Frequently Asked Questions

Who are Cromwell EGB Group?
Cromwell EGB group is a small, friendly group of Endurance GB. We run international, national and pleasure classes.

Do I need an arab or a special breed of horse?
Absolutely not! It's all about fun for you and your horse and working together to cover the distance safely! A number of our members do ride arabs, but any horse (and rider) that's reasonably fit is quite capable of doing the rides.

Are there any age limits?
We accept riders from the age of 8 and over but young riders must be escorted by an adult until the age of 13. 

How long has Cromwell EGB been going?

Since the inception of EnduranceGB in 2001. 

What are we about?
Cromwell EGB is keen to introduce new riders to this sport. To join in you don't need a special type of horse or equipment, just basic riding skills and a reasonably fit horse.
It's all about having fun and working with your horse to be the best that you can be.

What's our aim?
The primary aim of the group is to support and encourage each other. Training rides and group national rides use the EGB cumulative point system, which lead to awards which are presented both nationally from EnduranceGB and locally at our annual awards dinner. This gives riders of all levels something to aim towards.

What about membership?
Membership varies on which type you go for. Please refer to our membership page to find out with type would be best for you. 

How much does each ride cost?
Our entry fees vary depending on whether or not you are a member and what type of ride you are doing. Non-members must pay an additional fee on the existing entry fee at all rides for Temporary Day Membership. You can typically expect to pay from £20 for a pleasure ride and Grade Rides (GERs) are from £41 depending on distance. All details can be found on the EGB website HERE.
Sometimes we have to pay extra subsidies, such as first aid cover or Forestry Commission charges, and these will be passed onto entrants. Please look at the ride details to double check the entry fee.

What insurance do I need?
Membership of EnduranceGB will give you cover 24/7 as well as during the ride. 

Are the rides fast?
Pleasure rides must be ridden between 8-12kph. Novice classes must be ridden between 8kmph & 15kmph. Open & Advance classes must be ridden between 9kmph & 18kmph. This is mainly trotting and cantering, with quick stops to crew your horse and the odd walk section. Competitive Endurance Rides (CER’s) have no maximum speed to must be ridden at above 10kmph.

 

Will my horse be vetted at the ride?
All national rides require horses to be fully vetted for all classes 30 mins pre and post ride, and depending on distance, during the ride too. Vetting will include heart rate, metabolic parameters and a trot up. Pleasure rides at national events require a trot up 30 mins before and 30 mins after the ride.

How competitive are the rides?
As competitive as you want to make them! In the end you and your horse are competing with yourselves. It's about setting standards for your own performance, riding sensibly and safely, working as a team with your horse and enjoying the challenge. Our members are warm, friendly and full of encouragement. They range from real novices to hardened EGB competitors, but they all have 2 things in common - their love of horses and the joy of a good day’s riding!

How safe are the rides?

Our ride organisers (ROs) do their best to minimise the risks associated with horses by rigorously planning and organising all aspects of our rides. Routes are checked in advance and marked the day before to ensure the route is fit for purpose and no obvious dangers are present on the course. Every rider is timed in and out of the venue and often we follow our riders around the route to ensure no one is lost by posting check points at strategic places that the riders must go through. Our organisers gain permission from land-owners in advance to use both bridlepaths, byways and private use to ensure the best possible riding is provided. All our rides are circular so you will start and finish in the same place. Road work is kept to a minimum to give the best riding and busy road crossings are avoided or manned by stewards. We rely on volunteers for this role so please get in touch to help if you can. You can choose to ride alone, with a friend or with a group of friends, whatever you feel most comfortable with. 

Nervous about doing a ride for the first time?
If you've never done a ride before and are nervous about riding alone, don't worry!
Just email the ride organiser when you have entered, and they will do their best to pair you up with someone more experienced so that you can get used to how it all works. You can always post on our social media pages to ask for a ride buddy in advance!

What can I aim for?

We have our annual awards dinner every January with several prizes up for grabs! Additionally, you can get involved in our Inter-Regional team. We also reward horses with distance awards, not limited to Cromwell rides, which are awarded every 250km successfully completed.

 

Why not get involved?