This is the year you need to try a ride if you are one of the many who have never entered one. The real challenge in endurance riding is in the longer rides and they are not as difficult as you might imagine.

It is a totally different experience than a 50-miler. Of necessity you have a different strategy on a longer ride. The adrenalin pumps just as much or more at the beginning but as the day goes on you can relax some of your competitiveness and, if you are lucky, start moving up in the ride.

It seems there are always some who push too hard and are pulled for various reasons -- tired horses, lame horses, not to mention tired and lame riders.

One thing you have to face on a 100-mile ride is riding in the dark at the end of the day. Most 100-mile rides start in the dark but usually you have the benefit of lots of company and even controlled starts, so no big problem finding the trail, etc. I have never finished a 100-mile ride in the daylight and it is quite different to ride in the dark looking for trail, especially if you have not been over it before. I would highly recommend riding the last portion of the trail prior to the ride and do it in the dark if it is marked ahead of time.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that 50-mile rides are the life blood of our sport. I don't have dollar figures but the overwhelming amount of money to support AERC comes from 50-mile rides [this was before the days of limited distance rides]. Not only do the 50-milers support the organization in money but also in bringing in new participants. But, if you are ready, try a 100-miler this year -- your horse will probably surprise you and you may just surprise yourself.