniors and Young Riders) are defined for a period of time that spans from 1 January until 31 December of the calendar year. 
     
    At the end of the calendar year, athletes that have incurred no Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) violation, Penalty Points or Yellow Warning Cards during the calendar year will be awarded additional bonus ranking points, as follows:
     
    - No EADCMR violation: 250 points
    - No Penalty Points: 200 points
    - No Yellow Warning Card: 150 points
     
    The aim of this new points system is to reward athletes that comply with the EADCMRs, that take horse welfare seriously (no penalty points) and demonstrate good sportsmanship (no Yellow Warning Cards) in competitions - athletes can earn up to 600 additional bonus ranking points for the year by complying.
     
    We now inform all athletes that according to Annex 4, the top three athletes in the FEI World Endurance Rankings will be awarded with a CHF 10,000 prize pot*, split as follows:
     
    - CHF 5,000 world number one 
    - CHF 3,000 world number two 
    - CHF 2,000 world number three
     
    Plus the awards stated in Annex 4 of the FEI Endurance Rules 2016.
     
    (* The PM and Awards will be awarded at the end of the calendar year, so in 2017)
  • 3 Dec 2015
    Endurance – 2016 Calendar
     
    The 2016 FEI Endurance Calendar is now approved by the FEI General Secretary. 
     
    The 2016 Endurance Championships are the following ones:
     
    The Endurance Calendar has progressed as follow:
     
    *Please note that the number of shows is the number of venues, not the number of competitions. 
     
  • 1 Dec 2015
    Endurance - 2016 Veterinary regulations

    Please find here the link to the 2016 FEI Veterinary Regulations.

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