Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Kathy - 

I am very pleased and proud that your daughter came up with the
experiments to test the pad, did them and wrote it up.  I don't
want to take anything away from her on that score.

But science is rigorous.  I have worked in research most of my
professional life (astrophyics and solar physics).  Scientitsts
"beat each other up" all the time - but not (usually) as a personal
attack.  Richard has paid your daughter a very nice compliment -
he addressed her as a "peer".  Journals where research is
published are peer reviewed - everyone wants to see that the published
research is as good as it can possibly be.  So they act sort of as
"devils advocates", and find holes (or potential holes) before the
whole scientific community does.

I agree, if you are not used to this, it could be upsetting to be told
that your work has a flaw - but heck, knowing the flaws can lead to
more questions and better experiments and research.

I don't know Richard and haven't competed enough to have anthing to say
about the pads - but I do know how science works, and your daughter has
a good start, and finding someone knowlegable and willing to to show
her the flaws is something that many of us had to go to University to
get.

Rosalie Marley

On 11/10/05, Kathy Copeland <ponyup1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Subject: EquiPedic vs Supracor Saddle Pads - Researched was Flawed

Kathy:
I saw a copy of your Science project on the web. there is a major problem with your study. You never indicated what the ambient temperature was. Our pad is designed to keep the horse warmer if it is cold outside and cooler if it is hot. If the temperature was cold outside than the Supracor will be cooler where as our pad will warm the horse. If it is very hot our pad will cool the horse where as the Supracor will warm the horse. We were able to duplicate this many times in our testing in a controlled heat chamber where we could modify the external temperature and humidity.

Richard Sacks

If using words like "Research was Flawed" and "there is a major problem with your study" is your way of contacting someone to discuss something then I think one needs to revamp their approach.  When it comes to one of my daughters yes indeed I will get defensive, especailly when not being approached in a kindly fashion.  Yes you did send us a sample of the pad and information on the materials for which we thanked you and greatly appreciated.  There are other factors to consider beside a test done in a sterile type enviroment.  So your test can stand on its merit and my daughters will stand on her merit.

FYI, Winton, Ca is in the central valley and they don't call us flatlanders because we have hills.
Team Slow Poke
Kathy Copeland