American Endurance
Ride Conference

Updates (Click here to expand all)

AERC Ride Update, as of April 2, 11:30am: (more) Please check the AERC online ride calendar to keep up with the latest cancellations and postponements. Click to view the ride calendar. You may search all AERC rides, or by region, or state. Newest updates, 4/2: New dates for Mt. Carmel XP (Mtn Region) pending approval of the Executive Committee and the non-sanctioning director: was April 26-28 and April 30-May 2; now May 17-19 and 21-23 (6 days of riding!). New date for Old Dominion No Frills is July 24-25 (was April 17-18). The Old Dominion rides on June 12 and 13 have been cancelled. (Reschedule dates are subject to change.) Reschedule dates are subject to change.

Letter to 2020 AERC Ride Managers(more) March 25, 2020 - To all 2020 Ride Managers, We know there are many concerns regarding what to do if you find it necessary to cancel your ride with respect to the COVID-19 issue. The office and your sanctioning director are here to help. Everyone needs to pull together to help find solutions that are workable for all. Contact your sanctioning director (with a copy of the email to the office also to office@aerc.org) and advise how you want to handle things. Are you postponing until a later time in the season or cancelling your ride for this season? You should contact other ride managers in your region or nearby region(s) and try to work together regarding dates or perhaps even combine your efforts to make a ride or rides occur. Every effort will be made to honor your requests for your sake and the happiness of your riders. Something vital to keep in mind with respect to insurance coverage for your ride: if a moratorium has been issued in your state by the government (a stay at home order or gatherings of 10 or fewer people, etc.) and you decide to move forward and hold your ride, there will be no insurance coverage for the ride. All your efforts and energies to keep things going are appreciated. -Kathleen A. Henkel, Executive Director

AERC Nation T-Shirts on Close-Out(more) We have just a few of the new AERC Nation T-shirts available -- here's a link to the order form, with a link to a "future order" request if we are out of your size: AERC Nation T-Shirt Order.

2020 AERC National Championship: (more) We are writing to let everyone know that we are considering all possible scenarios for our upcoming ride this summer. As you may already know, we are scheduled to host the AERC National Championship June 5-7, 2020. We are carefully watching the recent news concerning COVID-19 and will be making our decision concerning the June ride in the next few weeks. We understand the many concerns that our riders have from not being able to qualify due to cancelled rides to several states having travel restrictions. Again, we are considering all possible options from postponing the ride to this fall, postponing it to 2021, or going ahead with it if all of this blows over within a timely manner. -Bill and Jan Stevens

COVID-19 Statement: (more) American Endurance Ride Conference Statement Regarding Precautionary Measures Amid Coronavirus (COVID-19) Concerns: Due to concerns regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and public health, American Endurance Ride Conference is taking precautionary measures and is following the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) guidelines and recommendations on the proper steps to take to help prevent the spread of the virus. AERC continues to closely monitor the developments of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We understand that some rides will be cancelled or rescheduled over the next few weeks. Some rides will amend their policies regarding, for example, whether meals can be provided. In accordance with health guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, we encourage our members and volunteers to wash their hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and to make use of the hand sanitizers. Additionally, we recommend that our members and volunteers avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and, for the safety of others, remain at home if they feel ill. AERC will continue to monitor the situation and follow guidance from the World Health Organization, the CDC, as well as other federal, state and local authorities.

Change to Introductory Ride rules: (more) Rule Update: The AERC Board of Directors passed a rule clarifying the minimum age for equines in introductory rides (those under 22.5 miles) at their February meeting. Added as Introductory Ride rule #5: "All equines must be at least 48 months old at the time of the ride."

Letter of Clarification from the AERC Board: (more) In order to answer questions regarding AERC, USEF and FEI, the AERC Board of Directors has prepared a letter for all members. Click to view the January 2020 letter from the Board.

AERC 2019 Election Results: (more) Proposed Amendment to AERC Bylaw 5.1: The quorum required was met. Passage required a two-thirds majority marked “yes.” A total of 1,766 ballots were returned; the “yes” votes totaled 443. The proposed amendment was defeated. Regional Director Elections: Mountain: Chalice Coward and Jan Stevens; Northwest: Jessica Brewer Cobbley and Naomi Preston; Southwest: Troy Eckard and Stephanie DuRoss; West: Susan Garlinghouse DVM and Andrew Gerhard. Thank you to all who nominated for board positions. Many thanks to all AERC members who voiced their opinion by voting.

AERC and SafeSport: (more) Each AERC ride in the U.S., beginning in the 2020 ride season, will have a designated SafeSport ride management representative who has passed the SafeSport online training prior to the ride. For more information about SafeSport and AERC, visit AERC's SafeSport information page. All members (age 18 or older) are invited to take the SafeSport training course. AERC will reimburse the $20 course fee for one ride management team member from each ride -- see link for details.

AERC Drug Rule Appendices (NEWLY UPDATED): (more) Make sure you are familiar with what is allowed and not allowed by carefully looking over the U.S. AERC Drug Rule Appendices. Be aware that anything not strictly on the "prohibited substances" list may be part of the "Categories of Prohibited Substances" list. Read all parts, A through G!

2020 Anne Ayala Scholarship: (more) AERC members from high school senior year through age 21 are invited to apply for the 2020 Anne Ayala Scholarship. Deadline for application: February 1, 2020.

Ride One More: (more) Last chance to fill out your 2018/2019 Ride One More form for AERC members who rode (at least) one more AERC ride in 2019 than the previous season. Ride One More (details).

