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Re: [RC] weight divisions - k s swigartFrom: <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Kat is on the right track here, but one thing no one has mentioned is the absorbed energy in a system of springs that is reused on the next stride. The suspensory apparatus in horses is particularly efficient in absorbing the energy of the landing phase of a stride and translating that energy back into the departure stage of the next stride. Because of this, it takes far less "work" or calories to initiate strides once the progression has started. While it is true that the suspensory apparatus in horses has an effect on the amount of work required for forward motion so the calculations done with respect to energy required to pull are lift are going to be inaccurate, this suspensory apparatus is in operation no matter who is riding the horse so its existence does not address the question of whether live weight v. dead weight and/or the skill of the rider makes a difference in the amount of work performed for the same load (although a heavier load, while it stresses the suspensory aparatus more DOES make it so that gravity makes more of a contribution to propulsion so the horse doesn't have to use its own energy...after it gets it moving in the first place, since a heavier load is harder to get started so that the springs in the suspensory apparatus can do their thing). However, the existence of the suspensory apparatus DOES contribute substantially to the ability of the rider to effect the amount of work performed...because the rider (no matter who he is or how skilled) affects the timing and placement of a horse's feet. To use Heidi's slinky example, as any child knows who has played with one, whether you can get the thing to go all the way down the stairs is very much a function of where you set it down for its first "step." Because you don't get to make any alterations in the slinky after the first step, you are stuck with that choice. However a rider affects where the horse puts its "springs" down with every step, and consequently affects just how much work has to be done by the horse, and how much of it can be done by gravity instead. A well balanced rider can, with the placement of his body, affect how the horse carries the load of the rider. A truely competent rider, with effective training and aids, affects not only how the the horse carries the load of the rider; he also affects how the horse carries the load of the horse. If the "live load" is heavier, this load has the ability to have more effect (both positive AND negative), so whether a live load is better than a dead load depends entirely upon the skill of the load. kat Orange County, Calif. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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