A rainy weekend didn’t dampen the spirits of riders who took part in last weekend's Tooraweenah Endurance Ride. 

The two day event on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April saw 113 competitors head into the hills in a series of endurance rides featuring 7klm, 20km, 40km and 80km events designed to showcase skill and sportsmanship of rider and horse.

Arabs, Shetland ponies, stockhorse and Paints competed.

Horses were checked by vets before, during and after their events ensuring they met strict paremeters to compete and 'fit to continue'.

The 80 kilometre ride on Sunday was made even more challenging after a 40mm fall of rain.

Front-runners were able to complete the ride in under 6 hours, but many took longer making it back to Tooraweenah Showground in 8 or 9 hours.

One of the organisers Rebecca Blessing described the endurance ride as marathon-running on a horse but stressed the focus on successfully completing the ride was that the horse's fitness not be compromised.

"The focus is ensuring the welfare of the horse in completing the ride." Rebecca said.

The event embodies the philosophy of a sport where everyone is a winner according to the endurance motto, 'To Complete is to Win'.

Ally Wykes riding Disco in the 7km event. IMAGE: animalfocus.com.au

The Tooraweenah endurance ride was first held in 1977 as the Annual 50 Mile Endurance Ride.

It has been an annual event ever since.

Rebecca said the 80km ride was once started by a shotgun shot at 5am signalling that the riders could leave.

These days the ride begins in a more subdued way with riders and horses lining up and a starter counting down to officially commence the race at 5am.

"The community of Tooraweenah just wanted to keep it going," Ms Blessing said.

"The rides commence at the showground and finish at the showground.

"Competitors camped in Goosenecks, caravans and put swags out. Little camp fires everywhere.

"CWA ran a canteen and riders could go to the Tooraweenah pub for a meal.

"We are very lucky to have landholders that allow us to ride on trails in and around their properties."

Overall winner of the 80 kilometre ride was Morisset woman Elysse Walker, with local riders Lara Duff and Isabella Warner both from Tooraweenah placing 3rd in their divisions.

Ellyce Walker from Morisset riding Longrun Anouk, 1st MWT in the 80km event in 5hrs 54 mins. IMAGE: Jo Arblaster animalfocus.com.au

This year's event was boosted by a team of national standard riders from other regions.

"We had some riders who were travelling on to the Tom Quilty Cup in Tasmania that stopped in to ride this weekend which was amazing," Rebecca said.

"On two occasions our own ride has run in conjunction with the Tom Quilty Cup.

"We have held it (Tom Quilty) twice in 1991 and again in 2022."

The Tom Quilty Cup is the national championship for endurance riding.

Dad Will Burnheim and sons Augustus and William Jnr at the Tooraweenah Endurance Ride. IMAGE SUPPLIED.

Quambone family William, Felicity, Augustus and Will Burnheim participating in the endurance ride for the first time took part in the 20km ride on Saturday.

Maddie Burnheim explained that the goal of the endurance ride was not so much about winning but about completing the endurance without sacrificing your horse.

"It's quite an interesting event and Australia is very big on putting the safety of the horse before winning.

"At the end of the day the children had a presentation and were given an award, a beautiful glass cup and they got to keep their vet check card which gave them all the information on how healthy their horse was," Maddie said.

Young history-maker Lenny Gwyther is an inspiration to a new generation of endurance riders. IMAGE: Daily Telegraph

Maddie explained that her children were inspired to do the endurance ride by the story of 9 year old Lennie Gwyther, who in 1932 rode his horse Ginger Mick from Leongatha (a distance of 924km) to see the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

He was ten years old.

"They wanted to do a ride like Lenny without the parents."

Maddie explained the family are planning an endurance ride from Sandy Camp to Walgett and said that the Tooraweenah endurance ride was a good way to learn what was involved.

"The reason we started the Tooraweenah endurance ride was to learn how to look after your horse , what signs we need to watch for, my husband will knows that but the children don’t, so it was really good for them to talk to vet and the vet talk to them."

BELOW: Felicity Burnheim