Ridecamp: RE: [RC] ARE THESE SUPPLEMENTS NECESSARY FOR MY HORSE TO BE IN COMPETITION

This thread has been working its way under my skin for awhile, with its
implications that scientific understanding and efficient utilization of
the processes involved in exercise and nutrition lead to a horse that is
somehow competing on other than its own ability.   I have to reply to
this from my own perspective as a middle aged, middle of the road
athlete - and I personally don't use any drugs other than tylenol/advil
when I've overdone it.

I have spent the last year working with an anti-aging specialist (I'm in
my 40's) to maximize my physical well being. 

Please note those words; they are important.  MAXIMIZE MY PHYSICAL WELL
BEING.

20 year olds take this for granted.  40 year olds have to work at it.
To do this, I have an exercise and conditioning schedule, tailored to my
needs and increased as I get in better shape.
I also take a pharmacopoeia of supplements designed to put back in my
body what it no longer makes because its older than it used to be.
These include, precursor hormones, hormones, vitamins, minerals, fish
oil, thyroid, condroiton and a few more I've forgotten.

After a year, 
my cholesterol is lower
my body fat % has dropped 5%
I've thrown away my reading glasses
I can lift 2.5 times the amount of weight I started with.
I have more energy 
I have more stamina
My skin is soft for the first time in 30 years, despite all the time I
spend outside.
I'm not anemic for the first time in 18 years.
My doctor oohs and aahs over my bloodwork, which has also apparently
regressed to a younger, healthier state.

There are NO DRUGS involved in this regimen.  Just the stuff my body
used to make and doesn't anymore, or used to metabolize well and doesn't
anymore, or never metabolized well in the first place.


If I am going to take my horse and make a competition athlete out of
him, doesn't he deserve the same good diet and vitamins and minerals and
proteins that I give myself?
Doesn't he deserve a diet tuned to his needs?  Doesn't he deserve
supplements if his natural diet is inadequate to support the workload I
am asking of him?

Carbo loading
BCAA's
joint supplements
aloe vera juice
and all the others I missed

all fall under the heading of MAXIMUM WELL BEING.

Some horses have the genetics to be phenomenal athletes and just need
some conditioning.
Most horses have the potential to be much better than their base, but
need the optimal diet, joint maintenance and extra sugar during a race
to excel to the level the phenomenal athlete reaches on pure genetics.
Both kinds of horses deserve the chance to be competitors.  Neither need
to compete on drugs.  But they each use different, legal avenues to get
to the top levels of competition.  Science and technology have gained us
windows into what is happening inside our horses.  We KNOW so much more
than we did 20 years ago.  It gives us the chance to take a medium
athlete and make him into a top athlete because we have the tools to
figure out what is missing, in his diet, in his training, in his
genetics that keeps him from attaining his best.  If we use what science
has given us, that missing link often comes in powdered form.  I could
probably feed a small dose of molasses and sugar and ground cob and come
close to the medium chain complex carbohydrate that is Carbo charge.
But if you think I come in covered in dirt now, what would I look like
drenched in sugar and molasses as well?  Come on, some things are meant
to make life more efficient.  Use them.  Don't whine that we no longer
live in the dark ages.

This reply is not in reference to MSM, bute, or gastroguard, all of
which are drugs, and just MHO, don't belong in competition.


Alison A. Farrin
Innovative Pension
Innovative Retirement Services
858-748-6500 x 107
alison@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



At 12:02 PM 7/29/02, Bob Morris wrote:
>  "ARE THESE SUPPLEMENTS NECESSARY FOR MY HORSE TO BE IN COMPETITION!"
>
>If they are not necessary, then why use them?

And if they are necessary, is your horse really healthy and sound enough
to 
be competing?  Is competing with drugs really  just a subtle form of
abuse?
   

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