 |
Re: [RC] Drugs and Suppliments - MagnumsmomAdelia wrote: With all this talk on drugs and the proper interpretation of the no-drug rule, I would like to ask a similar question? As a new person to endurance with experience in other disciplines, when does a suppliment cross the line to a drug? Previously mentioned item was yucca. What about: chondroitin glucosamine MSM etc. I haven't seen a specific online answer to this question so I'll email my standard, find it in the archives opinion. Condroitin and Glucosamine are building blocks for healthy joint fluid and cartilege. I like to call them "Vitamin G". Feeding Condroitin and Glucosamine at any point in time will not cause an immediate performance enhancing affect, or an *immediate* reduction in inflamation or pain. They can, however, provide protection against the wear and tear our horses experience during training and on the endurance trail. You can feed "extra", but all that does is waste your money. I beleive this is why these are on the AERC allowed substances list. Again, feeding Condroitin and Glucosamine will not provide a quick "fix" or quick reduction in inflamation or pain. MSM *does* reduce inflamation and therefore it is not allowed to be present in your horse during an AERC competition. MSM is closely related to DMSO and if either are found in your horse during an AERC competition you will be disqualified and may face sanctions. As for "etc.", well that's a bit hard to answer. Basically ANYTHING besides food and water that affects your horse's performance level (positive or negative), reduces or masks pain or inflamation (underlying injury) is against the AERC Zero Drug policy. Ed provided a great explination of this in the other thread, whether some people wanted to hear it or not. Doesn't matter if it "tests" or if you can "get away with it", they are against the principle of AERC's Rule 13. For the benefit of the horses and because they have long term effects or protect our horses the AERC has decided to allow vitamins, electrolytes, wormers (except those which can mask other substances), and joint supplements (Condroitin, Glucosamine, and most likely *oral* Hyaluronic Acid). *Anything* that reduces inflamation including topicals such as DMSO and absorbine are not to be used while the horse is in competition and cannot be present in the horse during competition, but may be applied for your horse's comfort after completion. (Note: Be careful on Multiday rides! You don't want to apply DMSO after the first day because it will be present the next.) As for Regumate, I'm not going to comment on this one since I do not own a mare. I can see the arguments on both sides, but it is on the allowed substances for regulating heat cycles in mares. There is a grey area of "Other substances to regulate heat cycles" and I've heard the question about the use of Testosterone in mares for the same. In my opinion the use of Testosterone is strictly against the AERC rules in any horse for any reason. To me that's pretty obvious. I hope we don't have to say anything more about that one, but perhaps it needs to be added to the other side of the list. Kathy Myers in Santa Fe, NM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|