Angie, I ride with the Toklot woolback and when it
is dry, it feels light. When it is sweat soaked through, it is pretty heavy and
when it is completely wet, (like when I rinse it off) I can hardly lift it. I'll
have John take it to the junkyard and weigh it on certified scales and let you
know.
I am having a hard time believing weight loses of
15 pounds on a ride. Of course, it is easier for men to lose weight than women
but even after a 10 mile run, in the summer, in Florida, I doubt I have ever
lost that much weight. Except when I take my soaking wet clothes off. Maybe
because all my weight is fat :)Everybody is different, but that is a lot of
weight to lose at one time even if it is water weight.
The only time I lost any water weight
that quickly was when I was in the hospital and they gave me Lasix. (sp?)
Even then, it wasn't gallons at a time, (they measure every bit) just ounces
over the course of 5 days.
The rule on weight in the rule book says
body weight and tack. I take that to mean your clothed body, boots,
helmet, bridle, saddle and pad. Not including your body, the rest of the
stuff is listed under tack in any catalog. Either rider tack or horse tack.
Evidently, since your weight can fluctuate by how much liquid you carry and
how much you pee, they put in the 4% variance.
I, myself would rather not see weight divisions. It
is bad enough that my smaller horse groaned when I mounted up. So then I
had to get a bigger horse. To have to get on a scale in public only to have the
scale scream "GET OFF!" and people around me saying "Oh my God! Her poor horse!"
is more than I care to listen to. Then I have to yell back, "My saddle weighs 50
pounds people! Mind your own business!!!" ;}
