The Red Dragon Festival of Endurance: Wales' End-of-Season Classic

The Red Dragon is the bookend of the UK endurance season. Where the Golden Horseshoe opens the calendar in May, Red Dragon closes it in October. The event runs from the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells, with routes that climb out across the Cambrian Mountains and back. It is co-organised by John and Jane Hudson, sponsored by British Horse Feeds, and run under Endurance GB.

For UK endurance riders it is the rendezvous of the year. Most of the leading combinations turn up to close their season here, and the Home International team competition between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland gives the festival a competitive edge that other rides don''t carry.

The class structure

Red Dragon runs over three days with around 30 classes, totalling roughly 365 ride days (more than any other Endurance GB event in the calendar). The headline classes include:

Speedi-Beet Red Dragon: 160km (100 miles) over 2 days, the flagship Advanced class
Fibre-Beet Dragon''s Tail: 80km CER plus 42km GER
British Horse Feeds Little Dragon: 80km CER
National GER classes at 80km, 64km, 40km
Pleasure rides at 25km for grassroots access

Speedi-Beet Red Dragon entries are restricted to top-level Advanced and Open riders with documented qualifications. The shorter classes accept a wider field, with the pleasure rides open to anyone with a sound conditioned horse.

The course

The Cambrian Mountains terrain is closer to Exmoor than to Royal Windsor: hills, rough tracks, river crossings, heather and grassland. October weather is the standing wildcard. Recent editions have served everything from settled autumn sunshine to torrential rain followed by deep mud.

Course routes change year to year subject to landowner permissions. The Royal Welsh Showground operates as the central base, with vet gates and the finish line on site. Most riders use the on-site showground stabling for the weekend.

The Home International

The Home International is the annual team competition between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, hosted on rotation by the four countries. When Red Dragon is the host event, the competition adds a meaningful international team dimension to the racing.

Selection for the four national teams is done through the relevant federations during the season. Riders who want to compete internationally for England should look at the Endurance GB selection process for the Home International squad; the same applies for the equivalent Welsh, Scottish and Irish bodies.

How to enter

Entries open in summer and run until the published closing date (typically late September). Entry is through Endurance GB; postal entries are not accepted. John and Jane Hudson handle the entries process.

Stabling on the showground is allocated as part of the entry process. Off-site stabling is also listed by the organisers for riders not wanting the show experience.

Where to stay

The Royal Welsh Showground has on-site camping for horseboxes and trailers. The town of Builth Wells (about a mile from the showground) has hotels and B&Bs including the Caer Beris Manor Hotel and the Lion Hotel. Llandrindod Wells, Brecon and Llanwrtyd Wells are within easy driving distance with wider accommodation choice.

For non-competing visitors who want to watch, Builth Wells is the obvious base. The showground is open to spectators during the festival; access to specific vet gate points along the course requires walking out.

Saddl''s take

Red Dragon is the right second or third endurance ride for any rider working up the Endurance GB ladder. The pleasure ride classes are accessible; the 40km and 80km graded rides give you the Cambrian Mountain experience without committing to the flagship distance.

For more experienced riders, the Speedi-Beet Red Dragon (160km over 2 days) is the prestigious closing test of the season. It is comparable in difficulty to the Golden Horseshoe Stag class, with the autumn weather typically making it slightly harder than its May counterpart.

If you''re combining a trip to Wales with riding outside the festival, see Riding Holidays in Wales for operators in the Cambrian Mountains and the Brecon Beacons.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Red Dragon Festival of Endurance 2026?+

The festival traditionally runs over a long weekend in early October at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys. Confirm exact 2026 dates through endurancegb.co.uk closer to the event.

What classes are offered?+

Roughly 30 classes across three days, from non-competitive 25km pleasure rides up to the 160km Speedi-Beet Red Dragon flagship over 2 days. Includes 80km, 64km, 40km and novice graded rides.

What's the Home International?+

An annual team competition between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, hosted on rotation by the four national federations. When Red Dragon is the host event, it adds an international team dimension to the festival.

Can I enter as a grassroots rider?+

Yes. The 25km pleasure ride classes are open to any rider with a sound, conditioned horse. No qualifying rides required. The 40km novice graded ride is the next step up for those new to competitive endurance.

Where is the Royal Welsh Showground?+

Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY. Roughly a mile from Builth Wells town centre, in mid-Wales. On-site horsebox parking and stabling for entrants.

How does Red Dragon compare to the Golden Horseshoe?+

Both are flagship Endurance GB events at 160km over 2 days, but Red Dragon closes the season (October, Cambrian Mountains) while Golden Horseshoe opens it (May, Exmoor). Many serious UK endurance combinations complete both in a year as the bookends of their season.

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