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Over the years, OCTRA has expanded the disciplines offered to include:

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TRAINING RIDES

Jump In with OCTRA Training Rides!

Want to ride, learn, and have fun? OCTRA's Training Rides are the perfect intro! Held alongside clinics from our Education Committee, these rides mix hands-on learning, lectures, and expert guidance in a friendly, supportive environment.

Distance: generally, 10–24 km, with flexible ride times
Safe & Structured: Follows OCTRA rules (minus EIA test)
No Pressure: Non-competitive, but distances count toward the Distance Reward Program
Support: Volunteers cheer you on and help you gain confidence

Whether you’re new or just leveling up, Training Rides are all about learning, riding, and loving the sport.

Go to Education Clinics for more information.

MILEAGE RIDES

Mileage Rides are a fun challenge alongside Endurance Rides, ranging from 20–50 km. Riders are given a time window to finish—pace yourself to complete within the limit!

These rides count toward your lifetime totals and the Distance Reward Program, making every kilometer a milestone worth celebrating.

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RIDE ‘N TIE

Ride ‘n Tie: Two Humans, One Horse, Endless Strategy

Ride ‘n Tie is a unique mix of trail running, endurance riding, and teamwork. Over 10–50+ km, two teammates take turns riding and running one horse, strategizing to finish fastest.

The goal? Get all three team members across a marked course—10 to 50+ km—by alternating riding and running. First team across the finish line wins.

The race begins with a mass start in an open area. One team member runs, the other rides, and at a strategic point, the rider ties the horse and continues on foot (or swaps while on the go). The runner eventually mounts and continues riding, exchanging as needed. Timing, strategy, and understanding your horse’s and teammates’ strengths are key.

Rules are simple:

Horses must be five years or older.
Vet checks occur at the start, middle, and finish (or every ~8 km on longer courses) to ensure fitness and safety.
Only one person rides at a time—no double riding.

Ride ‘n Tie is strategy, teamwork, and stamina. It challenges both mind and body while giving you a deeper respect for your horse and your own endurance. Completed distances count toward the Distance Reward Program, making every mile a milestone.

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SET SPEED

What is Set Speed?

Set Speed is a graded discipline and a stepping stone to Endurance riding. It’s designed to match the distance and pace to the horse and rider’s experience, helping riders understand and demonstrate their horse’s fitness.

Set Speed includes:

Set time windows to complete the ride
Incoming pulse checks and a 30-minute final pulse
Vetting using the Endurance vet card, with horses judged FTC (Fit to Continue)—meaning the veterinary officials believe the horse could safely travel an additional 15% of the distance already ridden without undue pain, stress, or risk of irreversible damage.

How Does It Work?

Riders compete against a standard of performance, not each other, and are graded from 1 (best) to 5 based on Level, distance, speed, and final pulse. In Placed Events, a scoring formula rewards horses that are fast but fit—speed increases the score, but a higher pulse lowers it.

In both Graded and Placed rides, horses and riders that:

Finish within the minimum/maximum speed,
Meet the 56/20 parameter (heart rate ≤56 bpm within 20 minutes),
Have a 30-minute pulse of 64 or less, and
Are judged fit to continue (FTC),

…receive a Completion, and may also be eligible for a Grade or Placing.

Set Speed is a safe, structured, and educational way to build fitness, skill, and confidence, preparing riders and horses for the challenges of full Endurance rides.

Distances

Set Speed Rides may be up to 80 km / 50 mi. There is no minimum distance.

Levels, Qualifications

Set Speed Levels: Progress at Your Pace

Set Speed offers three progressive Levels, each with generous speed/time windows to complete the ride.

Bronze Level – Open to everyone. Horses must be 4 years old. Distances up to 50 km (31 miles), ridden at 4–7 mph (6.5–11.5 kph).
Silver Level – Open to horses and riders with 400 km (250 miles) on record. Horses must be 5 years old. Distances up to 80 km (50 miles), ridden at 5–8 mph (8–13 kph).
Gold Level – Open to horses and riders with 800 km (500 miles) on record. Horses must be 5 years old. Distances up to 80 km (50 miles), ridden at 5–10 mph (8–16 kph).

