Karjat Hosts National Endurance Qualifier: Precision Over Speed in Equestrian Test
In the early morning hours at a makeshift "cooling pit" nestled among cacti in Karjat, a scene reminiscent of a Formula 1 pit stop unfolds. Groups of rustic men, wearing stethoscopes over neon reflector jackets, gather around blue drums of water and cola bottles filled with brown jaggery solution. Some hold hay, while one carries a carrot. As the first horses return from a grueling 20-kilometer loop, a cacophony of accents—Tamil, Kannada, Rajasthani, and Bambaiya—fills the air.
Saddles are swiftly removed, bandages peeled away, and water poured from hard-won mugs over steaming backs. A stethoscope is pressed to the left side of a horse, and watches are checked intently. The critical question: Is the pulse under 64 beats per minute within 20 minutes of arrival? Anything higher could mean elimination from the 40-kilometer national qualifier at the Hoofbeat Marathon - State Open Endurance Championship 2026.
The Vet Gate: Where Endurance is Won or Lost
"Endurance is won and lost in the vet gate," declares Colonel Ashok Yadav, president of the ground jury, his hat and lapel adorned with badges from 21 countries. A Rajasthan-based polo player and equine rider, Yadav has judged endurance events in India for three decades under the aegis of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), which follows FEI rules. "This is not a race, it's a ride," he emphasizes about the event organized in collaboration with EFI. "It's a game of precision. The rider must ensure the horse finishes strong but also cools down fast."
Organized by Hoofbeat Heaven, a riding club and stud farm, from February 6 to 8, the championship featured 20-kilometer and 40-kilometer categories for riders aged 14 and above, with a maximum speed of 16 kilometers per hour. The 40-kilometer ride served as a national qualifier, attracting 56 horses from states ranging from Tamil Nadu to Madhya Pradesh. This marked the event's third edition and its first in collaboration with the EFI.
Historical Roots and Modern Challenges
Endurance riding traces its origins to a military test in the early 1900s, when cavalry horses were required to cover 300 miles over five days. Recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 1978, the sport has since expanded globally, with over 353 FEI endurance competitions held across 49 countries in 2006 alone. In India, rides have historically reached 120 kilometers but are now being rebuilt to 80 kilometers post-Covid.
Unlike Olympic equestrian disciplines such as dressage or show jumping, which are conducted in arenas, endurance unfolds across open terrain. "In dressage and show jumping, you train in an arena," explains Colonel C S Sohal, chief veterinarian and member of the EFI's executive committee. "In endurance, you need pathways. Abroad, they have marked trails. Here, we create them."
At Karjat, the track—which included various water bodies and hills—was marked with red-and-white ribbons and oil paint. Rohan Rasam, championship in-charge and founder of Hoofbeat Heaven, revealed that he spent over 80,000 rupees hiring JCBs to soften the gravelly earth. Sponsors ranged from equine feed and tack companies to riding clubs and a cow ghee start-up, though some early backers withdrew at the last minute.
Technical Rigor and Veterinary Scrutiny
The sport blends technical precision with pastoral elements. At each mandatory hold, horses undergo rigorous veterinary checks, including:
- Pulse recovery and respiration rate
- Mucous membrane colour and capillary refill time
- Hydration levels and gut sounds
- Muscle tone, gait, and overall metabolic soundness
Horses are trotted 20 meters to check for lameness before their heart rate recovery is timed. "You cannot give fluids or painkillers before the event unless recommended by me," states Sohal, the soft-spoken chief vet with a stethoscope hanging around his neck. Random urine samples are collected to screen for banned substances, and any horse failing blood screening, showing irregular gait, or not meeting metabolic parameters is eliminated.
Dr. Sandeep Benipal, an A-grade confirmation judge on the veterinary panel, highlighted local challenges that led to nearly 33 of the 56 horses being eliminated. "The main problem here is the heat. Horses are getting high pulse rates and dehydrated faster," he notes. "The horse cannot speak. It cannot tell you how it feels. If we ignore parameters, we risk fatalities."
Participant Insights and Training Demands
Many riders at the event were first-timers, unfamiliar with the demands of the vet gate, and indigenous breeds dominated the field. "Our horses are quick in short-distance races," Benipal explains. Training a horse from 20 kilometers to 120 kilometers, Sohal adds, requires at least six months of uninterrupted conditioning, with careful attention to nutrition, vaccination, and disease exposure. A 160-kilometer ride typically runs from one midnight to the next.
All participating horses at Karjat were five years old, reflecting the sport's emphasis on youth and stamina. "This is the first edition with cash prizes," mused Dnyaneshwar Patil, a 52-year-old veteran participant from Bhiwandi, underscoring the growing recognition and competitive spirit in Indian endurance riding.
