Endurance means riding a certain distance within a certain time (with a minimum of 9 km per hour) together with your pony or your horse. At the end of the ride the animal's heartbeat and breathing should not be too rapidly. It's not a matter of just doing some distance; the pony really needs to be in a good condition, as well as the rider, for sitting on a horse for 40 km is not an easy thing to do. Anyone older than 14 years with a horse or a pony of at least 4 years can participate in Endurance.

An advantage is that the assessment is not subjectively, as in dressage, and that it are not the riding skills that matter. What matters is the condition (and consequently the training) of the horse and the balance of the ride, which is being reflected by the hard figures of heartbeat and breathing. In this line of sport there is no jury, apart from some authority that mediates in case of conflicts and that assures that rules are being respected. The assessments are being done by a veterinarian who evaluates the condition of the horses and ponies.

During an endurance competition you will ride in all kinds of surroundings. Comara Ivanga with rider Karen Schat cross a little stream.	When the weather is hot, you need to cool down during the rest. Dun Alice enjoys it.

There is a distinction of 4 different classes. Class 1 is over a distance up to 40 km and here a combination that rides on a regular base can easily compete (well, not that easily; it's really much heavier than an ordinary outdoor ride, because going 9 km per hour means trotting 3/4 of the time). Class 2 is from 40 to 80 km, class 3 is from 80 to 120 km and class 4 is the really heavy stuff: 120 to 160 km. Here a thorough preparation is absolutely imperative.
At the beginning it is just a matter of making long hours of riding. To get to the third class you'll need to train some 2 years at least. Class 3 is quite heavy; it means riding up tempo for some 8 to 10 hours!

That it is possible to go along in Endurance with a Connemara, has been proven by Dun Alice. She made a 160-kilometer ride in one day. In July 2002 a 162 km race was held and the second price was won by an English Connemara pony: Wotan Rose Caili with rider Catriona Moon. But you can of course keep it a bit easier: and stick to Class 1 and 2.