Re: Newbie query: why required weight?

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

If you are talking about completion ONLY...MAYBE............but, if you are
"running for the roses", logically, I cannot see how it is NOT a factor.
Studies or no studies.  Increased weight is increased work-load for the horse.

Teddy


Susan Evans Garlinghouse wrote:

> > On Thu, 3 Sep 1998, Teddy Lancaster wrote:
> >
> > > I must vehemently disagree with you. Weight carried by a horse,
> > > especially over long distances has been proven over and over again to be
> > > a MAJOR decided factor in the outcome of ANY race.
>
> K S Swigart wrote:
> > >
> > Show me the statitics.  The only studies I have ever seen where anybody
> > actually tried to figure out what the effect of weight carried had on
> > outcome of an endurance competition came to the statistical conclusion
> > that weight of the rider (and all its tack) is "insignificant."
>
> Teddy, I have to agree with Kathy---it has NOT been shown in any
> research project that weight makes a difference, especially over a long
> distance.  There's only been ONE empirical research study that ever
> looked at weight-carrying ability in endurance horses and that was
> mine.  I've looked at over 600 endurance horses now and the statistics
> are crystal-clear that weight makes NO difference to completion rate,
> finishing time, or in pulled horses, how far they went before they were
> pulled.  If the study weren't published, it would still be just my
> opinion---but it's been dragged over the coals by a whole lot of
> extremely nit-picking researchers that dearly love to find mistakes and
> they all agreed with the conclusions.  WEIGHT IS NOT A FACTOR AT
> SUB-ANAEROBIC SPEEDS.
>
> Susan G