Re: Newbie query: why required weight?

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

I offer the age old challenge to the west coast riders...COME EAST!!!

Teddy


Truman Prevatt wrote:

> Susan,
>
> The Tevis, while a hard ride, is a slow ride.  And while 100 degrees is
> hot when a 10% humidity is added it does not compair to 90 degrees and a
> 50% humidity as far as impact on thermoregulation.
>
> While it is good that someone is taking data, I would be a little
> skeptical on drawing conclusions on a set of data - althougth
> statistically significant - is only statistically significant for a
> particular type of ride - mountain ride - in a semiarid climate.
>
> There are many things that can go wrong with horses expending too much
> energy in humid conditions, rapid dehydration, electrolyte loss, heat
> build up, etc.
>
> I have ridden out West some and can tell you that men do much better in
> the west than in the east as a rule.  Also men tend to better on rides
> that are slower because of the terrain.
>
> You might want to see if you could team up with someone in the East that
> would be interested in working with you.  The Univ of GA vet school
> would be a start.  The OD, the Biltmore and the Carolina rides are all
> big. The OD will surly give you a good mark on heat and humidity.
> Although the OD tends to be a slower ride.
>
> Truman
>
>
>
> Susan Evans Garlinghouse wrote:
> >
> > Truman, all the data was collected at Tevis in '95, '96 and more
> > recently, '98.  Reasons being that it's one of the few races where ride
> > management weighs riders with tack before the race, has a large turnout
> > and other logistical reasons.  One year was hot and dry, one year was
> > hot and humid, the third year was relatively cool and dry.  When we
> > analyzed the three populations against each other, there was still no
> > difference in ride results---that is, the distribution based on weight
> > was still the same.
> >
> > OTOH, what we call "humidity" out here is a lot different from the
> > humidity you folks get (except for this week, when it's swampy by
> > anyone's standards).  So heat dissipation may very well be a factor at
> > some point, though it wasn't at this level of humidity when we looked at
> > it.  Certainly a larger, heavier mass will be producing more heat and
> > have a smaller surface area from which to dissipate it.
> >
> > I'd be delighted to come collect data in the SE, if someone can find me
> > a big enough ride to get a statitically viable population, and ride
> > management that will weigh the riders and their tack beforehand.
> >
> > Susan G
> >
> > Truman Prevatt wrote:
>
> --
> Truman Prevatt
> Mystic “The Horse from Hell” Storm
> Rocket a.k.a. Mr. Misty
> Jordy a.k.a. Bridger (when he is good)
> Danson Flame - hey dad I'm well now and ready to go!
>
> Brooksville, FL