Instead, I'd like to give some background, and some philosophy.
During my 14 years on the AERC Board of Directors we wrestled with
this question just about every year. Like pornography, drug abuse
is one of those things that you know when you see it but it's awfully
hard to define. Add to that the difficulties and expense of testing
and of determining meaningful levels (when the tests become more
sensitive every year), and it becomes seemingly impossible to have a
policy that is fair, objective, easily understood, and enforceable.
We know what most of us want: our horses to compete fairly, on a
"level playing field," and without harm or undue risk. That means
competing on their natural abilities aided only by good nutrition,
training, and vet care -- not by artificial chemicals. Our biggest
gray area seems to be determining what is good nutrition and what is
artificial chemicals!
For many years we felt the best approach was basically an honor
system. A simple statement in the rulebook that endurance horses
were to compete drug-free, no exceptions. I believed, and still
believe, that our sport is to a large degree naturally
self-policing. That is, you can't get much effective help from drugs
on a 100 mile ride anyway (except maybe to pass the post-finish vet
exam) and a horse campaigned on drugs will not last long.
In more recent times the Board felt that the honor system was not
enough, and the more comprehensive drug rule was written. Testing
was also begun. The system has plenty of checks and balances: a
positive drug test does not convict you. If there is a positive
test, there will be an investigation first by the Veterinary Committee
and Protest & Grievance Committee. If they feel punishment is in
order, the full Board holds a hearing. This hearing has two phases:
first, to determine guilt or innocence, and (if guilty) to determine
a penalty.
If you do "get caught," the penalties can be severe. Twice during
my tenure a horse and rider lost their entire year's points and miles
for drug infractions that many other sports would have winked at.
But, this is where I see a trend in some of the postings that
distresses me. There sometimes seems to be more concern for whether
a substance will "test" than on whether it is proper to use it.
We'll never be able to test for everything. I believe that both good
sportsmanship and good horsemanship demand that we err on the side of
caution. If some substance you think will help you get through a
ride (or get through a ride faster) is not something that occurs
naturally in a horse's normal foodstuffs, or if you're contemplating
giving it in unnaturally large doses, then *IT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE
POLICY WHETHER IT TESTS OR NOT* and you shouldn't use it!
OK, 'nuff soapbox. ; ^ ) Go ahead and use your e-selenium, your
dyn-O-mite or other favorite commercial vitamin mix, your
electrolytes. Just use the normal dosage, not mega-doses. It has
never been the intention of the AERC drug policy to deter good horse
care.
--Joe Long Rainbow Connection Arabians Kahlil Khai, AERC Hall of Fame jlong@hiwaay.net 11,450 miles completed (drug-free)