AROUND 120 riders and horses are gearing up to hit the trails this weekend for the Tooraweenah Endurance Club’s annual event.

The Tooraweenah endurance ride is one of the most popular on the NSW Endurance Riders’ calendar, thanks to its location beneath the spectacular Warrumbungle mountain range from the village’s showground.

This year’s weekend of events is going up a notch.

In addition to the usual seven, 20, 40 and 80 kilometre events, there are also international standard FEI level rides.

With more endurance riders registered worldwide than the Olympic discipline of eventing, the Tooraweenah Club combined with Canobolas Endurance Riders to give the Australian-based competitors the opportunity to qualify to compete overseas at world level events.

It is the first time FEI events have been staged at Tooraweenah and ride secretary Sonia Bonham said it has bolstered entries with a further 32 nominations and people travelling from as far as southern NSW and into Queensland to ride.

“It is our 49th year and we are running our first FEI event. We have run national rides there before,” she said.

“It is nothing off our backs, we have to add a couple of extra legs [but] we are only just providing the track, the venue and infrastructure, Canobolas are funding that part of it.”

Although the FEI divisions add an extra element to the event this year, all endurance participants get to still experience the same Tooraweenah they have come to know and love.

The shorter, AERA-governed rides up to 120km, which have been held there for 49 years, still go through private property and national park tracks in the Warrumbungle region.

Shelly Jones on Shellal Blood Moon was equal first in the 2024 80km event, and first in the heavyweight division, alongside Kylie Jonkers and Girilambone Usain (Image: Jo Arblaster Animal Focus).

There will also still be that same relaxed, friendly country atmosphere, quality amenities and traditional catering horse riders are used to.

Bonham said the hard-working club, and the CWA ladies, have come together to put on another fantastic event.

“We get to ride up some of the most amazing country, into the national park,” she said.

“Most people enjoy it. It is a hard ride; the horse can move along. You just have to ride over the rocks.

“We have the CWA ladies catering again. They have catered for as long as the ride has been on so it is their 49th year as well.”

The Tooraweenah Endurance Club is made up of locals from a range of backgrounds – teachers, nurses, farmers, etc.

Throughout their time in putting on the ride, the club has donated funds back into local projects including upgrading the showgrounds and sponsoring events.

For more information on endurance riding in NSW and to view upcoming rides, visit NSW Endurance.