Arabian horses were the original racehorses and were often matched for speed over long and short distances - short distances being in the region of 15 kilometres. History tells that the Bedouins use of their horses in desert warfare meant that they had to develop horses with great speed, stamina and strength. They had to be tough enough to keep going all day in the heat - they were the original Marathon horses.
The modern day Marathon is neither a flat race nor an endurance ride, but a hybrid of the two. The race is run over the traditional Olympic Marathon distance of 42 kilometres (26 miles) and is a test of a horses' ability, strength, stamina and speed. The Arabian Horse Society of Australia Marathon is based on the British model which has many Marathon competitors come from endurance and/or racing.
Horses are capable of covering considerable distances with no detrimental effects. It is the addition of speed to the equation that makes the Marathon unique and challenging. The first horse past the winning post should complete the 42 kilometres in about 1 hour 40 minutes, which is an average speed of 29 kilometres (18 miles) per hour.
Riding for success in the Marathon tests a horse to its physiological limits. In the Marathon, horses are expected to sustain a high speed for much further than they would normally be asked to do. Hence the need for progressive and appropriate training.
