Re: Newbie query: why required weight?

[Truman Prevatt <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

Susan,

The Tevis, while a hard ride, is a slow ride.  And while 100 degrees is
hot when a 10% humidity is added it does not compair to 90 degrees and a
50% humidity as far as impact on thermoregulation.

While it is good that someone is taking data, I would be a little
skeptical on drawing conclusions on a set of data - althougth
statistically significant - is only statistically significant for a
particular type of ride - mountain ride - in a semiarid climate.

There are many things that can go wrong with horses expending too much
energy in humid conditions, rapid dehydration, electrolyte loss, heat
build up, etc.  

I have ridden out West some and can tell you that men do much better in
the west than in the east as a rule.  Also men tend to better on rides
that are slower because of the terrain. 

You might want to see if you could team up with someone in the East that
would be interested in working with you.  The Univ of GA vet school
would be a start.  The OD, the Biltmore and the Carolina rides are all
big. The OD will surly give you a good mark on heat and humidity. 
Although the OD tends to be a slower ride.

Truman

 

Susan Evans Garlinghouse wrote:
> 
> Truman, all the data was collected at Tevis in '95, '96 and more
> recently, '98.  Reasons being that it's one of the few races where ride
> management weighs riders with tack before the race, has a large turnout
> and other logistical reasons.  One year was hot and dry, one year was
> hot and humid, the third year was relatively cool and dry.  When we
> analyzed the three populations against each other, there was still no
> difference in ride results---that is, the distribution based on weight
> was still the same.
> 
> OTOH, what we call "humidity" out here is a lot different from the
> humidity you folks get (except for this week, when it's swampy by
> anyone's standards).  So heat dissipation may very well be a factor at
> some point, though it wasn't at this level of humidity when we looked at
> it.  Certainly a larger, heavier mass will be producing more heat and
> have a smaller surface area from which to dissipate it.
> 
> I'd be delighted to come collect data in the SE, if someone can find me
> a big enough ride to get a statitically viable population, and ride
> management that will weigh the riders and their tack beforehand.
> 
> Susan G
> 
> Truman Prevatt wrote:


-- 
Truman Prevatt
Mystic “The Horse from Hell” Storm
Rocket a.k.a. Mr. Misty
Jordy a.k.a. Bridger (when he is good)
Danson Flame - hey dad I'm well now and ready to go!

Brooksville, FL