"Endurance Day" on the Horse Radio Network (more) -- Listen to Endurance Day, a monthly show on the Horse Radio Network's Horses in the Morning show. Hosted by Karen Chaton, Endurance Day is a popular show on the #1 horse podcasting network in the horse world. Click find Karen's podcasts.

AERC Member Jacket -- Order Yours Now! (more) Order your AERC jacket -- you choose the embroidery! Include your name and your equine(s)' name(s) plus any accomplishment you wish to show the world! Visit our secure order site: AERC Jacket Order Form, by JotForm) to order your jacket!, Note: they are the same style as the Decade Team jacket.)

Endurance 101 Clinics for new/potential endurance riders: (more) Check out the AERC Clinic Page if you are interested in finding out more about endurance riding, or would like to put on a clinic in your area)!

AERC'S YouTube Channel (more) -- This is the place for great educational videos to check out as you begin your endurance riding career. Thanks to Dr. Susan Garlinghouse and Ken and Julie Herrera for their efforts in making this project a reality. Click for: AERC's YouTube Channel.

100-Mile Award Program: (more) Honor your 100-mile horse who has reached the Bronze, 3-100s; Silver, 7-100s; Gold, 10-100s) or Platinum, 15+ 100s) levels. Print out the 100 Mile Award Order Form and send it in to the AERC office.

AERC Cafe Press Store: (more) Check it out at the AERC store!

Press Releases (Click here to expand all)

AERC Press Release: (more) AERC's press release regarding the 12/1/19 disaffiliation with USEF: January 15, 2019, Press Release..

AERC Awarded $20,000 Trail Grant from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (more) The Trails and Land Management Committee is pleased to announce $20,000 Trails Grant Awarded" for work in the Wayne National Forest near Pedro, Ohio.

Finding My Sport (more) A young equestrian discovers endurance and says, "I'm Aboard SS Endurance."

AERC Equine Longevity Award (more) Learn about AERC's Equine Longevity Award with this Longevity Award press release.

2017 AERC Convention (more) AERC announces the speaker lineup and welcomes all to the 2017 convention with this Convention press release.

Trails Stewardship Act (more) AERC lauds the passage of the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act.

AERC Fall Special! (more) New Members: Now's the time to get in on 2016 fall rides AND pre-register for the 2017 ride year with AERC's 2016-17 Fall Special.

Christoph Schork's 300 wins: (more) He's the winningest rider in the sport -- read about AERC's own Christoph Schork and his riding philosophy.

Discover a New Sport: (more) This AERC press release reminds everyone that endurance is a do-able sport, and invites readers to request a free info packet from the AERC office.

Meet Riley McHenry: (more) Riley was introduced to endurance riding at a parade, and now she's a dedicated rider. Read It Started With a Parade.

Janet Tipton and Lady Jasmine: 5,000 LD Miles(more) AERC honors its first-ever 5,000-mile LD horse, Lady Jasmine -- read a press release about this one-of-a-kind pair!

2016 World Champs removed from UAE(more) AERC issued this press release after the FEI announced that the 2016 World Endurance Championships would not be held in the UAE.

Do you have what it takes to be an endurance rider?(more) President Michael Campbell's March 2016 EN column was sent out as a press release. A great read!

AERC Celebrates Achievements:(more) A press release about the 2016 AERC convention in Reno, Nevada. Read: Convention Wrap-Up Press Release.

Discover Endurance Riding with the American Endurance Ride Conference:(more) Getting started in the sport and an invitation to find out more about AERC's 2016 convention on February 19 and 20 in Reno, Nevada. Read more: November 2015 press release.

AERC Board of Directors passes resolution to oppose the sale of federal lands managed by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to State ownership(more) A resolution to oppose the federal-to-state land transfers by the federal government was passed unanimously at the American Endurance Ride Conference's midyear board meeting on August 15, 2015. Read more in the September 17 2015 press release.

From trail ride to endurance ride: not such a big leap:(more) Endurance riders may covet the discipline’s reputation as an extreme sport, but the American Endurance Ride Conference's "gateway" event, the 25-35 mile limited distance ride, is well within the reach of most well-conditioned trail horses. Read more in the September 2015 press release.

Cache Creek Trails Grant: (more) The Stalley Family of Northern California share their example of excellent use of an AERC trails grant at the BLM-managed Payne Ranch, site of the AERC Cache Creek Ride. Read more in the August 2015 press release.

Promotions (Click here to expand all)

2016 Specialized Saddles Rookie Award All new members are invited to apply for the first-ever Specialized Saddles Rookie Award -- for riders who have not entered any AERC rides of 25 miles or more before 12/1/15. Great prizes for the top 3 in both LD and endurance divisions.

Discover Endurance Riding Booklets Just reprinted for 2016! 16 page full-color newsprint booklets contain information about endurance riding and touching stories by many AERC members. Call or email the AERC office -- just let the office staff members know how many booklets you'd like to have to hand out to potential new members. Call 866-271-2372 to order.

Each One Add One "I Got Mine" bumper stickers are available on request for members who encourage a new member to sign up with AERC. Just let the office staff know and we'll be happy to send one out.

AERC Brochures Four-color tri-fold brochures promoting AERC are available upon request from the office for you to distribute at local tack stores, horse clubs . . . just about anywhere you can find riders who might be interested in endurance riding. Call 866-271-2372 to order!