From Gabriel Stecher, Carboor, Victoria, Australia
Catherine de Lange describes humans being able to outrun horses (10 December 2016, p 33). My horse and I won the 1966 Quilty Cup 160-kilometre endurance ride in 11 hours and 24 minutes. The course climbs 2200 metres. The record time is now about 9 hours.
The horse's task in this race is roughly equivalent to an 80-kilogram runner doing four hilly marathons in a half day, with a 20 kg child strapped to their back. Horses' superior abilities are supported by the same cooling system we are endowed with: the ability to sweat.
