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Re: [RC] re:reply to Bob Morris - heidiPlease Reply to: Frances gumbootballet@xxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================Would something like this added to the rules help? : No horse will be ridden while under the influence of any substance other than feed, vitamin/minerals and electrolytes. No drugs, medicines,supplements, herbal remedies, or homeopathic substances shall be administered to any horse during competition or for 72 hours prior to competition. I think that clears up the grey area in the current ruling quite nicely. Well, actually, no, it doesn't. Your first sentence is fine. But your second sentence carries the implication that it is ok to give pretty much ANYTHING prior to the 72-hour cut-off. That just isn't the case. Substances with long half-lives may still be very much present in the horse's system in that time frame. And that's why AERC has wisely avoided naming cut-off times, or levels, or any such numbers. The presence of such substances still violates the intent of the rule, and giving an arbitrary cut-off time simply muddies the waters. I think the reason that people are unsettled about this rule is that it requires people to actually THINK about what they put into their horse and what the implications might be--and WHY they put those things into the horse in the first place. Example--my horse is sick, but I put him on an antibiotic, and I make sure that he is off of it 72 hours before the XYZ ride so that under your proposal he is "legal." He may seem "ok" so I'm happy about this concrete guideline. But the present rule makes one look a bit deeper--gee, maybe this horse will still have this drug in his system--I don't really know. Well, maybe he really hasn't had time to get over the aftermath of being ill. Well, gee, am I trying to take him to the XYZ for his good or for mine? Gosh, if there is a chance I might jeopardize his recovery, maybe I had better wait for the ABC ride a month from now! THAT, folks, is the intent--and the beauty--of Rule 13. Instead of inviting people to get as close as possible to some defined "edge" it invites them to think instead about what is best for their horse! Do all folks understand that about Rule 13? Apparently not. Nor will they, no matter how often it is explained. But that is still the heart of the sport--taking care of the horse!--and even if just MOST folks try their best to follow the intent of the rule, it benefits horses. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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