2024 DRM Spruce Woods Endurance Ride
Join us for our ride at Spruce Woods!
Registration is now open! Register here: Spruce Woods Registration
Note that we’re capping the entries at 30 riders.
Dates: August 24, 2024
Start Time: 7:00am
End Time: 7:00pm
Location: Spruce Woods Provincial Park Equestrian Campground
Contact Name: Wendy Nagtegaal (Carrie Wilson at the ride)
Contact Email: drm.endurance@gmail.com
DRM’s Spruce Woods Endurance Ride will be setting up Ride Camp at the Equestrian Campground on Friday August 23, 2024. There are limited corrals and stalls available for use at this site. All campsites, horse corrals and barn stalls are on a first come first served basis with camping fees to be paid to the Friends of Spruce Woods directly as per usual.
Please note that we may be required to set up on the hill. Please bring your own horse containment system in case. If so, we will have water troughs and/or the water cube up on the hill to water your horses. As soon as we know we will update on our facebook page so please check there regularly.
We are offering Intro rides of 10 or 15 miles.
This is an AERC sanctioned ride and will offer Limited Distance Rides (LD) of 25 miles. This distance is suitable for anyone that has fit horses.
We will also offer Competitive Endurance Rides of 50 miles. This distance is NOT suitable for beginners and should only be entered by athletes ready to challenge themselves and their equine partners.
All horses are subject to vet checks prior to beginning the ride each day, during ride holds and at the conclusion of the ride. Any horse may be pulled from competition by the ride veterinarian for lameness or metabolic issues.
Riders may also choose to Rider Option (RO) if the ride vet has not pulled the horse as riders know their equine partners best and our sport is about the horse’s health and well being coming before all other considerations.
AERC Motto: “To Finish Is To Win!”
Spruce Woods Endurance Ride Updated Info
Directions to Spruce Woods Provincial Park Equestrian Campsite:
USE ACTUAL GPS COORDINATES OF 49.678209, -99.146762
Do not use the automatic one in your device as it may take you to a site across the river!
From HWY #1:
Turn south at Carberry onto #5 Hwy to Assiniboine river.
Cross bridge go about 1km, then
Turn left into Kiche Manitu Campground – Spruce Woods and follow the signs to the Equestrian Center 8km.
From HWY #2:
Turn north on #5 Hwy to Assiniboine River, then
Before the bridge turn right into Kiche Manitu Campground – Spruce Woods and follow the signs to the Equestrian Center 8km.
Camping Fees:
Equestrian Campground
Basic Site $20.75
Electrical $24.95
For more information please visit: https://www.friendsofsprucewoods.com
Schedule:
Friday, August 23
6:00pm – Ride Camp will be up and running
7:30pm – Vetting of 25 mile and 50 mile horses
8:30pm – Ride Meeting for 25 mile and 50 mile riders. All other riders welcome to attend!
Saturday, August 24
7:00am – 50 mile race starts
8:00am – 25 mile race starts
8:15am – Vetting for Intro Ride horses (can begin as soon as the last 25 mile riders leave camp)
8:30 am – Ride Meeting for 10/15 mile intro riders
9:00am – 10/15 mile intro starts
6:00pm – Potluck! Bring your own chair, plate and eating utensils, as well as a food item to share with the group. Location TBA.
Trail Notes:
Each trail will be marked with its corresponding ribbon colour.
Blue trail: Blue & white ribbons
Pink trail: Pink & white ribbons
Turning ribbons:
Green & white – left turn
Red & white – right turn
Note: ribbons will always be on your right-hand side.
Water will be available for horses on the trail.
Further trail details, maps, and water locations will be covered in the ride meetings.
PLEASE NOTE: Spruce Woods Provincial Park is a public park. You may encounter bikes, hikers of all ages, dogs, etc. on the trails. Standard Trail etiquette applies at all times. Be respectful and lead by example. Educate where appropriate and always make it your priority to keep you and your horse safe even if it costs you a little time.
After Each Loop*:
Go to the crewing/rest area to get your horse’s pulse down and until you are ready to present to the Vet;
Heart Rate Courtesy Checkers, if available, may check your horse’s pulse on request, however, the Vet’s HR will always be the official record upon the exam;
When you have met or are under your pulse criteria, proceed to the TIMER FIRST before you proceed to the Vet Gate and call “TIME” and identify yourself by name and your horse by name, distance and competition number. (Our timers are new and need your help to correctly identify you and your horse to ensure accurate race records) THEN enter the pulse Area and your time will be written down and you will receive your Vet Card to provide to the Vet Scribe.
In the event your horse has not met pulse criteria, you will be requested to go back out and when your horse is ready to re-present you must advise the TIMER that of your new “Time”.
Once the vet has completed the exam and you have been cleared to continue, you may then go to your Crew/Rest area for the remainder of your 45 min hold period (calculated from your “TIME”, not the end of your exam).
Once you are ready to go back out onto the next loop, ensure you check in with the TIMER to ensure your hold time is up – no sneaking onto the course early!
*50 milers is a race to the finish line with 30 minutes available to pulse down. 25 milers race ends when they call time and meet pulse criteria.
Awards:
If you are leaving before awards are presented, then please find Carrie Wilson to pick up your awards or they will be held until the following ride.
General Notes:
All dogs must be kept on a leash, tied to your trailer, crated or confined inside your trailer/truck in Ride Camp and Crewing areas.
Dogs are not permitted near the Vet Gate area or Trot Lane at any time.
No smoking on the trail.
No smoking in the Vet Gate area.
Pulse criteria will be 64 bpm for the 50 mile, and 60 bpm for the 25 mile and intro distances.
Hold times will be 45 minutes for all holds for both 50 and 25 mile races.