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Each
professional sport has a unique scenario of domination. In baseball, it's the 1906 Chicago Cubs (116-36; .763%). In American football, it is the undefeated '72 Miami Dolphins. In hockey, it's the '77 Montreal Canadiens. (Side note: Your humble author is a less-than-humble bleu, blanc et rouge fan.)
 ...via Yahoo! Sports
In horse racing, it's the Triple Crown. Each nation has its
own version of the equestrian Triple Crown, but in the U.S.A, I'll Have Another
has a unique opportunity to become the first American Triple Crown winner since
1978's Affirmed. After winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, a Belmont Stakes
victory will etch I'll Have Another into the minds of horse racing fans
forever.
 ...via MarketWatch
Let's face it: horses are nothing short of athletes, but
rarely get the glory they deserve. After retiring, they're usually sent to Elmer's
pasture for breeding. They have amazing skills and train hard so the hobbits
Smurfs jockeys on their backs can reap the adoration
of racing fans. While it may be the horse's name that goes down in record
books, it's the human companions that bask in the glow of victory.
Let's see how humans and horses compare as competitors.
 Chief Crazy Horse...via Neb. Weslayan
Blood Doping
You may recall (but probably not, since no one reads these)
from 'A
Genetically Perfect Athlete' that doping for red blood cell production has
become a major Olympic and endurance sport concern. This would provide better
respiration for the athletes, enhancing performance. In both humans and horses,
about 35% of blood is composed of red blood cells while at rest.
Humans are pretty much stuck at that percentage. Horses
however, have an extremely large spleen-sometimes four feet long-- that enables
them to store additional RBCs. These RBCs can be tapped when running, providing
horses nearly double (65%) the amount of RBCs to supplement their oxygen
supply.
Studies on centaurs
are ongoing, but initial research suggests centaurs have standard RBC
pertcentages of about 42%.
 ...via F. Lysken
Current score: 1-0 horses
Aerobic Capacity
Amazing human endurance athletes regularly report a VO2
max in the upper 80s of milliliters of oxygen per kilogram per minute
(ml/kg/min). This measurement is the maximum capacity of an individual's body
to transport and use oxygen efficiently, and is directly correlated to the
athlete's physical fitness.
Thoroughbreds typically have a ml/kg/min in the range of
180, far surpassing that of humans. Finally, for comparison, sled dogs, such as
those covered in 'March Madness'
can have VO2 maxes in the range of 240 ml/kg/min.
It should also be noted that both dogs and horses have
nostrils that flare and expand during exercise.
 ...via The Telegraph
Current score: 2-0 horses
Lung Operation
Despite a horse's large VO2 max, the actual operation of the
lungs are hindered by the horse's anatomy. As explained by Equine Kingdom:
At a gallop, the horse breathes in
rhythm with every stride. As the horse's ab muscles pull the hind legs forward
in the "suspension" phase of the gallop, the organs within the
abdominal cavity are pushed backward, therefore bringing air into the lungs and
causing the horse to inhale. As the neck is lowered during the extended phase
of the gallop, the hind legs move backwards and the "guts" of the
horse more forward, pushing into the diaphragm and forcing air out of the
lungs.
This limits a horse's ability to regulate it's breathing,
which can be very important since horses regularly suffer from exercise induced
pulmonary hemorrhage. This condition bursts capillaries in the lungs and blood
from the nose of a horse is a regular occurrence. While this can be limited by
the use of Lasix, it becomes a major problem considering horses cannot exhale
from their mouths.
While humans may experience EIPH, it is exceptionally rare,
and usually results in simply(?) coughing up blood.
This is such a serious problem, that I'm biasedly awarding 2
points to humans.
 ...via Creative Skirts
Current Score: 2-2 tie
A Genetic Difference
Just like in humans, DNA makeup can greatly influence the
type of activity a horse is suited for. Be it endurance running, sprints, or
steeplechase (hurdles), it is possible to genetically predict an athlete's
success.
Scientists at the University of Dublin have traced the
modern 'speed gene' found in horses to a Canadian mare called Neartic that
lived in the mid-20th Century.
 Nearctic...via Jan Hare
Of course, similar genes have been found in humans, so
essentially this topic is a wash.
Score remains 2-2.
Why Jockeys Crouch
In the 1890s, racetrack times improved by about 6% in this
decade alone. This is also the decade jockeys began to use shortened stirrups that
forced them to crouch over the horse's front legs.
This did two things: it kept weight off the horses back and
more toward the horse's center of gravity. It also meant that the jockey used
his or her legs as a type of shock absorber, so the horse didn't have to bear
the full burden of the jockey's dynamic load.
 ...via USA Today
Since this was discovered by jockeys and not horses (pshhh, stupid horses…) I'm awarding the
final point to the jockeys.
FINAL SCORE: Humans 3, Horses 2
So, what did I prove?
Equestrian racing is a truly rare form of sport. It blends
two species as a team, working together towards a single goal. Inherent
communication provides the key to victory. The jockey is the coach. The horse
is the athlete.
It should be noted that the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells has a Man vs. Horse Marathon every June. In the 31 years in it's existence, horses have won every race but two of them.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go change my clothes so I
can challenge a bear to a fight.
 ...via Jennifer Tyers
Resources
UCD Dublin
MSNBC - The Science of Horse Racing
Wikipedia - EIPH; Equine anatomy; Horse racing;
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Re: Man vs. Horse: The Utimate Competition
