ENDURANCE riders across the country are set to complete their first competitive miles of 2019 at events in the New Forest (3 March) and in Staffordshire, Surrey and Carmarthenshire the following weekend (9 March) at the start of what looks set to be a busy Endurance GB season.

The endurance calendar opens with a new competitive ride, New Forest Runway, formerly a pleasure ride based from an old WW2 air field, which takes place from Fritham near Lyndhurst.

Biosecurity measures will be in place here and at other Endurance GB rides in March in the light of guidance from the British Equestrian Federation concerning the recent Equine Flu outbreak that competition should go ahead but that all horses taking part should have vaccinations fully up to date.

With a number of new rides including two additions to the FEI calendar and an extended season which continues until 20^th October for the first time, the 2019 Endurance GB season sees the sport poised for growth.

The Golden Horseshoe on Exmoor, now in its 54^th year and being staged for the third time over a weekend (18-19 May)  retains its iconic place in the sport’s calendar as the UK’s oldest  and arguably one of the toughest competitive endurance rides.

A highlight of the season will be the FEI European Endurance Championships at Euston Park in Suffolk on Saturday 17^th August. There will be a festival atmosphere at the showpiece venue which plays host to national rides and the Pony Club Endurance Championships over the same weekend.

The calendar sees the addition of a new FEI International contest over challenging terrain at Wentwood Forest near Newport which becomes the first international endurance ride in Wales for a number of years.

By contrast, the forest tracks and grassland of Suffolk will provide the test for both the Endurance GB National 160 and YR 120 Championships at the 25^th anniversary King’s Forest Ride (31 May-2 June) while the Novice, Open and Advanced Championships find a new home at Boyton Hall near Lavenham on the 14th September.

The Home International contest between England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland is scheduled to take place at the British Horse Feeds Red Dragon Festival of Endurance in October which also plays host to the Riding Club Championships. The popular Inter Regional championship returns to Cirencester Park in July.

The season has been extended until 20^th October with Hanslope Ride near Milton Keynes regaining its FEI International status and set to stage what organisers are describing as a ‘low frills’ FEI event with something for everyone.

Endurance GB Chairman Rebecca Kinnarney said: “We have a packed year ahead which launches with a brand new ride in the New Forest to kick off the start to the 2019 competition season. Riders across the country are ready to bring out their horses and resume building distance fitness in the early part of the season and make the most of the good ground conditions we are seeing across the country.

“With our varied schedule, we are making a really concerted effort to widen access and increase participation further.

“Above all we are keen to inspire and engage riders from across the spectrum to understand how beneficial endurance riding can be for both horse and rider health and fitness. To do this we want to showcase our brilliant elite endurance athletes while at the same time showing that this is a discipline for any type of horse and any level of rider. This philosophy will be in evidence at the European Championships which will see Britain’s top riders compete over the same weekend as National and Pony Club riders.”