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[RC] Weight Loss at Rides - Stagg_NewmanSERA has scales at many of the rides in the Southeast so you can weigh your horse before the ride, at each check point, and post ride. Believe 3-5% of body weight is common over the course of a ride but Truman can probably give more accurate info. Much beyond that and the horses are likely not to finish. I have found that 25-35 pounds in the first loop is common for my 900 pound Arabian Jayel Super. When he is doing well he then starts putting the lost weight back on during the course of the ride. In 2001 at the Old Dominion 100 where he was first to finish with the course record for the course used for the last 8 years or so and also BC, he actually finished at the same weight he started. So believe weight loss is a great indicator of stress on the horse. Would like to see local organizations in all of the AERC Regions have scales that can be moved from ride to ride. Stagg Newman
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