enˈd(y)o͝orəns/Submit
noun
noun: endurance
1.
the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.
"she was close to the limit of her endurance"
synonyms: toleration, tolerance, sufferance, forbearance, patience, acceptance, resignation, stoicism More
stamina, staying power, fortitude, perseverance, persistence, tenacity, doggedness, grit, indefatigability, resolution, determination;
formalpertinacity
the capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear.
Origin
late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘continued existence, ability to last’; formerly also as indurance ): from Old French, from endurer ‘make hard’ (see endure).
Last Saturday 5th March we participated in the II Raid La Breña (Barbate, Cádiz). First time ever for a 1* for The Susk and we faced a real, oh boy I mean real, endurance circuit. The trees closed in on us and the sand swallowed us up - literally it felt. Exposed roots, twists and turns like a fairground ride, up and down hills, and boy oh boy, then down some serious sand dunes where we sank up to our knees (I have no great urge to get out my bucket and spade anytime soon!) Kilometre after kilometre of deep sand sure took it´s toll on the girls. I have never known TWB to drink so much - but hey we still WON & took the trophy for BEST CONDITION.
Personally I love this kind of competition. For me this is what endurance is all about. You and your horse resisting the elements, being in complete harmony, knowing when to slow down, when you can speed up, reading your horse, knowing exactly what they can give you and what you need to give to them.
The Susk (AKA The White Bullet) only has two modes - campo or competition. At home and before and immediately after a competition she is one super laid back dolly, the ´bi-polar pony´ converting into a lean keen endurance machine the moment we prepare to leave the start line. Subsequently the minute she crosses the finish line she stops, at the nearest bucket, which happened to belong to someone else on Saturday and was empty! LOL So, the mountain came to mohammed and the only other part she will play is performing the final trot out. Just gotta luuurve that girl, and she completed the 88 km´s of circuit COMPLETELY BAREFOOT and bitless.