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{"PageID":1385,"ThemeCode":null,"BlogInfo":{"Breadcrumbs":[{"Name":"News","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News"}],"ID":46,"SpaceID":2,"Name":"News","Description":"Key news items","Author":{"ID":14,"Name":"John Hudson","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"CreationTime":"18/11/2019 11:00","Tags":[],"URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News","IsWatching":false,"CanWatch":false,"CanPostBlogEntry":false},"EntryInfo":{"Breadcrumbs":[{"Name":"News","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News"},{"Name":"Your First 32km Endurance Ride","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+32km+Endurance+Ride"}],"ID":1385,"Name":"Your First 32km Endurance Ride","Abstract":"Thinking about your first 32km endurance ride? Discover how most horses are more capable than you think, how to prepare sensibly, and what really matters on the day – steady pace, good planning, and enjoying the journey together.","ImageUrl":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Client/Images/Cms/Esther_Groen.jpg","ThumbnailImageUrl":"","Author":{"ID":23042,"MembershipNumber":null,"Username":null,"Forename":"Esther","Surname":"Groen","Name":"Esther Groen","Handle":"Esther","CompanyName":null,"FamilyGroupName":null,"Branch":{"ID":8,"Name":"Heart of England","Description":"Warks, Shrops, Staffs, Worcs, B\u0027ham, W Midlands \u0026 Coventry","Icon":null,"Colour":"rgb(16, 185, 159)","Depth":0,"Indent":0,"CanBeSelected":true,"Sections":null,"Label":"\u003cspan class=\u0022label label-default\u0022 style=\u0022background-color: rgb(16, 185, 159)\u0022\u003eHeart of England\u003c/span\u003e","LabelLarge":"\u003cspan class=\u0022label label-default label-lg\u0022 style=\u0022background-color: rgb(16, 185, 159)\u0022\u003eHeart of England\u003c/span\u003e"},"IsLoggedInUser":false,"ImageUrl":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Client/Images/Mugshots/fso4pvds9rcj.jpg"},"IsDraft":false,"PublicationDate":"Friday, 16 January 2026","CreationTime":"16/01/2026 17:55","CommentCount":0,"Tags":["new riders","beginners","getting started","training","horse care","development"],"URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+32km+Endurance+Ride","CanAdmin":false},"Content":"\u003cp\u003eTaking your first step into endurance riding can feel like a big moment. For many riders, the question isn’t \u003cem\u003ewhether\u003c/em\u003e they’d like to try it – it’s \u003cem\u003ehow do I know my horse is fit enough?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA 32km (20-mile) ride sounds like a long way, and it’s completely normal to feel a little daunted. The good news? With sensible preparation and the right approach on the day, most healthy horses with a basic level of fitness are perfectly capable of completing this distance. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs 32km \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ereally achievable? \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most reassuring things about endurance riding is that distance itself is rarely the limiting factor. Speed – and \u003cem\u003ewhere\u003c/em\u003e that speed is used – is what really matters. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA steady, continuous trot, with some walking where needed and the odd short canter, will usually see you travelling at around 9km/h. That’s a comfortable, sustainable pace and well within the requirements of an introductory endurance ride. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou don’t need to trot every step, and you certainly don’t need to rush. In endurance, riding thoughtfully and conserving your horse’s energy is far more important than going fast. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fit does my horse need to be?\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow much preparation you’ll need depends largely on what your horse is already doing. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHorses in regular work\u003c/strong\u003e – those working four or five times a week, combining schooling, hacking and perhaps some jumping – will usually already have the accumulated fitness needed for a 32km ride. \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHorses in lighter work\u003c/strong\u003e – for example, ridden once a week for short schooling sessions – will need a more structured build-up before attempting this distance. \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImportantly, you don’t need to have ridden 32km at home to be ready for a 32km endurance ride. Longer hacks of up to two hours are useful, not just for fitness, but to help your horse get used to wearing tack for longer periods and to reduce the risk of rubs. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo put things into perspective: \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eA 45-minute schooling session with a good amount of trot and canter can already cover close to 10km. \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eA steady hack will usually be a little slower, as we tend to walk and chat more – which is no bad thing! \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTraining sensibly\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you do need to build fitness, focus on: \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eGradually increasing the \u003cstrong\u003edistance\u003c/strong\u003e you ride \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThen gently increasing your \u003cstrong\u003eaverage speed\u003c/strong\u003e within that distance \u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery horse is an individual. Heart size, lung capacity, muscle type and thermoregulation all vary, which is why an individual approach to training is so important. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGround rules for \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003efirst-timers \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few simple principles can make a big difference on the day: \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1. Conserve energy\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eTransitions, hills, faster speeds and excitement all use extra energy. Keep your horse calm, maintain a steady rhythm, and slow down on hills. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2. Warm up and cool down properly\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eA good warm-up gets the cardiovascular system working efficiently and helps conserve energy. If you can’t warm up beforehand, start the ride with a brisk walk and steady trot before introducing any canter. Cooling down afterwards is just as important. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3. Feed is your friend\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFeed your horse before and during tacking up, and again after the final vet inspection. A small snack during the ride won’t do any harm either. Don’t worry if your horse doesn’t drink much during or after this distance – horses that have eaten well will already have a large reservoir of water in their gut. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA final word\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than anything, remember that endurance riding should be enjoyable for both you and your horse. Your first 32km ride isn’t about proving anything – it’s about learning, building confidence, and discovering just how capable your partnership really is. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’d like more support, Endurance GB offers access to qualified coaches, local group training opportunities, and a welcoming community ready to help you take your next step into the sport. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e_________________ \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the author\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis article was written by \u003cstrong\u003eEsther Groen\u003c/strong\u003e, an international endurance rider, trainer and coach, and the founder of \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\u0022https://groenequestrian.co.uk/\u0022\u003eGroen Equestrian\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e. Esther has competed and coached across Europe and is known for her calm, horse-centred approach to training, with a strong focus on welfare, longevity and enjoyment of the sport. Through her coaching, clinics and online education, she supports riders at every stage of their endurance journey – from first rides through to international level. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","HasCommentsThread":true,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"Your First 32km Endurance Ride"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+32km+Endurance+Ride"},{"ID":"og:description","Name":"Thinking about your first 32km endurance ride? Discover how most horses are more capable than you think, how to prepare sensibly, and what really matters on the day – steady pace, good planning, and enjoying the journey together."},{"ID":"og:image","Name":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Client/Images/Cms/Esther_Groen.jpg"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"description","Name":"Thinking about your first 32km endurance ride? Discover how most horses are more capable than you think, how to prepare sensibly, and what really matters on the day – steady pace, good planning, and enjoying the journey together."}]},"PageURL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+32km+Endurance+Ride","Comments":[],"UpdatedComments":[],"LastViewTime":null,"CanEdit":false,"CanPublish":false,"CanComment":false,"CanReadComments":false,"CanModerateComments":false}
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