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Home » online exclusives » Bike vs. Horse – Dirt Rider Magazine

Bike Vs. Horse – Dirt Rider Magazine

By: Chris Green

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore/></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore</p>
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<p>Have you ever thought about the ultimate grudge match? No, not Dungey against Stewart-we’re talking about a hay-eating horse going nose to nose with a fuel-eating motorcycle? If you have, some would figure the bike would blow the horse away due to fatigue and because there is no way one horsepower could beat 50. This may be true if you lined up on a starting gate at your local track and took a lap. But in some horsey events with 100 percent accurate laser timers and a freshly groomed track for each competitor, we found the animal can give the machine a run for its money. Even before these tests began, the horse riders and bike riders were doing quite a bit of talking, telling each other how it was going to play out. With two passionate horse riders and two dirt bike riders, the games began.<br />
<h2>Barrels</h2>
<p>The first match that kicked off the comparison and the one that gave us a better idea on how things would play out was the barrel pattern. At a Gymkhana event, the standard barrel setup is in the shape of a triangle (see illustration on the next page). The rider starts at the base of the triangle and has to make a turn around each barrel. You can go either direction, making either two left or two right turns.<strong>Now the big question:</strong> Who was faster, the motorcycle or the horse? Well, it’s almost too close to call, much like a Dirt Rider shootout. We had a tractor to groom the course between the bike and horse runs to keep the contest fair.The barrel test pointed out the areas where both the bike and the horse had their ups and downs. The bike had the advantage on the straights in between the barrels but struggled making the tight corners exceeding 180 degrees. The horses were able to make these corners with ease while keeping great momentum, which is amazing to see when you consider the size and weight of these large, muscle-bound animals. It almost confounds me that a massive horse was able to make a tight turn faster than I was able to on my little 200-pound motorcycle. I had to worry about traction and sliding out, which wasn’t an issue for the horses. The horses do look faster because of their size and the speed they carry around the corners, but the bikes are able to make up time in the straights because of their torque and ability to quickly reach a higher top speed. In this particular test between the two completely different beasts, the bike won by the smallest margin of just under one second. When the times were all added up, the girl on the horse’s average time was 19.891 seconds. Between Anthony Silva and me on the bikes, we averaged at 19.098 seconds. At the end of this test everyone was pumped up about how close the times compared and eager to see what would happen during the next session.<br />
<h2>Pole Bending</h2>
<p>The Pole Bending Pattern is an even more technical test. It consists of two straights and then weaving through poles down and back (see illustration). The distance from the timing line to the first pole is 21 feet, and each pole is also spaced 21 feet apart. You start off at the bottom of the course and sprint/hold it wide open to the other end of the poles and make a 180-degree turn around the last pole and weave your way through the poles heading back toward the starting line, do another 180-degree turn and weave back to the far end, make the last U-turn and go back down to the timing line.
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Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore/></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore</p>
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<p>This course tests top speed (for a horse), your ability to slow down and how fast you can shift your weight from side to side in between poles. The technicality factor definitely plays the bigger part in this test due to the tight back-and-forth pattern. A huge benefit for the horses is that they can be trained specifically for this pattern. When we watched the horses do their run, they were able to jump from side to side between the poles, allowing them to maintain a ridiculous amount of momentum. I didn’t know how they could nail the same lines so well and so fast each and every lap until I was informed they have horses just for pole bending. It also helped that the horse could see the poles (unlike my bike) so it knew to go around them. This allowed the horse to run a straighter and more linear line through the poles without drifting too far out of the main line, while the rider atop the horse just leaned around each pole. They both worked in sync with each other.<br clear=all>On the bike, this course is where Anthony and I struggled the most. Finding the right gear was difficult because you needed to be able to flow as fast as possible without stalling out or losing too much traction in a lower gear. The course was tight, so first gear was making good power. But first gear is first gear, and that means your tire is most likely spinning. We quickly found out that you have to slow down to go faster, especially with second gear being more mellow, thus giving the rider far more control over his bike. I was able to flow through the course instead of fight it by riding smarter and less aggressively. Still, the one thing that caused us problems was steering around the poles without knocking them over. The pole-bending course makes the bike feel way wider than it actually is because it is so easy to cut around a pole too tightly and knock it over. Then your whole run is gone.<br clear=all>Like the barrel race, the pole-bending pattern came down to a close half second that determined the winner. The bike’s average time between the two riders on the Honda CRF250X and Yamaha YZ450 was 23.446 seconds. In this test, the horses pulled through with the faster average time of 23.005 seconds. You have to use your weight to lean the bike because it is neutral and doesn’t go from leaning left to right on its own, whereas the horse jumps from side to side leaning all by itself allowing the rider to focus on steering and keeping from knocking down the poles. The only reason the bike stayed close was because of the straight at the start and end of the drill; the machine got killed in the turns again.<br clear=all><br />
<h2>Single Pole</h2>
<p>The last test we conducted in the arena is called the single pole. It is the simplest of all the courses we ran and is a drag race from point A to point B and back. You sprint from the timing line to the first barrel and make a 180-degree left- or right-hand turn around a barrel, and then go back through the timing line to finish. It really is the opposite of the pole-bending pattern in the sense that it is not technical but a test of top speed and how quickly you can slow down to make the corner and get back up to speed. This course proved our theory that the bike has the advantage with speed and the horse excels in tighter, more technical layouts. With two long straights and a single 180-degree corner, the bike had the better average time at 8.707 seconds. The horse was slightly off pace in this test coming in at 9.459 seconds.
