Horseshoe Bend Park in Kingwood Township, N.J., will host the Horseshoe Bend Boogie for horses and human runners Aug. 19.
All proceeds will go to support open space in Hunterdon County through the tax exempt Friends of Horseshoe Bend Park. This event will include endurance rides, an ultramarathon and ride-and-tie divisions at distances of 30 and 50 miles. There will also be an introductory level division (14 miles) for anyone wanting to try endurance riding in a relaxed setting.
The event needs volunteers and supporters to help with timing, hospitality stops for horse and human food and water, road crossings, veterinary scribes and more. Anyone who wants to donate resources or time should contact Meg Sleeper at (908) 500-0091 or megsleeper@icloud.com.
Endurance riding involves controlled long-distance races. Horses and their riders head down the trail with periodic veterinary examinations to insure the horse is “fit to continue”.
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometers. Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 31 miles to more than 200 miles.
Ride-and-Tie is an endurance racing sport combining running and horseback riding. Teams consist of two runners and one horse who complete a 20- to 100-mile trail course by “leapfrogging” one another. One person starts the race on the horse, the other on foot. Equathon is a type of ride-and-tie in which the horse and rider complete the first segment of the trail and then the runner starts the second segment.