Re: [RC] Percentage body weight (was: Dainty horses) - Sisu West Ranch
I will absolutely agree that heavy weight riders
have more trouble with horses going lame. This, not getting the
cardiovascular conditioning absolutely right (think Tom Ivers' teachings), is my
personal speed limit. It is also the reason that I perfer to ride on
technical, hilly rides. This slows everyone down and negates a portion of
the advantage of Feather Weights.
I can also see, because of scaling factors, why a
heavy horse (think stock type QH or draft type) will have more lameness issues
than a lighter (think Arabian) horse.
The part I have trouble with is the implication
that since Scab is below 14 hands, and weighs perhaps 700 lbs (I haven't put a
weight tape on her so I am guessing) I would be better riding her than in riding
Ranger or Stevie who weigh over 1000 lbs thus making our ride weights over the
magic 1200 lbs.
I guess my bottom line is that heavyweights have
lameness issues, but I am not convinced that the solution is for heavyweights to
select horses that get them below some magic combined weight figure.
The only endurance horse I have ever ridden who would have kept the combined
weight below the magic figure is Al. He had good conformation, but
relatively light bone. He developed some cronic lameness issues, and is
now leading a happy life as a mountain pleasure horse in WY. The result of
this experience is that I look at conformation and bone as a better predictor
than combined weight.
By the way, I do not hold that the effect does not
exist. I am just a bit skeptical.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
