Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

 Joe, that is a very good question, and I don't consider it nasty at all.
Please don't ever feel you can't ask me a question, even if it is on a controversial
subject. I'm very comfortable saying "I don't know" or "I was wrong." Having
said that, your question made me really ponder, and I can't speak for everyone,
but I suppose I would say that significant additional weight has so
much to do with the work the horse has to do to cover ground, which is really
what endurance riding is all about. He really only needs to carry the weight
of a jockey to have a person aboard to tell him what to do. Any weight over
that, and I'm talking about the weight of the rider that can't be appreciably
changed, inadvertently penalizes the horse who is expected to have similar
working heart rates, recoveries, soundness, metabolic heat, hydration and
other factors while traveling at the same speeds over the same terrain. These
factors are the very tools we use to measure how hard a horse is working
in the first place. The CRI is tied directly to heart rate, it's recovery
and fatigue/exhaustion. Some horses can indeed condition up and overcome
the added weight and compete as if it isn't there. Some can't. But, none
 of the lighter weight division horses ever have to deal with 80-100 lbs
of additional weight. If those horses have trouble with recoveries or work
tolerance, too much weight isn't a possible suspected cause.  It is a constant,
additional factor present for a heavyweight, by definition, that is
never present for a lightweight. All riders, including heavyweights, are
subject to the other factors you mentioned--rider age, horse age, horse size,
etc.,. Except for rider age ( which can't be changed, but isn't a limiting
factor in itself--infirmity can happen at any age) most of the rest of the
factors can be changed through strategy or getting a different horse. If
our horse has a limiting attribute we can live with it or change mounts.
That part of the paying field, is, I think, level. 
  I understand your point. I don't think specific attributes should be singled
out for special dispensation or recognition, but I think a strong case can
be built that says unavoidable significant weight carried adds to the difficulty
of the horse doing his job as he competes against other horses not so burdened.
Until someone shows us that with the other variables controlled weight doesn't
really matter, I guess that will be my position. If I'm proven wrong, I'll
have a good cry and shut up about it. I do think we could go back to three
weight divisions, though. 
    We could ask ourselves at what point weight does matter. You can conceivably
put enough weight on a horse that he stops, his legs quiver, and he collapses.
We had a horse death this year wherein a horse suffered a spontaneous spinal
fracture and died, while carrying a very heavy rider. 
  These are extremes, but extremes are reached incrementally. My experience
tells me very clearly that a heavyweight horse has to do more just to keep
up, much less excel. Truth be known, I actually like the extra challenge
of dealing with it. I have never complained about it. I have been getting
several  personal emails from riders who basically agree that weight matters,
as well.
   Maybe we can get some more perspective from other heavyweights?  Dr Q,
who must go to lunch now.