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Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore/></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore</p>
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<h2>Trail</h2>
<p>Without an accurate scoring system outside of the arena, we decided a trail test would be based on a slightly different scale. The first discussion that arose for this test was places that you can or can’t take a horse or bike. You can’t exactly take a horse through a nasty rock garden with sharp loose boulders sticking out everywhere without it being seriously injured. There are a wide variety of trails that a bike can go on because you don’t necessarily have to watch out for what you are running over. You don’t want to venture off into dangerous areas on a horse and run the risk of injuring your ride. A broken leg or ankle can lead to much worse problems for a horse, so it is best to stay on the safer trails.<br clear=all>On the other hand, how are you going to get your bike across a five-foot-deep stream? Sure, you can try to get a run and hydroplane across the top, but more than likely you will drop the front end and go over the handlebars and end up skipping across the water like a flat stone. And have you ever seen a good horse and rider on an off-camber trail? It is ridiculous where they can go and how efficient the horse is. And yes, some horses can jump over fences without a ramp. There are a lot of things you can and can’t do on horses and bikes when it comes to play riding in the sticks, but if your goal is to head out and have a nice, easy yet fun trail ride, both the iron horse and the traditional horse have distinct advantages.<br clear=all>Obviously, the distance and how long a horse can stay out before it needs to take a break for food and water aren’t quite the same as a motorcycle. There is such a thing as an endurance horse which is bred and trained to go for 50 to 100 miles. The faster of these horses can complete a 100-mile ride in a matter of 10 to 12 hours. However, the horses that we took to the desert aren’t used to such a beating. They are capable of going about 8 to 10 hours at a trail pace, covering anywhere from 18-24 miles. As far as feeding goes, they eat every 12 hours if they are hanging out in the stalls or out for a walk with their other equestrian pals. If you compare the bike and horse for distance capabilities, well, the bike can go farther faster. Depending on what kind of riding you do and your bike’s fuel capacity, you are looking at 40-70 miles. A bike will go as long as you want based on fuel in the tank. It’s a bummer you can’t open up the horse’s belly, throw in some hay, an apple, maybe some vitamins and a quick drink to buy yourself another hour or two on the trails.<br clear=all><br />
<h2>Quarter-Mile Sand Wash</h2>
<p>For the trail test we ran the bike and horse down a quarter-mile section of sand wash with some sweeping corners and a few straightaways. Amazingly, the horse did better than expected in this but was limited because of a lack of top speed. Although the bike had the advantage, it lost a lot of time on the start. The very soft and dry sand allowed the horse to shoot off the line easily and get up to speed right away. The bike would bury the rear tire and take a little longer to get going. Four powerful legs get better traction than even a fresh knobby; somehow they are able to keep from sinking into the sand, they stay on top of the surface and get excellent traction.As far as times go, the bike did better with an average time of 22.25 seconds. The horse’s average time was 27.35 seconds. If the course were tighter with fewer straights and more corners or just shorter, the bike’s margin over the horse would have been a lot smaller and maybe the horse would have won. It’s hard to say who will be faster until you run the race and have solid data. This last test helped prove our theory that you can go faster in a straight line on a dirt bike, but you may struggle keeping up with a horse in tight, technical stuff-unless low-hanging branches come into play!
