News | 6 February 2025
Introducing The Pony Club Endurance Relay!
Pony Club Members, it’s time to saddle up for something exciting! We’re thrilled to announce The Pony Club Endurance Relays, a brand-new team competition that combines endurance riding, strategy, and teamwork—perfect for those who are ready for a new challenge!
This competition is open to all our Members over the age of 8, and is designed for riders of all experience levels. Whether you’re an eventer, show jumper, or completely new to endurance, this event is a fantastic opportunity to try something different. The goal is to complete a 20km ride at an optimum speed of 12 kph, focusing on riding steadily while keeping your horse calm and relaxed. It’s about strategic riding, not speed—your team’s score is based on a balance of time and heart rate, so it’s a test of both skill and endurance.
Competition Highlights:
- Team Format: Teams of 3-4 Members ride in pairs over the course, emphasising teamwork and strategy.
- Steady Riding: The goal is to ride a close to the optimum speed of 12 kph—going faster won’t give you an advantage as it will increase your horse’s heart rate! The key to success is to finish with a relaxed, calm horse.
- All Experience Levels Welcome: Whether you’ve never tried Endurance before or are interested in other disciplines like Mounted Games or Eventing, this competition is for everyone.
- Scoring: Scores are based on time and heart rate penalties. The result will be worked out by using the optimum time (in minutes), adding any heart rate penalties (1 penalty for every heart rate higher than 44 beats per minute). The lower the score, the better. In case of equality, the lower heart rate will win.
Example of scoring:
Rider Time taken Speed H.R. H.R. Penalties Final Score
1 120 mins 10 kph 40 – 120
2 120 mins 10 kph 52 8 128
3 135 mins 8.9 kph 60 16 151
4 135 mins 8.9 kph 48 4 141
Final Team Score (Best 3 scores To Count) 120 + 128 + 141 = 389
Key Details:
- Age Group: Open to all The Pony Club Members aged 8 and up. Members under 12 must ride with an adult (maximum of two Members per adult).
- EGB Points: As the event is run under EGB rules, riders can earn EGB points.
- Dates and Venues confirmed so far:
- Sunday, 1st June – Dialstone (N. Yorks)
- Sunday, 13th July – Cirencester
- Sunday, 13th July – The White Horse (N. Yorks)
(Additional dates and venues to be announced soon!)
Why Take Part?
This event offers a new challenge for all Members, helping you build endurance, develop skills, and experience the fun of endurance riding. You’ll also learn valuable lessons about teamwork, horse care, and strategy, all while enjoying the great outdoors and meeting fellow Members from across the country.
Whether you’re new to Endurance or looking for a fun way to challenge yourself and your horse, The Pony Club Endurance Relays are the perfect opportunity to take your riding to the next level. So, gather your team and get ready for this exciting new adventure!
If you still want to take part but don’t know anyone else interest to make up a team, please still contact a ride
How to Enter:
Entries will be open for participating rides via the EGB website, so make sure to sign up when entries open!
If you don’t have a full team and still want to take part, don’t worry! Please still contact the organisers who will help match riders together after entries close, so everyone can take part.
Don’t miss out on this unique and exciting challenge—we can’t wait to see you there!