Horsey Riding

[Valandil]

Not certain this is the best forum, but I have a question about horseback riding. I'm putting it here because it involves a bit of writing I hope to do.

How far might someone be expected to ride a horse each day? This is the same rider, same horse. Distances for both roads and open terrain (let's say no roads, but no mountains either - maybe some woodlands, some open grasslands...) would be appreciated.

Also - how far would it be for a very long extended trip and how far for a short spurt of 2-4 days? How far would be a 'standard' amount - and how far for pushing the limits of human and equine endurance?

[Rosie Gamgee]

Oh, I have a table of this kind of stuff in The Atlas of Middle Earth. I'll try and get it for you.

[Rosie Gamgee]

Erm... hem.. :o I can't seem to find it, now. :o

Our of curiosity, is this for a fantastical adventure (ala Rohan, where the horses are just as dedicated to their tasks as their riders, and thus can be convinced to go the 'extra mile'), or set in the real world (ala, if your horse gets tired he lays down and quits)? :) :o

[Lotesse]

I have been wondering about this very thing myself! I'll try looking it up...

[Lotesse]

O.K. I found some information here for you, re: how fast and how far a horse can run/sustain a gallop, etcetera--at http://phoenixinn.iwarp.com/fantasy/horse_chart.html

[Elvengirl]

Hey Val :)

That's a pretty good website Lotesse. If that doesn't give you all the data you were looking for, I know horses in the wild travel approx. 30 miles a day. They can do more than that, though. For people who do serious endurance riding they will go distances of 50 miles and at a fast pace throughout in a matter of several hours, though the horses have to be extremely fit and conditioned for it. They wouldn't travel that distance and speed successively for weeks or even days at a time.