Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> However, there is no reason the process could not include the winner, BC
>  and 8 horses drawn at random. The one flaw may be at rides I've seen it
>  done only finishers were tested. If someone was really intent on using
> drugs - particularly some that really had some performane enhancing
> capability like steroids -  and he/she heard testing was going on he
> could eaisly skirt the process - and walk - by pulling himself for RO
> ("...doc I have a bad case of cramps and can't go on as much as I want
> to..."). So I would think it should be directed at the field of starters
>  and not just finishers -
That was one of the aspects I liked about the protocol the testers in the
NW have used.  Although I don't recall a non-finisher ever being tested,
the potential was certainly there (and would be more apt to happen if we
could test more horses) since the horses were drawn from the number of
starters.

Heidi


============================================================
They're athletes! This is a partnership between horse and rider - we don't
have any jockeys out there, just pals and partners. We'd allow a rider with
a broken foot, a sore back and a nasty cold to compete - but we would never
let a horse in a similiar condition hit the trail.
~ Dr. Barney Flemming DVM

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

============================================================