Distance Rides

Local Rides

Local rides are sponsored by individual ride organizations and clubs. Local rides follow the rules set by AERC, a competitive trail organization or AHA. AHA members can earn points, mileage and qualifications for AHA programs and events from local rides. See the Event Calendar for a list of recognized rides in your area.

Local rides sponsored by AHA have the following benefits:

• Receive greatly discounted event insurance through Equisure
• Get listed on the AHA website calendar of events
• Automatically record results for Arabians and Half-Arabians in the AHA event database to count toward programs and qualifications
• Receive the free AHA Ride Management Guidelines with tips, checklists, timelines and all the forms
• Receive free AHA score cards, pulse check cards and other helpful tools
• A cost of $25 per local recognized ride distance and $30 for Regional rides
• Simply mail the application to AHA at least 60 days prior to the competitive trail or endurance ride

Endurance

Endurance rides consist of one or multi-day monitored races between 50 and 100 miles. The horse that finishes the ride first is the winner if it passes the post-ride veterinary exam. Horses must also pass veterinary checks throughout the ride at mandatory stops. Limited distance rides (less than 50 miles) are good introductions to the sport and have slightly different rules.

• All AHA endurance rides follow American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) rules and are normally held in conjunction with an AERC-sanctioned ride.
• AERC and Federation Equine International (FEI) rides can count toward Non-Breeders Sweepstakes AHA award programs even when they are not combined with an AHA endurance ride, as long as the competition reports their results to AHA using an open event report form.

Competitive Trail

Competitive trail rides require horses to complete a specified course within a specific speed and timeframe. The horse is scored at various checkpoints along the trail for conditioning and soundness. The winner is the horse judged to be the best-fit.

• AHA rides are often combined with a ride sanctioned by another competitive trail organization.
• Rides conducted by other ride organizations recognized by AHA can count toward Non-Breeders Sweepstakes AHA award programs even when they are not combined with an AHA Competitive Trail Ride, as long as the competition reports their results to AHA using an open event report form.
• AHA currently recognizes 9 competitive trail riding organizations from across the United States and Canada, which includes the following:
  • Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association (ECTRA)
  • North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC)
  • Southeastern Distance Riders Association (SEDRA)
  • Ohio Arabian and All Breed Trail Society (OAATS)
  • Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association (OCTRA)
  • Middle of the Trail Distance Riding Association (MOTDRA)
  • Upper Midwest Endurance & Competitive Riders Association (UMECRA)
  • Canadian Long Distance Riding Association (CaLDRA)
  • Trail Riding Alberta Conference (TRAC)