Splendacrest Endurance Training is located just south of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.  We are approximately 1.5 hours from Brisbane, and only 8 kilometres outside Toowoomba.  The property, "Splendacrest", consists of 40 acres of rolling pastures, with the original Preston Homestead as the on-site residence.

Since commencing in business, Splendacrest Endurance Training has successfully trained over 100 horses and over 80 riders.  Our training and completion statistics are as follows:

YEAR	NEW HORSES TRAINED	NEW RIDERS TRAINED	NUMBER OF RIDES	NUMBER OF KILOMETRES	COMPLETION RATE
2001	18	10	70	5000	84%
2002	7	5	80	6000	83%
2003	15	13	100	9000	82%
2004	19	16	70	5000	90%
2005	23	24	100	8000	82%
2006	13	9	80	6500	84%
2007	8	10	100	7500	84%
2008	9	8	100	7700	86%
TOTAL	112	95	700	54700	84%

Training is available for up to 12 horses at any time.  These horses are housed in individual half-acre to one-acre paddocks situated around the homestead.  The paddocks are well-grassed, with plenty of water and shade, and good fencing.  Each horse is fed and rugged twice daily, with individual care provided.

The centre of operations for Splendacrest Endurance Training is located in the barn.  This old structure has plenty of charm, and has been updated with the addition of 3 roomy stables with connecting day-yards, and full paving throughout.  A locked tack-room and well-laid-out feed room are also located in the barn, as well as storage space for 300 bales of hay.  Adjacent to the barn are 3 big wash bays, with good water pressure and safety rails.

Each day the horses are bought into the barn, where they are thoroughly groomed, then saddled and bridled and ridden out.  The training routine consists of a 'legging up' period of approximately 6-8 weeks, and then full competition training for the next 2-3 months.  At this stage the horse is generally ready to start their endurance career, and a suitable schedule of official rides is worked out from the QERA (Queensland Endurance Riders Association) Ride Calendar.

Horses must be at least five (5) years of age to compete in the sport of endurance riding.  In order to introduce them to the sport, a horse that is at least four and a half is able to enter Training Rides, which are usually about 40km in length.

Endurance horses over the age of five are required to complete three (3) rides of 80km -120km in length at a restricted pace.  Once these rides have successfully been completed, the horse can then be ridden over longer distances, and at greater speeds (depending upon the level of fitness of the horse, and its ability).

Generally a horse will complete between three and six rides in its first year of competition, with no great speed really needed at this stage.  In its second year of competition, a horse may commence the year at a slower pace, gradually building up to a competitive completion speed.  Year Two will generally see an endurance horse competing in four to eight rides, with a possible 160km ride towards the end of this time.  In the third year of competition, the horse is usually able to compete at higher speeds, and becomes a real competitor in the sport.

Over the years there has emerged a general 'profile' of what makes a good endurance horse.  To begin with, Arabian blood in some percentage is desirable.  Anglos, Part-breds, Quarabs, Morabs, Arab crosses of many kinds, and of course purebred Arabians, have all been highly successful in the sport.  On the other hand, Thoroughbreds, Ponies and Stockhorses have also been successful, albeit in smaller numbers.

There is a saying in the world of endurance,  "You don't need to ride an Arab in order to win, but you certainly have to pass many Arabs in order to win!"

The horse should have good confirmation, with an alertness of spirit and a willingness to work.  The horse can be of any size or colour, however horses over 15.3hh-16hh may have a problem in hilly terrain, and dark-coloured horses may have a problem in dissipating accumulated heat.  White socks and stockings, although attractive, can often be a problem due to fungus infections on the pink skin picked up because the skin is often moist or damp (from creek crossings, long wet grass, or hosing).

You don't need to own a horse to get started in endurance!  Splendacrest has many horses available for trained riders, with other horses available for sale or lease.  Our clients often are unable to train their own horses, so the Splendacrest Team riders have a wide range of horses to choose from.  Riders may choose to only ride in training, or to progress to competition.

Find out just how inexpensive it can be to have your potential endurance horse trained professionally!  Send me an email to splendacrest@hotmail.com , including some details about you and your horse.  I'd like to know the following:

• Your name, address and phone number (so I can send you more info!)
• Your horse's name, age, height, work history, health, general information (whatever you want to tell me about him/her)
• What your ambitions in endurance are:  ie. pleasure, competition, sale of horse, etc
• Your experience in endurance
• Your experience in other equine disciplines
• How long you would like your horse trained for
• What goals would you like to achieve
• Anything else you'd like to tell me

Inspection of the Splendacrest property and facilities is welcomed at any time.... just email me for an appointment.

Splendacrest Endurance Training has been very privleged to train some wonderful horses over the years.  This is a list of horses that have been trained here at Splendacrest, who are now continuing their endurance careers overseas:

Hirstglen Bozrah, Hirstglen Mintie, Hirstglen Shikira, Hirstglen Bayard, Hirstglen Hussein, Zakah Zahara

Bengal Bouy, Toralea Khalid, Shardell Shantarnah Golden, Jimmi, Garamon Mikado, Coolong Park Hanaan

Aloha Judas, Cherox Juana, Bourhani Azeem

Zayelle Wonder, Prince Kaschail, Sa-Har Shetahn, Fazenda Shabu, Bashan Abishai

Splendacrest Bodacious, Splendacrest Larabee, Splendacrest Kamouflage, Tregenza, Raaward Chanelle

In addition, Splendacrest Endurance Training is able to offer horses for sale for the domestic market.  A few of the horses that have been sold within Australia are:

Splendacrest Intrigue (Gold Coast)

Splendacrest McEvoy (Canberra)

Slipstream Valentino (Toowoomba)

Dante Symphony (Lockyer Valley)

Kathmar Park Liberator (Brisbane)

Nerallan Calypso (Beaudesert)

Windwood Battai  (Toowoomba)

Shardell Shantarnah Golden  (NSW)

Splendacrest Gringo  (Canberra)

There are two ways to lease a horse from Splendacrest:

1.  A straight lease, where you take the horse to your place and pay a weekly lease fee (usually $20) for a set period of time (usually 6 or 12 months).  The horse must either be returned to Splendacrest at the completion of the lease period, or purchased outright at a pre-determined price.  During the lease period you are responsible for all expenses related to the horse, including shoeing, feeding, transportation and nomination fees.  The horse must also be insured while in your care.

2.  A "training" lease, where the horse remains here in training, and you pay half of the standard training fee per week for a set period of time.  During the period of this lease, you may ride the horse under supervision and instruction here, up to 4 times per week.  This training lease also includes all instruction on riding, training, feeding, and competition, and is designed to ensure that you enter the sport with a solid grounding of knowledge and experience.  During the lease period you are responsible for transportation and nomination fees, but all feeding and shoeing expenses are included in the lease.

In advance of signing up for either of these lease options, you must be willing to attend Splendacrest in order to be 'matched' with a suitable horse.  You will have the opportunity to ride 2 or 3 of the available horses, and you will be able to choose the best horse for you.