Once upon a time (in 2024) at an endurance ride camp far, far away (in Maine), a group of riders began to contemplate bringing back a CTR or endurance ride to the CT/RI area. Somehow, I (Rob) was conned into agreeing to be co-ride manager if the event was to be held. And thus began the investigation into venues, ride vets, facility costs, etc. When the costs were determined, we considered reasonable entry fees and calculated how many riders we needed to break even on the event. And then we looked at how many riders were attending events already being held in the region. The brutal truth is, we don’t need more rides, we need more riders.
Join me for Distance Riding 101, an Introduction to Distance Riding. Maybe you are curious about distance riding, but don’t know where to start. Maybe you want to know what this sport is all about. Maybe you are tired of the short winter days and just want to gather with horsey folk on a Zoom call. Whatever, your motivation, you are welcome.
Join us for a FREE 4-part online Introduction to Distance Riding series designed to take the mystery—and the intimidation—out of distance riding. Whether you’re a casual trail rider, a seasoned horse owner, or someone who’s curious about endurance and competitive trail rides, this series will show you what distance riding is about. From AERC endurance rides to ECTRA competitive trail rides, we’ll break down the rules, expectations, and culture in a clear, welcoming way—no prior competition experience required.
Across four engaging sessions, you’ll learn how to prepare your horse, condition safely, understand vet checks, manage electrolytes, choose tack, camp comfortably at rides, and walk into your first event feeling confident and informed. Distance riding is about partnership, horsemanship, and finishing with a healthy horse—and you don’t need a special breed, fancy equipment, or years of experience to get started. If you’ve ever wondered “Could I do this?”—this series has your answer.
Each session will be offered twice starting in February to comprise a 4-part series. Go to Distance Riding 101 to see the schedule and get the Zoom link. Presentation material, packing lists, and other things will be added to the page as the series progresses.