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Re: [RC] 100 mile horse characteristics--drinking after 20 miles (also pulling) - heidiAfter looking at a lot of the data and manning the scales at a few rides that's pretty normal. They tend to lose about 3% to 4% on the first loop. The ones that do well tend to start to put it back on. The horses that don't - don't tend to finish. There is one horse in the SE that thends puts on weight every loop. Needless to say he does well. We have had a few times where horses have lost 50 or so pounds on the first loop. One time was a 16 hand mule that must have gone at 1200 pounds so the weight loss while a lot was not a huge precentage. He gained 20 to 30 back by the end of the ride. One horse I remember - about a 400 kg Arab lost 60 pounds on the first loop and ended up being treated. And I think that is far more relevant than the specific mileage at which they start to drink. If they leave drinking too late for THEIR reserves and THEIR sweat loss, then it becomes a significant thing. If they HAVE the reserves and are not losing much, then they are still doing a good job of managing their own bodies. Granted, it is usually those that drink well early on that manage the above, but would agree that the scales will let you know which of the exceptions to worry about and which not to. Heidi ============================================================ When you ask a Quarter horse for something he says - Sure - and when you ask an Arab for something he says - Why? - ~ Heidi Smith ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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