Re: overweight an issue? - Weight vs. lean mass

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/25/00 3:03:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
suendavid@worldnet.att.net writes:

<< That may work on the treadmill, but under real conditions at a 100-mile 
race
 (where it really counts), it doesn't.  We didn't measure individual heart
 rates, but if the horses carrying a heavier rider were at a disadvantage in
 recoveries (which, following your theory, they should be), then it follows
 that out of several hundred horses, a trend should have showed up, putting
 the horses with the heavier riders lower in the placings, lower in
 completion rate, fewer miles before a pull or *something*.  We didn't see
 that, and believe me, I looked.  It might show up in shorter, faster races,
 where energetics are a little different, but didn't at Tevis.  The only
 effect we saw with weight had to do with effect on lameness, but that's a
 biomechanical disadvantage, unrelated to metabolism.
 
 Susan G >>


Nope. Unfortunately in the real world, controlling variables, or even 
measuring and recording them, is difficult. Did you weigh the riders? Did you 
weigh the horses? did you track their speeds and heartrates? Did you get 
pre-ride background data? There are many variables that could confound your 
observations. I'm not saying your observations aren't useful, Susan, but you 
have to be careful about extrapolations of limited data. 

I think you will find, in a reasonably controlled study, that as rider body 
weight rises in relation to horse body weight, there is increased metabolic 
and biomechanical demand. And, of course, when this extra demand exceeds 
capability, then you will have a shutdown. 

ti