Re: RC: Research at rides

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hi Sarah
I had a thought (I'm downright dangerous when it's raining outside and
I'm trapped indoors): if the people whom Ti is working with, i.e. the
sheiks, are already riding the larger horses, as he just said, there
might be very little motivation for them to prove anything along this
direction, their efforts being directed toward more pressing matters
such as heart rate, vascular walls, chemical and hormonal balances, etc.
I really haven't a clue as to who would want to fund this project other
than heavyweight riders who want to find out what their options are or
breeders who do not produce any larger Arabians. I produce both so that
knocks me out (not to mention costs) but I do think it would be a really
worthwhile scientific study and one that I would like to read about. Of
course, I could be wrong about the sheiks; they could want to explore
every avenue as relates to endurance racing and they certainly have the
means to do it. I would hope this sends a message to anyone who would
put them or their methods down (as I heard repeatedly at one ROC ride a
few years back where my kids and myself were one of the only ones to
extend them hospitality-- or so they told us---very sad). 
Bette

Sarah Ralston wrote:
> 
> I've done studies using my handy dandy portable scale at competitions before
> and would be willing to do it again, as long as I could still ride-which
> would mean a legion of volunteers to ttake down the data, etc! Old Dominion
> and the Vermont 100 are within access to me. Frank Andrews  at the
> University of Tennessee also has a portable scale and might be interested
> for you guys in the south. Weighing and measuring horses costs nothing
> other than the transportation there and back (and repair of the poor scales
> if it breaks down.) The real costs come in if blood work is to be done and,
> as Bob alluded, publication costs.
> There real problem is getting the people motivated, both to coordinate a
> study, riders to cooperate (though I've found Endurance riders to be
> wonderfully accpomodating-especially if they can get their horse weighed!)
> and the necessary volunteers to get the data down correctly.
> Sarah and Fling
> 
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-- 
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of TLA Halynov
http://www.stormnet.com/~woa
I've learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it
gets to the end, the faster it goes. Smell the roses!