The captain of the Qatar endurance team, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad al-Thani, rides a horse up a steep staircase during the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games at Khalifa Stadium in Doha December 1, 2006. (REUTERS)

Whew. I'll bet that will be some rough and unforgiving country.

Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous form of horse racing, requiring the horse to complete, at the top levels, for up to 100 miles. Winning riders complete these 100-mile rides in 10-12 hours. Any breed can compete, but Arabians generally dominate the top levels because of their incredible stamina and natural endurance.

Riders must have a great knowledge of pace and know when to slow down or speed up during the ride. They must also have knowledge of their horse's condition and watch for signs of tiring.

In some countries, the winner is determined by a combination of speed and the recovery rate of the horse. In other countries, no places are given and awards are presented to any horse and rider that achieved a required standard.

Endurance riding is being introduced to the Asian Games for the very first time in Doha 2006.