Endurance GB

Endurance GB is the national governing body for endurance riding in the UK and any international competitor competing under the British flag needs to be registered with the body.

It encompasses 23 groups in England and Wales which organise social events and rides from non-competitive 8km (5 mile) rides to competitive 160km (100 miles) rides.

The domestic sport in Scotland is run by the Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC), which is independent but affiliated to Endurance GB, which represents SERC’s endurance riding interests at British Equestrian. One of SERC’s club management committee serves as a director on the Endurance GB board.

UK citizens living in Northern Ireland who wish to compete internationally in endurance have the choice of affiliating to Horse Sport Ireland or to Endurance GB.

Endurance GB provides over 100 events a year for members of the association on registered horses and ponies, as well as many social and pleasure rides to encourage non-members.

The body describes its mission as follows: “Our mission is to promote and enhance the sport of endurance (competitive long distance) riding within the United Kingdom, by providing competition, training and development opportunities that will appeal to all levels of rider from beginner to world class winner. The society will endeavour to promote and uphold at all times the highest standards of horse welfare.”

There are a number of different paid-for types of membership of the endurance governing body, such as full membership for different age categories, non-riding membership and associate membership, again for different age categories. There are also various free memberships such as for those taking part in sponsored events or pleasure rides and volunteers.

Endurance GB is a member body of British Equestrian (previously known as the British Equestrian Federation and still shortened to BEF), which brings together sport organisations such as Endurance GB and its equivalents in the other non-Olympic and Olympic disciplines, industry bodies such as the British Grooms Association and the British Equestrian Trade Association and charities such as World Horse Welfare, the Riding for the Disabled Association and the British Horse Society.