Endurance Season 2026: How to Plan Your Equipment Before the Race

The endurance season doesn’t start just before the first competition.
It starts months earlier, when you plan the equipment for the horse and rider over dozens (or hundreds) of kilometers.

Competitions can go wrong not only because of poor training, but also because of the wrong gear: bad saddle pads, unstable saddles, equipment tested too late, or useless accessories that add stress, weight, and risk of sores.

In 2026, with a calendar full of important events and a higher level, planning your equipment before the first race is a strategic choice, not a detail.

WHY YOU SHOULD PLAN YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE THE SEASON

A common mistake, especially for beginner riders, is thinking that the gear can be adjusted along the way.

In endurance, this doesn’t work.

Every item, from saddle to saddle pad, from rider clothing to support accessories, affects:

• horse comfort

• quality of movement

• heart rate recovery

• management of metabolic stress

• rider focus

You must test your equipment during training, over long distances and under race-like conditions.

THE MAIN RULE IN ENDURANCE: TO FINISH IS TO WIN

In endurance, especially in the first levels and first seasons, the goal is not ranking.

The goal is to finish the race with a healthy, willing, and relaxed horse.

This idea must guide your choice of gear:

• less appearance

• more function

• focus on horse comfort

Every purchase should answer one question:

“Does this help my horse feel better?”

HOW TO START PLANNING YOUR EQUIPMENT

1. Horse comfort comes first

The horse travels many kilometers with weight on the back.

Any pressure point, friction, or instability increases with distance.

The important role of the endurance saddle pad

The saddle pad is not a small accessory. It:

• spreads pressure

• manages sweat

• reduces friction and small injuries

• helps keep the saddle stable

A good endurance saddle pad must:

• let the back breathe

• keep its shape when wet

• fit the horse’s back shape

• work with the saddle, not against it

Choosing it before the season helps you test, wash, reuse, and see if it really works on your horse.

2. Saddle and fit: stability is more important than weight

In 2026, there are many lightweight saddles, but being light doesn’t mean the saddle fits your horse.

A good endurance saddle must:

• stay stable uphill and downhill

• not create pressure points on the back

• allow freedom of movement

A common mistake: choosing a saddle only by weight, ignoring fit and pressure points.

3. Rider comfort: often forgotten but important

An uncomfortable rider is also a problem for the horse.

Pain, friction, bad posture, and tiredness cause:

• compensating movements

• loss of balance

• less focus during the ride

Technical clothing: leggings or light waterproof trousers

For endurance rides, they:

• give better flexibility

• reduce pressure points

• dry quickly

• help with movement during long hours in the saddle

Choosing them early lets you:

• test them on long rides

• check breathability and comfort

• avoid problems during competition

4. Support gear that makes a difference

Not everything that matters is visible.

Some simple accessories can really help:

• safety stirrups to reduce joint stress

• heart rate monitors to check recovery

• easy gear for vet gate (buckets, wheelbarrows, etc.)
  

Planning also means removing what you don’t need.

FIRST COMPETITIONS: LESS IS MORE

When riders start their first season, they often:

• buy too much

• follow advice without checking if it fits their situation

• change gear too often

The truth: to begin, you only need a few good things:

• a reliable saddle pad

• a stable, functional saddle for your horse

• clothing that doesn’t create problems

• essential and tested accessories

Everything else can come later, with experience.

PRACTICAL PLANNING: WHAT TO DO AND WHEN

 3–4 months before the first race

• choose saddle and saddle pad

• test them on progressive rides

• make first adjustments

1–2 months before

• check wear and tear

• make any needed changes

• remove anything that doesn’t work

Final weeks

• no new things

• only use what has been tested

In endurance, last-minute changes are almost always a mistake.

CONCLUSION: EQUIPMENT IS STRATEGY, NOT A DETAIL

Those who plan early already have an advantage.

Not because they have the most expensive gear, but because it’s the right one, tested, and part of their routine.

Remember:

To finish is to win.

And it’s easier to finish well when your gear works with you, not against you.

Discover our selection of saddles, saddle pads, and endurance accessories designed for comfort and stability over long distances.