I have to disagree with the premise above. IMHO endurance riding is the
test of the horse and rider team to cover a set milage. It is a team
effort. Some people run with their horses, some tail up hills, some lead
their horses down hills - that is all part of the sport. If you chose to
stay on your horse then that is your choice. There are many reasons to
dismount, one being safty. I have ridden 100's where the trial had large
overhanding limbs. When you put my six for carcass on the top of a 16-2
horse I am a lot more sensetive to overhands than a 5 foot featherweight on
a 14 hand horse. In these areas I will get off and jog and walk after
dark.
Also some of us upper middle weight and heavyweight riders have to give our
horses a break because of the inherent disadvantage of weight. If the
playing field is not level it is the fact that a mandatory min weight of
say 175 to 185 pounds is not required. I pull this range out of my ear
since that seems to be about the average of all the riders (plus tack of
course).
Truman Prevatt
Sarasota, FL