Subject: Re: [RC] APF What is in it, and
would residues from its administration violate rule 13?
How do you define drug? Only those drugs
normally prescribed for horses? What about substances that are not in
regulated by the government?
OK I think you are advocating producing a list of
substances that will be tested. Now some of these will be legal drugs,
and some will be illegal substances with no known use in equine
medicine. Apparently, you feel it would be OK if someone were
feeding anabolicsteriods to horses, as long as they withdrew long enough
before a race.
The list would have to be revised on a frequent
basis. One of the problems in human sports is that there is a constant
stream of new designer substances so the authorities are playing a continuous
game of catch-up.
I used to think that it might be useful to
develop a listed "action level" , as you suggest, for normal useful
vet medicines with any level of illegal, harmful, or non useful substances
being banned in any measurable amount. The vet committee sort of does
this now by looking at the amounts and type of substance found on a case by
case basis when considering penalties. I have since changed my
mind.
Human sports are in a real mess because of the
administration of banned substances. I don't know, but suspect, that
other horse sports have more evasion of the spirit of their rules than we
do. I also see postings on Ridecamp every few months from people who
want to give a magic substance (usually herbal and therefore OK) to their
horses. I am beginning to believe that allowing this camel's nose under
the tent wall would probably result in the whole camel inside in a few
years. I do not want endurance riding to be as corrupt as human
sports.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
