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{"PageID":1507,"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 Ride: Where Your Endurance Journey Begins","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+Ride+Where+Your+Endurance+Journey+Begins"}],"ID":1507,"Name":"Your First Ride: Where Your Endurance Journey Begins","Abstract":"New to endurance riding? Discover how Pleasure Rides, Foundation and Novice GERs can help you and your horse build confidence, fitness and experience in one of the UK’s most welcoming equestrian sports.\n","ImageUrl":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Client/Images/Cms/Jane_Atack.jpg","ThumbnailImageUrl":"","Author":{"ID":18512,"MembershipNumber":null,"Username":null,"Forename":"Bella","Surname":"Fricker","Name":"Bella Fricker","Handle":"Bella","CompanyName":null,"FamilyGroupName":null,"Branch":{"ID":3,"Name":"Cromwell","Description":"Northants, Cambridgeshire, Beds \u0026 Hertfordshire","Icon":null,"Colour":"rgb(208, 58, 73)","Depth":0,"Indent":0,"CanBeSelected":true,"Sections":null,"Label":"\u003cspan class=\u0022label label-default\u0022 style=\u0022background-color: rgb(208, 58, 73)\u0022\u003eCromwell\u003c/span\u003e","LabelLarge":"\u003cspan class=\u0022label label-default label-lg\u0022 style=\u0022background-color: rgb(208, 58, 73)\u0022\u003eCromwell\u003c/span\u003e"},"IsLoggedInUser":false,"ImageUrl":null},"IsDraft":false,"PublicationDate":"Thursday, 29 January 2026","CreationTime":"07/05/2026 06:37","CommentCount":0,"Tags":["getting started"],"URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+Ride+Where+Your+Endurance+Journey+Begins","CanAdmin":false},"Content":"\u003cp\u003eThere’s something special about setting out on your first endurance ride. The early-morning buzz at ride base. Horses quietly tacked up beside trailers. Riders chatting over a cup of tea before heading out onto miles of safe, marked countryside tracks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd the best part? You absolutely do not need to be an expert to get started.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Endurance GB, we believe endurance is the sport that suits everybody and every horse. Whether you ride a native pony, a cob, a Thoroughbred or an Arab, there’s a place for you here. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eStart Simple: Pleasure Rides\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor most people, a Pleasure Ride (PR) is the perfect introduction to endurance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese relaxed, non-competitive rides are designed to help you and your horse experience an Endurance GB event without pressure or expectation. Think of it as a fun day out with your horse — safe routes, friendly people and beautiful countryside to explore together.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou don’t even need to commit to full membership straight away. With our \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/JOINING/Pay+as+You+Go+Membership\u0022\u003ePay As You Go (PAYG)\u003c/a\u003e option, you can simply sign up for a ride and give endurance a try before deciding whether you’d like to continue.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePleasure Rides are ideal for:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\nRiders completely new to endurance\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\nYoung or inexperienced horses\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\nNervous riders wanting a supportive atmosphere\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\nAnyone who enjoys hacking and wants a new adventure\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no jumps, no complicated rules and no expectation to race. You simply ride at a sensible pace, enjoy the route and discover what endurance is all about.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany riders finish their first Pleasure Ride wondering why they didn’t try it sooner.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTaking the Next Step: Foundation GERs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce you’ve caught the endurance bug, your next step might be a Foundation Graded Endurance Ride (GER).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is where the sport starts to feel a little more structured, but don’t let that put you off. Foundation rides are specifically designed to help riders learn and progress in a supportive environment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFoundation GERs cover distances of 20–29km and introduce you to some of the key parts of endurance riding, including veterinary inspections before and after your ride.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour horse will be checked by a vet to make sure they’re happy, healthy and fit to ride — because horse welfare is always at the heart of everything we do. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou’ll also ride within a set speed range of 7–13kmph, helping you begin to understand pacing, preparation and fitness management.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor many riders, Foundation level is where confidence really starts to grow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReady to take on your first Foundation ride? \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+Foundation+Ride+What+to+Expect+and+How+to+Enjoy+It\u0022\u003eRead our detailed guide.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReady to Go Further? Novice GERs\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNovice GERs are the next stage of progression, covering distances from 30–50km.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is where you and your horse start building the qualifications needed to move through the sport’s levels. But despite the word “competitive”, the atmosphere remains incredibly supportive. Riders still help each other, share advice and celebrate one another’s achievements.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo progress to Open level:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\nRiders need to complete five Novice GERs\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\nHorses need to complete three Novice GERs\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom there, the doors open to longer-distance riding, including classes up to 90km in a single day or 120km across multiple days.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut there’s no rush.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the best things about endurance is that every journey looks different. Some riders dream of international competition. Others simply love spending a day exploring the countryside with their horse and friends.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are equally valued here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThinking about your first 32km endurance ride? \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+32km+Endurance+Ride\u0022\u003eRead our detailed guide.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou Don’t Need Special Equipment\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the biggest misconceptions about endurance is that you need expensive tack, specialist kit or a particular breed of horse.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou don’t.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost riders begin in the tack they already own. Comfort, safety and horse welfare matter far more than looking the part. You’ll see everything from endurance saddles to GP saddles at rides, and horses of every shape and size taking part successfully. Some tips on \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/What+to+Wear+at+an+Endurance+Ride\u0022\u003ewhat to wear!\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat matters most is building a partnership with your horse and enjoying the journey together.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Sport Built Around Community\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps the thing riders remember most about their first endurance ride is the welcome they receive.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEndurance has a strong community spirit. Whether it’s someone helping you at vetting, explaining how the start works, or cheering you over the finish line, you’ll quickly discover that endurance people genuinely want newcomers to enjoy the sport.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the country, local groups organise rides, training opportunities and social events throughout the season. Wherever you are, there’s likely a friendly group ready to welcome you and your horse. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYour Adventure Starts Here\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery endurance rider started somewhere.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome began with a quiet 16km Pleasure Ride and never imagined they’d one day complete 80km or even 160km. Others simply discovered a new way to enjoy time with their horse.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere’s no pressure to be fast. No pressure to move up the levels. Just the opportunity to explore new places, build confidence and enjoy the partnership you have with your horse.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re aiming for your very first rosette or simply looking for a new adventure together, endurance offers something truly special.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour first ride could be the start of an incredible journey.\u003c/p\u003e","HasCommentsThread":true,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"Your First Endurance Ride | Endurance GB"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+Ride+Where+Your+Endurance+Journey+Begins"},{"ID":"og:description","Name":"New to endurance? Discover how to start with Pleasure Rides, progress to Foundation and Novice GERs, and enjoy a friendly sport built around horse welfare."},{"ID":"og:image","Name":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Client/Images/Cms/Jane_Atack.jpg"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"description","Name":"Start your endurance journey with Endurance GB. Learn about Pleasure Rides, Foundation GERs and Novice GERs, and how to enter your first ride."},{"ID":"keywords","Name":"endurance riding, Endurance GB, first endurance ride, pleasure rides, graded endurance rides, novice endurance, horse riding, long distance riding"}]},"PageURL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Your+First+Ride+Where+Your+Endurance+Journey+Begins","Comments":[],"UpdatedComments":[],"LastViewTime":null,"CanEdit":false,"CanPublish":false,"CanComment":false,"CanReadComments":false,"CanModerateComments":false}
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