In an endurance ride, discussed in this article, the winning horse is the first one to cross the finish line while stopping periodically to pass a veterinary check that deems the animal in good health and fit to continue.

As with human marathon running, many riders will participate to improve their horse's personal best performance and consider finishing the distance with a proper vet completion record to be a "win".

There is a second organization in the U.S., mainly based in the PNW called the Equine Distance Riding Association (EDRA).

Though the need to ride long distances has existed since the domestication of the horse, endurance riding as an organized activity was first developed in the United States based on European cavalry (particularly Polish and Russian WWI) and breeding program tests requiring the ability to carry 300 lb (140 kg) over 100 miles (160 km) in one day.

[2] The most famous endurance ride began in 1955, when Wendell Robie and a group of equestrians rode from the Lake Tahoe area across the Sierra Nevada Range to Auburn in under 24 hours.

Riders may be given a map or GPS waypoints for the course, which shows the route, the places for compulsory halts (called "holds"), and any natural obstacles (such as ditches, steep hills, and water crossings).

Any horse deemed unfit to continue (due to lameness or excessive fatigue, for example) is eliminated from further competition (this is called being "pulled").

A good crew allows the rider a brief respite and time to concentrate all energies on the strategy and demands of the trail itself.

Under the rules of the FEI and AERC, the first horse to cross the line and pass the vet check as "fit to continue" is the winner.

Under the rules of competitive trail riding and the endurance rules in some nations (though not international competition nor that in the USA), as well as for limited-distance endurance rides (25–49 miles or 40–79 km in one day), the winner is determined by a combination of speed and the recovery rate of the horse or by a required standard.

The Best Conditioned, or "BC" award is generally more prized than finishing first, as it is determined by a combination of speed, weight carried, and veterinary scores.

As with human marathon running, many riders will participate to improve their horse's personal best performance and consider finishing the distance with a proper vet completion record to be a "win".

The majority of competitors are amateurs that participate in endurance as a hobby rather than a profession, generally owning a small number of horses and riding them themselves.

Elevator rides allow competitors to sign up for a shorter distance with the option to increase to a higher mileage offered on the same day.

Though originally introduced as training rides for beginning riders and horses, they evolved into their own level of competition.

[6] Occasionally, a non-competitive introductory trail ride for novice riders and horses will be offered alongside the endurance competition, generally about 15 miles long.

Widely acclaimed riders are typically those with high lifetime mileage accumulation and minimal "pulls" (non-completions).

Endurance became a recognized Fédération Équestre Internationale discipline in 1978, and the international organization has since set down rules with the welfare of the horse as top priority.

The World Championships provided a huge boost to the sport, and, by 2005, there were 353 international competitions, second to only eventing and show jumping.

Recently, there has been increasing concern over horse welfare issues within FEI and particularly Group VII in the Middle East, including injuries (namely fractures), drugging, and overall rule abuse.

[9] Of particular concern to AERC members were the effects of excessive speed and racing as well as the overall perception of the sport of endurance riding.

[14][15] After being reinstated to compete later that year, the FEI suspended the country from participating events a second time in 2020 for not complying with rules regarding welfare.

Riders who compete in CEI rides must meet a minimum weight of 75 kilograms (165 lb) with their saddle and pads.

Protective boots may be used on a horse's legs, though boots also cause problems in some types of terrain (they may slip, can collect burrs and dirt, and if crossing water may become waterlogged, any of which can irritate the legs of the horse and lead to lameness), so use varies by the type of ride and the rider's preferences.