Normally requiring specialist horse tack and a high level of physical fitness from both horse and rider, endurance riding is a demanding sport. This however has not perturbed budding pony clubbers who have relished the Pony Club's decision to make the sport an official discipline.

Robert Blane, chairman of Pony Club endurance, said; "We are really pleased with the way Pony Club members have taken to endurance riding."

The Pony Club's inaugural endurance championships are to take place on the 20 September at The College EC in Bedfordshire after a culmination of rides since the sport's Pony Club launch in March.

More than 50 riders are expected to compete at the championships, divided across junior (eight-13 years) and senior (over 13 years) levels, both individually and in teams.

Like other Pony club disciplines, classes will be divided into novice (32km at 10km per hour,) intermediate (40km at 11km per hour) and open (40km at 12km per hour) levels.

As the pony clubbers will only be covering relatively short distance in comparison with more advanced endurance rides, normal horse bridles rather than the bit-less endurance bridles and horse tack are likely to be worn by competitors.