Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

 

"By the numbers" 30 lbs of good grass hay (per DairyOne averages) will only supply about half the daily maintenance requirement (leaving another 15 grams of sodium needed) - not everyone has access to really great hay. But what I think is key in the Goer article is that what happens on race day is dependent on having built a foundation - a substrate that provides the needed reserves. I think this backs 100% what you are saying - many, if not most of their requirements are met by hay (which is simple enough to find out how well your hay meets requirements). And, if there is a good base to begin with, the losses can be replenished over days - not necessarily on ride day.

 

Most of my good campaigners will scarf down closer to 40 lbs per day...  And don't forget the 2-day "slurry" hanging out in the hindgut!  And given this kind of reserve, the healthy, fit horse can indeed pull on the reserve and replenish later.

 

I also think this might affect front runners less than back of the pack riders. While the front runners may be calling on their reserves more intensely, they are finished for the day and able to start replenishing them sooner - before the losses have opportunity to cause problems.  And it's likely that mid-pack and tail enders are not always as well conditioned/acclimated - their sweat (and elyte) losses will be greater for the same amount of work, and will take place over a longer period of time. So, while the front runners are in and chowing down, the rest are still tapping their reserves and put in the position of playing catch up - thus a need to supplement (carbs as well as sodium) as you go along.

Shouldn't really make much difference.  The horse working less intensely doesn't sweat out as much at any given time, so still has the reserves to sweat longer.

 

As for the carbs, again, don't forget that full hindgut--the horse traveling slower should also have more opportunity to stimulate gut function by eating, thereby keeping those VFAs rolling along...

 

Heidi

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