I would always lose between 5 to 10 pounds on a 100 - above or at the
4% margin. Sometimes I even lose that on a 50. However, if you took
into account tack, pad, bridle, bit, etc, it probably would be within
the 4%. So as always - no one size fits all and your mileage may vary.
If I were on the cusp between divisions, I'd ride down. I sure wouldn't
carry junk to stay in a heavier division - my poor horse is the one
that ends up carrying it. Hopefully by next year - after this diet -
Joe Schoech and Jerry Fruth will no longer have to worry about me as a
HW ;-)!
I've checked and I've never lost a bit of weight during a ride (I'm an
easy keeper). Even on 100's I keep the weight...then add in the fact that
the saddle pad weighs a lot more after the ride, I really don't see the
need for the "allowable loss" rule. A good drink & sweaty saddle pad
should make up for sweat loss don't ya'll think?
Year before last I lost weight and crossed into the FW catagory, but I
was still well within the 4% rule and could have stayed up but I would
have been underweight at the start so I switched divisions...that's the
curse of death to a weight loss program by the way. :-P
Angie
-- Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for
lunch
Democracy is two
wolves and a
lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb
contesting
the vote!
--Benjamin Franklin
