Re: Newbie query: why required weight?

[Jerald Thiessen <thiesj@tdbank.ca>]

Weight is always a factor at any speed (aerobic or anaerobic). It is just more
of a factor as you speed up.BUT NOT NECESSARY THE DECIDING FACTOR.
I do not think anyone said it is the determining factor , I as a heavy weight
see it a something to me to overcome. I agree that we cannot equalize it by
adding weight, but that does not justify the "denial" that carrying extra weight
over great distances does cost the horse to expend more energy.  The horse is
probably in better condition because of the extra weight carried in the training
rides as well. The light weights should hire us heavies to condition their
horses and then have the light weight compete. You light weights would be
unstoppable.


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