Re: AERC Drug Policy

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<<
IMO, substances/supplements that we deliberately feed to our horses for
their pharmacological effect do not fall into this category. For me,
Yucca would not fall into this category. I have not yet decided how I
feel about GAGS. I am inclined to think that if they are administered in
order to allow a horse that would otherwise be lame to compete...this
would be on the borderline of drugging. If, on the otherhand, they are
given in order to prevent horses from developing debilitating DJD, then
they are a good thing that we should avail ourselves of. You will note
that there is probably a good deal of overlap in these two
purposes...which is why I have not yet decided how I feel about GAGS. I
think, that it is up to each individual to decide what their purposes are
in administering GAGS to their horse and up to each individual to decide
if that purpose is in contravention of the "spirit" of the AERC "no drug"
policy in that horses should compete entirely on their own ability,
unenhanced by drugs. >>

It gets even trickier. Within plants like yucca are chemical groups that are
well known in some laboratories and are becoming known, and testable, in
equine drug testing labs. Terpenes come to mind--found in many herbal
"remedies".

On the other hand, other substances, like CoQ10, GAGs, hyaluronic acid
(Legend), bicarbonate, sugar, chromium, and a whole raft of nutrients,
including testosterone and adrenal/thyroid hormones, are naturally occurring
in the body due to normal day to day nourishment. Some of these have a
dramatic effect on performance--water, for example, in the endurance horse.
Sugar. Performance enhancement cannot be the sole criteria because
carbohydrates and water would be banned as the most powerful of performance
enhancers in endurance horses.

So what do you ban? Anything licensed veterinarians dispense--at effective
levels. Then you move the questionable stuff like yucca into the vet
(prescription drug) area and pay four times what you were paying before--if
you want to ban it.

Arbitrarily banning everything known to mankind except hay oats and water is
plain stupid, and unenforceable.

ti

• Next message: Truman Prevatt: "Re: What should treatment Vets be paid?"
• Previous message: David Bennett: "Re: What should treatment Vets be paid?"
• Maybe in reply to: K S Swigart: "AERC Drug Policy"
• Next in thread: Truman Prevatt: "Re: What should treatment Vets be paid?"

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