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Types of Endurance Rides

THE MERLIN TRAINING RIDE

Usually run within the Branch/Centre/Area and is of shorter distance than the qualifying

or competition rides and so are an ideal introduction to the sport of Endurance for the young, inexperienced or novice rider.

Venue	Organised by Pony Club Branches/Centres/E.G.B
Distance	Between 8km and 15km
Speed	No faster than 12km per hour
Eligibility	All riders must be at least eight years old on the day of the ride. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult (18 years and over) on horseback with a maximum of 2 children per adult.
Vets Inspection and Heart Rate	Although not necessary for this level, they may be taken by an appointed official for the competitor's information.
Awards	Those successfully completing this ride receive The Pony Club Merlin rosette.
Entry Fees	At the discretion of the organisers.

COMPETITION and QUALIFYING RIDES

Kestrel/Novice Qualifiers

Where E.G.B. is mentioned please read S.E.R.C. or I.L.D.R.A. instead if you are from Scotland or N.Ireland.

Venue	i) Organised by Pony Club Branches/Centres ii) An E.G.B. local group training ride of the correct distance. Many of these rides do not have a vet/official on site to check heart rates/soundness or an official to time the ride. If this is the case then these rides can not be used as qualifiers for the championships unless your Branch/Area has organised an official to stand in. iii) An E.G.B National Ride of the correct distance.
Distance	Between 16km and 25km
Speed	8-15km per hour. (optimum speed 10kph)
Eligibility	All riders must be at least eight years old on the day of the ride. Riders under the age of 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult (18 years and over) on horseback with a maximum of two children to one adult. A combination of horse and rider who have ridden distances of 35km or more in an E.G.B. national ride may ride at this level but would not be able to qualify for the Novice Championships and would not be eligible for any prizes except the ride completion award.
Vets inspection	Horses taking part in a Kestrel Ride need to have their heart rate taken and be trotted up for soundness before the ride and within 30 minutes of finishing. This will be in front of the official vet except for rides run by a Pony Branch/Centre when an approved official can be used instead. Lameness before or after the ride will result in disqualification as will a heart rate of over 64 bpm.
Entry Fees	At rides run by Pony Club Branches/Centres this is left to the discretion of the Branch/Centre. At EGB rides Pony Club Members may enter at the same fee as club members and this will give them temporary day membership. Mounted supervisors will also pay the normal day members entry fee.
Qualification	The finishing speed and heart rate must fall within the shaded part of the Novice Performance chart. When the combination of horse and rider has accomplished this twice then they will have qualified for the Pony Club Novice Endurance Championships. It is up to the Member to register their qualification with Pony Club Headquarters. See further notes.
Awards	All those finishing between 8-15 kph and with a heart rate of 64 bpm or below will receive the Pony Club Kestrel Rosette.
Results	If you wish to gain a result for the competition please use the Novice Performance chart where a combination of heart rate and speed will give faults. If there is an equality of points then the competitor who presents in the shortest time to the final inspection will be successful.

Osprey/Intermediate Qualifiers

Venue	i) Organised by Pony Club Branches/Centres. ii) An E.G.B local group training ride of the correct distance. Many of these rides do not have a vet/official on site to check heart rates/soundness or an official to time the ride. If this is the case then these rides can not be used as qualifiers for the championships unless your branch/area has organised an official to stand in. iii) An E.G.B National Ride of the correct distance.
Distance	Between 26 and 35km.
Speed	8-15km per hour. (optimum speed 11kph)
Eligibility	All riders must be at least eight years old on the date of the ride. Riders under the age of 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult (18years or over) on horseback with a maximum of two children to one adult. Members under the age of 13 years must have completed two Kestrel rides before they compete at this level. A combination of horse and rider who have ridden distances of 43km or more in E.G.B national rides may ride at this level but would not be eligible for any prizes and would not be able to qualify for the Intermediate Championships.
Vets Inspection	As for Novice Rides
Entry Fees	As for Novice Rides
Qualification	The finishing speed and heart rate must fall within the shaded part of the Intermediate Performance chart. When the combination of horse and rider has accomplished this twice then they will have qualified for the Pony Club Intermediate Endurance Championships. It is up to the member to register their qualification with Pony Club Headquarters. See further notes.
Awards	All those finishing between 8-15km/hour and a with a heart rate of 64bpm or below will receive a Pony Club Osprey Rosette
Results	To gain a result for the competition please use the Intermediate Performance chart where a combination of heart beat and speed will give faults. If there is an equality of points then the competitor who presents his horse earliest to the inspection will be successful.

Eagle / Open Qualifiers

Venue	i) Organised by Org i) Organised by Pony Club Branches/Centres/Areas. ii) An E.G.B local group training ride of the correct distance. Many of these rides do not have a vet/official on site to check heart rates/soundness or an official to time the ride. If this is the case then these rides can not be used as qualifiers for the championships unless your Branch/Centre/Area has organised an official to stand in. iii) An E.G.B National ride of the correct distance
Distance	Between 36 and 50km per hour
Speed	8-15km hour. Optimum speed 12km per hour.
Eligibility	All riders must be at least eight years old on the day of the ride. Riders under the age of 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or over) on horseback with a maximum of two children to one adult. Members under the age of 13 years must have completed two Kestrel rides before they compete at this level. Horses who have competed in a ER or gated (S.E.R.C) ride are not eligible.
Vets Inspection	As for Kestrel and Osprey
Entry Fees	As for Kestrel and Osprey
Qualification	The finishing speed and heart rate must fall within the shaded part of the Open Performance chart. When the combination of horse and rider has accomplished this twice then they will have qualified for the Pony Club Open Endurance Championships. It is the responsibility of the Member to register their qualification with Pony Club Headquarters. See further notes
Awards	All of those finishing between 8-15km/hour and with a heart rate of 64 bpm or below will receive The Pony Club Eagle Rosette.
Results	To gain a result for the competition please use the Open Performance Chart where a combination of Heart Beat and speed will give faults. Of there is an equality of points then the competitor who presents their horse earliest to the inspection will be successful.