Have you ever asked yourself, how long can a horse run for? Great question. Everyone knows that horses love to run, but exactly how great is the endurance of these tremendous creatures? Well that depends on a few things. You must take into account the physical condition of the horse, the breed, and how fast they are going.


How Long Can A Horse Gallop?

A well trained horse can sustain a high speed for approximately 2 miles before they begin to fade. The Thoroughbred and Arabian horse breeds are lighter and able to sustain their speed better than most horses.

The Great Secretariat, a Thoroughbred, maintained a tremendous speed for the Belmont Stakes which is 1.5 miles.

How Long Can A Horse Trot?

On average a horse can trot for up to 20 to 40 miles in a day if it has good stamina. Given proper rest an elite horse can travel much farther. See the Arabian horse below.

Wild horses are known to travel 30 to 40 miles in a single day if order to meet their food and water daily limits.

Best Endurance Breeds


The beautiful Arabian is not quite as fast as a Thoroughbred but is known for it’s great stamina and endurance. Many Arabian horses compete in a 100 mile 24 hour race! Read more about it.


The Thoroughbred is know for it’s speed and endurance on the race track. A Thoroughbred has the ability to sustain a high speed for roughly 2 miles if it is peak form. It may be able to get much further but at a reduced pace.

Other horse breeds with great stamina include:

  • Andalusian Horse
  • Rocky Mountain Horse
  • Mustang Horse
  • Morgan Horse
  • Hanoverian Horse
  • Tennessee Walker

Can a horse run itself to death?

If a horse runs continuously, it can die. However, this risk is generally only present in horses who have serious health issues such as heart problems. Horses will stop or slow down when they get exhausted so their chances of dying from running are minimal.

Provide your horse with proper breaks and rest when trail riding over long distances. Just like a human, horses need time to recover. You will get to know your horse or pony over time and get a feel for it’s fitness level. In general though, your horse can go a long, long time.