Re: [RC] Heavy Weight vs The Trail - was ROC - DVeritas
In a message dated 7/30/2006 3:28:05 PM Mountain Standard Time,
heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
The HW
riders only have a noticeable disadvantage if the horse has to carry them
anaerobically--something that rarely happens in our sport, but could happen in
a sprint to the finish, theoretically.
Heidi,
As you know, it isn't that the HW riders only have a "noticeable
disadvantage if the horse has to carry them anaerobically--"
It's the UN-noticeable disadvantage which the horse has to deal with that
will eventually tell the truth of the toil.
The STRESS factor that a horse has to deal with when dealing with the
stress of hauling a TIRED, HEAVYWEIGHT rider whose, all of sudden, poor riding
has come to affect the manner in which the trail is negotiated REALLY becomes
more than "theory".
When dealing with moving weight down the trail, physics, more pointedly
ENERGY, i.e., mechanical energy, kinetic energy, gravitational energy, elastic
energy, the TRANSFER of energy, etc. comes into play. More energy is
required to MOVE heavier weight forward than lighter.
That said, we heavyweights just have to deal with it, and find some way to
compensate for it...whether it is getting more fit, running a great deal of the
trail, whatever.
It IS what makes ENDURANCE RIDING such a fun way to pass this life.
