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RE: [RC] heavy riders? - Susan E. Garlinghouse, DVMI seriously doubt that even the most brilliant group appropriate scientists could answer this question. Actually, it would be relatively simple to quantify if you were satisfied with energetics and some conclusions regarding relative anaerobic threshold. Energy requirements come down to oxygen consumption, energy partitioning comes down additionally to CO2 production. All you'd have to do is measure the relative oxygen consumption (and CO2 production) of a statistically relevant group of horses performing a repeatable standardized exercise test (also easy to do). Initially, without additional weight as a control group, and then carrying riders of different weights, some riding "with skill" and others flopping and banging. We already know that energy costs of transport due to additional mass increases as a linear function. The only questionable difference would be whether a bad, heavy rider increases relative energy costs over a bad, lightweight rider once you adjusted energy costs to mls of O2 per kg of mass. About $30,000 would probably suffice. Fairly cheap as research goes. The experimental design would be a piece of cake. Susan Garlinghouse, DVM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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