Both horse and rider must qualify to enter Silver or Gold Levels, which are longer and have higher minimum speeds. Bronze is open to everyone.

For more information, see Set Speed Pace Chart (pdf)

Judging

Parameters for Set Speed are 56 bpm within 20 minutes of arrival at all holds and from the finish line. Parameters are not scored, but are used as a reference point to provide valuable feedback to both riders and judges when compared to the 30-minute pulse and for Final Vetting. This gives a clearer idea of how the horse was stressed and if it was actually fit enough to do the job it was asked to do, since metabolic and soundness issues often manifest sometime after exercise has ceased.

The purpose of the Final Pulse and Vetting at 30 minutes is to protect the horse, inform the rider, and recognize the horse that is ‘Fit to Continue’.

For more information, or to comment please contact the Set Speed Chair, or BoD.

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COMPETITIVE TRAIL

Competitive Trail Rides (CTRs) are usually governed by national and provincial organizations like OCTRA, while Endurance Rides fall under Equestrian Canada Endurance, the FEI, or the AERC.

Distance & Strategy

CTRs are shorter: 40–65 km for single-day events, with multi-day rides totaling 160 km+ over three days.
Unlike Endurance, CTR isn’t just about speed—it’s about strategy. Horses must complete the course within a set minimum and maximum time. The winner? The horse in the best condition, not necessarily the fastest.
Speed guidelines: 9½–16 kph, adjustable by the head vet depending on terrain and weather. Riders outside the time limits are disqualified.

Novice Division

Designed for beginners: longer time limits or shorter trails, no weight checks, and no pressure from seasoned competitors. Success is measured by completion, not ribbons.

Veterinary Oversight

Vets check horses before, during, and after the ride.
A vet card records each check.
Post-ride exams assess soreness, metabolic issues, or behavioral changes.
Points are deducted for high pulse, swelling, trail lesions, or equipment-related injuries. CTR winners are those who complete the course in the best condition.

Rules & Gear

No drugs allowed—horse welfare is paramount.
Protective gear is limited: only Easy Boots are fully allowed; bell boots, splint boots, and bandages earn demerit points. Shoes are optional.
Interference marks and other trail injuries also deduct points.

Eligibility

Horses must be 48 months (4 years) or older to compete in rides over 40 km.

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Limited Distance

Limited Distance (LD) Rides

Limited Distance rides (40–55 km) are perfect for new endurance riders or those who prefer shorter distances.

Rules & Structure

LD rides follow the similar rules as full endurance rides, just shorter. With the exception being that the finishing order is determined in the order in which horses meet pulse criteria.
Riders have up to 30 minutes after finishing to get their horse’s pulse down to 60 bpm and pass a post-ride evaluation by a control judge.

Eligibility

Horses must be 48 months (4 years) or older.
LD rides must be run in conjunction with an Endurance ride.

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ENDURANCE

Endurance Rides

Endurance Rides are the ultimate test of horse and rider stamina, covering 80–160 km in a single day over cross-country terrain. Any breed can compete, but horses must be at least 60 months (5 years) old.

How It Works

Unlike Competitive Trail or Set Speed rides, there is no minimum time—teams ride at whatever pace they choose.
Horses and riders tackle varied terrain, weather, and trail conditions, with vets monitoring before, during, and after the ride.
Vet checks are frequent, and all results are recorded on a vet card to track each horse’s health, fatigue, and stress.

Fitness & Safety

Pulse recovery is a key measure; most rides set the target at 64 bpm.
Vets also perform metabolic and lameness tests. Horses not meeting criteria are eliminated for safety.
The first team to finish “Fit to Continue” wins, while the Best Condition award goes to the horse with the highest overall fitness among the top finishers.

Sportsmanship & Rules

Endurance is as much about knowledge and integrity as speed.
There are no referees on the trail—riders are expected to know and follow the rules, showing honesty, fairness, and respect throughout the ride, at vet checks, and in camp.

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