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Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore/></a>
<p class="wp-caption-text">Pat Smage abuses his rear wheel (and tire). Photo by Shan Moore</p>
</div>
<h2>Behind The Bars</h2>
<p>Holding on to what felt like a rubbery loose handlebar was an experience for me. Riding a horse was a totally new thing, and luckily I was in full moto gear to keep me safe. Just like a bike, a horse has its controls and will do what you tell it to. That is, if you have a good horsey. At lower speeds on a horse, the ride is going to be much rougher than a bike. It isn’t until the horse starts galloping or goes into a sprint that the ride smooths out. The horse has a rhythm that your body must stay in sync with or you’re going to find yourself holding your breath and squeezing the reigns trying not to get rattled right off the pony. Then again, maybe that’s what everyone goes through the first time they saddle up!<br clear=all><br />
<h2>Wrap-Up</h2>
<p>During our tests we learned a lot about the animal and the machine. The times we recorded were so much closer than any of us anticipated. With that being said, it would be cool to see a guy on a dirt bike show up at a rodeo and put on a little show for the fans to show that it is possible to compete with the professional barrel racers. I’m not sure the same would be true for a horse at supercross. A rider can command a horse to change directions much easier than the relatively complicated procedure of turning a bike. After all, a horse has a brain and it sort of acts on auto-pilot when in sync with the rider.<br clear=all>On a bike you have to use the brakes, clutch and probably downshift a couple of times in order to get turned around like this, and if you slip up, you go down. The bike benefits in high-speed sections and more gradual sweeping corners where extra power, incredible suspension and a nearly indestructible build complement the machine. Ups and downs of the bike and horse challenge each rider in a unique way and in the end are super comparable for some things but at the same time are so different in many ways. We still have to consider that bikes don’t get tired, and we actually get more used to our bike as the day wears on, while the horses will get tired and are limited to the amount of time they can be ridden. And you can never forget that you can park the bike in the garage and almost forget about it. Most horse owners would argue that a horse needs daily attention and even some love.<br clear=all>
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<h2>The Riders</h2>
<p><strong>Bike:</strong><em> Chris Green</em><br />
Intermediate motocross rider, Dirt Rider intern.<br />
Experience on a horse: Ridden on the back of one before. My dirt bike can’t make up its own mind.<strong>Bike:</strong> <em>Anthony Silva</em><br />
A young rider who retired early. Still shows signs of talent and speed.<br />
Experience on a horse: Competed in junior rodeos as a youngster. Would rather control his beast 100 percent.<strong>Horse:</strong> <em>Jerilyn Silva</em><br />
An up-and-coming horse rider in the California Gymkhana Association (CGA). She is getting it done at a young age!<br />
Experience on a bike: Knows how to ride but prefers four legs to two wheels. More comfortable holding reins than Renthals.<br /><strong>Horse:</strong> <em>Jordyn Jara</em><br />
Rides well under pressure when a motocross bike is breathing down her neck. Also a competitor in the CGA.<br />
Experience on a bike: Tried learning. Turns out the horse’s throttle didn’t stick so she leaned toward the muscles and bones.<br />
<h2>Trail Etiquette</h2>
<p>If you do encounter a horse on the trails, please be polite to the equestrian and give them their space. Make your bike quieter by shifting up a few gears using low rpm or simply stop and let them pass. Sometimes it is even best to take your helmet off, especially on tight trails. Have fun riding your bikes and your horses. Giddyup and braap braap!<br />
<h2>Monthly Maintenance Costs/Preparation</h2>
<p><strong>Bike:</strong><br />
$80 for gas<br />
$210 for tires<br />
$20 for grips<br />
$50 for oil and oil filter, chain lube and air filters<br />
$180 for graphics and racing numbers<br />
Needs prep before each ride (1-hour)<strong>Horse:</strong><br />
$75 for hay<br />
$70 for horseshoes<br />
$100 for horse chiropractor<br />
$150 for dentist<br />
$60 for supplements<br />
$30 for water<br />
$110 for shots<br />
Needs work every day (1-hour)<br />
Trim bridal path/mane<br />
Brush entire body<br />
Pick the hooves to prevent stone bruises<br />
Thrush/wet feet<br />
What’s Hot!<br />
<h2>What’s Hot!</h2>
<p><strong>Bike:</strong><br />
•You don’t have to prep it on days you don’t ride it<br />
•Doesn’t poop in the garage<br />
•Wheelies on command<br />
•Bikes don’t get sick<br />
•Bikes have tails, too….rooster tails!<br /><strong>Horse:</strong><br />
•Can be trained to circle back and pick you up after you fall<br />
•Older models are stronger than current model year<br />
•You can ride them around cows and not start a stampede<br />
•Horses are a cowboy/girl’s best friend<br />
•When a horse falls over it doesn’t stall<br />
•Riding areas don’t close down so easily to horses<br />
What’s Not!<br />
<h2>What’s Not</h2>
<p><strong>Bike:</strong><br />
•Doesn’t produce CRF50Fs when locked in a room with a 450X<br />
•When you crash, it’s typically not the bike’s fault<br />
•Can’t stand up by itself<br />
•Bikes require chemicals and oil<br />
•If you become stranded, how will it keep you warm?<br />
•Makes dust and noise<br /><strong>Horse:</strong><br />
•Has a mind of its own!<br />
•Not much aftermarket availability<br />
•You can’t whip it on a horse<br />
•Vet and chiropractor bills are expensive<br />
•It’s usually not exciting when you have to get a new horse, because you miss your old one.<br />
•If you do a tail grab, you might get kicked.<br />
•How do you hook up an hourmeter to this thing?</div>

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