“PACE YOUR HORSE”
MAY 10, 2025
10 am – 3:30 pm
Participants are welcomed to the Rutland State Fair Ground’s groomed half mile track to learn about the sport of distance riding, equine fitness/recovery, general pacing calculations and a practical way for you to feel the speed of your horse in different gaits.
Sign up for ½ hour windows of time that will be shared with four other horses (or if you want the entire track to yourself you may pay for all four slots). Only 4 horses are allowed on the track at a time. Horses are allowed to experience gaits at the walk, trot, and controlled canter. For safety reasons, there will be no galloping or racing allowed. Safety certified riding helmets required. The event will occur rain or shine. There are no refunds for tickets purchased.
Several experienced distance riders will be present to help you with taking your horse’s pulse and respiration rates prior to and after your time on the track. They are available to answer any questions if you are new to the distance riding and/or answer questions about strategies for conditioning or competition.
Stethoscopes and stop watches will be available for your use. Handouts with your statistics will be provided to you upon completion of your time on the track.
Here are some ideas of how you might use this time on the track:
- people curious about doing distance riding (riders and drivers) and need additional hands-on support
- event, hunter, jumper riders who want to feel the pace of their horse for translation to their own sport
- people who have always dreamed of riding their horses on a racetrack
- people who might want to try ponying another horse in a controlled environment
- people who want to work with a trainer riding alongside them at different gaits
- people who haven’t ridden all winter and want to get information about their horse’s baseline for building a conditioning plan
- people who have a green horse and want to give them some exposure
- friends who want to ride together on excellent footing
This event welcomes all riding and driving disciplines. Bring your trainer for coaching during your time slot. This event is generously sponsored by the Eastern Competitive Trail Riding Association (ECTRA). ECTRA holds many events in the northeast and a calendar of events can be found at https://www.ectra.org/events/
Tickets will be $25/horse/half hour slot. Proceeds from track usage will be shared between the Vermont Horse Council and the Rutland State Fair Ground Association.
