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Unlike the explosive speed of racehorses or the poised collection of hunter-jumpers, the endurance horse has a more specialized skillset. Endurances horses – and riders – work hard to go the distance.

Riding in the range of 80+ kilometers (50+ miles) a day over variable terrain requires long-term physical preparation and a steady mental commitment.

Like all equestrian disciplines, endurance riding comes with a unique set of risk factors for specific injuries that can affect a horse’s performance and overall health.

Read on to learn more about the risks and common equine injuries associated with endurance horses. Understanding these issues and how to prevent and manage them can help ensure a stress-free ride for horse and rider alike, keeping everyone on course for as long as it takes.

Impact of Endurance Riding on Horses

Endurance is not for the fair-weather rider. While many equestrians spend time training or in competition for an hour or two at a time, endurance races have winning ride times in the range of 14 to 15 hours.

From its humble origins in American long-distance travel, equestrian endurance riding is one of the fastest growing disciplines worldwide. According to the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), in 2023 there were nearly 800 international endurance events. [1]

Horse (and rider) welfare is paramount in endurance riding, and safety pervades all aspects of the sport. One national organization that governs long-distance riding in the United States is the non-profit American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

Their motto, “to finish is to win,” reflects the endurance riding community’s emphasis on maintaining a healthy horse over measures of speed or individual placings. [2]

In spite of having a robust culture of safety, endurance, like all sports, carries risk of injury. One study found that approximately 75% of endurance horses studied over a ten-year period sustained at least one orthopedic injury during training or competition. [3]

The most common injuries in the study group were localized to the following regions of the horse’s body: [3]

  • Fetlock Area: 27.1% of injuries
  • Proximal Metacarpal Area: 21.4%
  • Foot: 21.1%
  • Tarsus (Hock): 12.8%
  • Midportion of the Metacarpal Area: 9.1%
  • Other sites: 8.5%

As expected for horses traveling at speed over distance, the shock-absorbing structures of the musculoskeletal system are most vulnerable to injury.

Ride Cards & Endurance Horse Safety

The AERC and other regulators of endurance riding typically use a ‘ride card‘ system that scores individual horses against veterinary criteria. Ride cards are populated with health-check data for each horse before, during and after the event.

A large survey performed by the AERC of ride cards revealed that lameness was the single biggest factor for removal from the race, a designation called ‘failure to qualify.’ [4] In most cases, symptoms can be assigned to front (45.9%) or hind (23.4%) limb.

Since in-field tests for soundness are performed in a relatively quick manner and without full diagnostic equipment, a more robust diagnosis of the underlying causes during competition is usually not feasible.

Where in-field lameness is localized, the symptoms typically involve points that are most vulnerable to strain, torque and bruising – namely, the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and hooves. [3][4][5]

Risk Factors

Studies of race-collected data have identified risk factors as predictors of injury in racehorses. Identified risk factors include: [5][6][7]

  • The horse and rider’s age
  • Average speed during competition
  • Level of competition
  • Fore limb conformation
  • Amateur status of the trainer and rider

Endurance horses may likewise experience metabolic disturbance associated with dehydration and fatigue, as well as sensitivity in the saddle and girth regions. [4]

Horse-Related Factors

First and foremost, it’s important to ensure equine endurance athletes are good candidates for the sport. Keeping horses in disciplines they are physically well-suited for is the first defense against injuries.

Factors to consider for endurance horses include: [7][8]

  • Breed: Arabians and cross breeds of Arabian influence are common in the sport. Arabians are thrifty breeds valued for their history of long-distance travel in hot, arid climates.
  • Age: Typically, horse athletes are in the 8 – 12-year-old age range but, like other disciplines, older horses can compete and excel against their younger counterparts. One study found competitive endurance horses older than nine years are more likely to suffer from lameness and metabolic issues.
  • Conformation: Some horse body types are better suited to the unique demands of endurance riding. Conformation faults in your horse, especially in the forelimbs, can increase the risk of inefficient movement and injuries.

Ride-Related Factors

Equestrian endurance sport has humble origins but is now popular at a global level. As for other FEI disciplines, the levels (or ‘stars’) of endurance events are rated based on difficulty. One-star (1*) events are the least difficult and 4* and 5* events are the most difficult.

Event difficulty is influenced by

  • Environmental conditions
  • Air quality
  • Terrain
  • Length of the course

More difficult events pose a higher risk of injury to human and equine participants.

Rider-Related Factors

Rider status and gender may affect the risk of injury or onset of metabolic issues in horses during endurance rides, though the reasons are not always clear. [3][7]