Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: Re: [RC]  Bad news for heavy riders and narrow horses (2)

OK—now that I brought da hubby his breakfast in bed, I did a Take 2 on the report. Further to my previous message, the report cites:

• Only 8 subjects! Much too small to generate meaningful data and statistical significance
• No distinction between heavyweight riders and overweight riders (the report says overweight, but that might be an unwarranted judgment)
• There was some attention to conformational issues, unclear whether the correct variables were being assessed
  

Still need to analyze original paper.

BK (AERC FW)


On 3/3/08 7:48 AM, "Beverley H. Kane, MD" <sensei@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> As we have been discussing on TreelessSaddles, it is extremely difficult to do legitimate, scientific studies of this kind. There are too many variables: type of horses, type of riders, type of riding, type of saddle. Plus, it’s not accurate to evaluate a report of a study without reading the original methodology in the original paper.
>
> I was not immediately able to find Dr. Powell’s paper—maybe one of the vets on the list knows how to use a horsey Pub Med, but I would want to read the original for what kind of horses were used, how many subjects, riding level of the riders, etc.
>
> Common sense says that any horse who carries too much weight will be sore. But the data can not be automatically extrapolated to any given heavyweight rider with a large horse, well-fitting tack, and advanced riding skills.
>
> B
>
>
> On 3/2/08 7:04 PM, "Merri" <mer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article <http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2008/03/011.shtml> 
> >
> > March 3, 2008
> >
> > Researchers in the US have bad news for overweight horse riders. A study has found that horses who have to carry between 25 and 30 per cent of their bodyweight have more physical problems related to exercise than those who carry 20 percent or less.
> >
> > Horses carrying 30% body weight showed a significant increase in muscle soreness and muscle tightness scores. The changes were less marked when they carried 25% body weight.
> >
> > More... <http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2008/03/011.shtml> 
> >
> > --
> > Posted By  Merri  to  Consider This <http://www.endurance.net/channels/2008/03/bad-news-for-heavy-riders-and-narrow.html>   at  3/02/2008 08:03:00 PM 
>
>
> _______________
> Beverley Kane, MD
> Horsensei Equine-Assisted Learning & Therapy
> Woodside, CA
> 650-868-3379
> http://www.horsensei.com
>
> The Manual of Medicine and Horsemanship--
> Transforming the Doctor-Patient Relationship with Equine-Assisted Learning
> http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=49669


_______________
Beverley Kane, MD
Horsensei Equine-Assisted Learning & Therapy
Woodside, CA
650-868-3379
http://www.horsensei.com

The Manual of Medicine and Horsemanship--
Transforming the Doctor-Patient Relationship with Equine-Assisted Learning
http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=49669