Endurance Program Rules

Distance riding is not new. It is just newly rediscovered. Since the domestication of the horse thousands of years ago, riding has been man’s chief means of land travel. It has only been in the fraction of that time that man has been traveling with the use of mechanical instead of biological power.

Endurance racing as a sporting event goes back more than 100 years. Then races lasted for many days and distances of a thousand miles and more, such as that from Galveston, Texas to Rutland, Vermont, a distance of 1,799 miles, averaging 57.7 miles per day (31 days), in 1886.

In 1971 CSHA recognized the importance of distance riding and horsemanship, and formed an Endurance Rides Committee. The purpose of this committee is to promote organized endurance rides and distance riding horsemanship.

SEC. 1.0 Organized Rides

There are three basic kinds or organized rides: Pleasure, Competitive and Endurance.

1.1 Pleasure trail rides of a few days to weeks, through very scenic areas. Lots of territory may be covered, but the pace is leisurely and the rides are usually for the fun and enjoyment of riding and not for competition.

1.2 Competitive trail rides, such as those held by organizations like the North American Trail Ride Conference. These rides are of one to two days duration, covering 20-35 miles per day. There are minimum and maximum times for the rides. They are carefully supervised by veterinarians and the competition is judged by five (5) basic criteria; soundness, condition, manners and the way of going of the horse, and the horsemanship of the rider.

1.3 Endurance rides can be a one or multi day ride of various mileage. They are under strict veterinary supervision with the horses being examined before, during and after the rides. They are judged strictly on performance with the winner being the horse that finishes first and who displays satisfactory condition and soundness. There are awards for the best conditioned horse finishing among the top 10 horses, and for all horses completing the ride. Additional awards are usually given for top horses in various weight divisions.

SEC. 2.0 High Point Program

2.1 To stimulate more rides and rider competition, CSHA sponsors a high point award program. The points for these awards are calculated as follows:

2.2 Points will be earned after the receipt of application and fee. There will be awards for 1st to 5th places in four divisions: Lightweight, Middleweight (140-180 lbs.), Heavyweight, and Junior riders.

2.3.1 Juniors are to be sixteen (16) years or younger (based on age as of January 1st).

2.4 The points will be calculated from December 1st through November 30th.

SEC. 3.0 Rules for the Rider

3.1 Points are based on the same horse and rider combination.

3.1.1 One rider may appear in the standings more than once if he is registered on two or more horses.

3.2 No minimum number of rides is required.

3.3 In order to compete for a CSHA award, a contestant must pay a season’s registration fee of $20.00 per family (husband, wife and junior members), or $12.50 per individual.

3.3.1 Only CSHA members will be eligible to compete for awards.

SEC. 4.0 Rules for a CSHA Sanctioned Ride

To be a CSHA sanctioned ride, the event must conform to the rules of the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).