World class endurance ride at Tumbarumba during Easter

The pine plantations and forests around Tumbarumba will provide the perfect venue for a world-class endurance ride taking place at Easter (Saturday 7 April and Sunday 8 April).

Endurance riding is one of the fastest growing horse sports both nationally and internationally and has a long association with Tumbarumba.

The Tumbarumba Endurance ride was reintroduced last year with great success. Last year saw 114 entries, and a similar number are expected to compete this year in the three events being run from the Tumbarumba Racecourse – a 100 kilometre elevator ride, an 80 kilometre ride, and a 40 kilometre training ride to encourage people to come along and try the sport

Australian endurance riding basically evolved following a discussion between RM Williams and Tom Quilty about the merits of the modern horse over the horses of the past that were able to travel long distances, for example, 100 miles in one day. Hence the start of the 160 kilometre Tom Quilty Gold Cup, which is now Australia’s National Championship Endurance ride.

Secretary of the Tumbarumba Endurance ride, Angelina Patterson, said endurance riding was a highly professional and competitive horse sport – a bit like marathon running on horseback.

“You have to be very dedicated because it is not as easy as it may seem to get a horse to the level of fitness to do long distance rides,” she said.

Easter Saturday will see all riders and their horses enter for the ride. The horses are stringently checked by a panel of veterinarians before being allowed to start the ride at 5.30 am on Easter Sunday – a spectacular sight.

The horses then traverse three legs of the ride through State forests and private land. They return to the racecourse at the end of each leg to be thoroughly vet checked before being allowed to continue on to the next stage.

A horse and rider can be eliminated if the horse’s heart rate is not below a set criteria within a specified time frame.  Also if there are any metabolic abnormalities, any sign of lameness, soreness or girth galls a competitor will be deemed not fit to continue.

Ms Patterson said the event provided a huge boost to the local economy. Last year, each competitor brought their support crews of two to three people, which saw Tumbarumba’s Easter population swell by approximately 400 to 500 people.

Forests NSW forester based at Tumbarumba, Chris Rhynehart, said endurance riding was a great way to showcase the forests and the timber industry in the region from both a recreational, commercial and environmentally sustainable point of view.

“Forests NSW is delighted to be able to help with the mapping and layout of the courses and we wish the organisers every success,” he said.

For further information on the ride contact Ms Patterson on (02) 6948 5188.

The ride’s major sponsors include Brian Unthank Real Estate Albury, Tumbarumba Shire Council , The Parade Service Station (Tumbarumba), Wilmott Forests, PRD Nationwide Real Estate (Tumbarumba), Tumbarumba Pharmacy, Hammonds Hardware (Tumbarumba), Coprice Stockfeeds, Kohnkes Own Horse Supplements, Dixon Smith Equestrian Clothing, Southwest Stockfeeds (Wagga Wagga), Kelkette Park Endurance Arabians, Castlebar Endurance Arabians, Lauders IGA Supermarket Tumbarumba and Michael Bradley Electrical and M T Clarke Earthmoving.

Photo available.