wow, i want to run that someday! what do you suppose a typical horseback riding pace is?
what if we were to race/chase siberian huskies?
according to past Iditarod results, the fastest dogs cover roughly 1,000 miles in roughly 9 days. that is an average of 111 miles a day, averaging just under 13:00 pace. the mushers take their dogs out on 50-100 mile training runs to prepare for the race and the dogs consume about 10,00-14,000 calories per day...so they get breaks to eat, they are paced, encouraged, cared for, etc.
so, human biomechanics may be superior/more efficient, but it seems to me that a husky could usually outlast a human. in this case, the beast wins.
interestingly enough, i found an interview online about dog racing that mentions the intelligence of the dogs:
WDW: What are the breed’s strengths and weaknesses as racing sled dogs?
Karen: Well, I think the breed's biggest weakness is their intelligence.
I work alot with Jamie Nelson in Minnesota and get to compare the learning curve and performance levels of her Alaskans to my Siberians. The Alaskans don't seem to have to have things 'explained' to them like the Siberians do. You show them what you want and they will apply themselves 110% to the task. The Siberians tend to need to be shown why it is to their advantage to do this and want to always know what is in it for them.