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As an AERC Director and a past member of the AERC Rules
Committee I would offer the following "PERSONAL" opinion of
the AERC Drug Rule. First let me quote the rule:

13. The integrity of Endurance Competition requires that the
equine is not influenced
by any drug, medication or veterinary treatment. Endurance
equines must compete entirely on their natural ability. AERC
prohibits from
competition equines who contain evidence of the
administration of abnormal
substances or of normal substances in abnormal amounts
(exogenously
administered compounds even if normally found endogenously).

13.1 The use of additional therapies during competition
shall be prohibited.
This shall include any invasive procedures, (e.g.:
acupuncture),
manipulative procedures, (e.g.: osseous manipulative
procedures), the
use of any devices to manipulate or stimulate acupressure or
response
points, (e.g.: Bioscans, laser lights, magnetic stimulation
devices, etc).
Competition shall mean the time from the pre-ride veterinary
examination
to the completion of the final veterinary examination for
the
event, including the best-condition judging. Multiple day
rides shall
be treated as they have been determined by AERC either
individual
day events or one event if so designated.

       13.1a. Upon discovery of the presence of such drug
or medication,
       the approved laboratory shall immediately report the
matter
       to the Executive Director of AERC. Any action or
substance
       administered internally or externally, whether drugs
or other-wise,
       which may interfere with the testing procedure, or
mask or screen the 
       presence of such drug, is forbidden.
       

While this is not the entire rule, it is the most important
and basic portion that is being questioned.  "NO DRUGS"

In my humble opinion, if you take AERC Rule #13 on the
merits of keeping the sport of endurance free from undue
"drug" influence there is no question as to it's meaning or
interpretation. "NO DRUGS OF ANY AMOUNT OR ANY KIND ALLOWED,
WHETHER THEY TEST OR NOT"  However, if you wish to parse
each and every word of the rule, clamor for a strict
definition of the word drug, search for ways of
circumvention and ignore your personal conscience, then
there is room for a multitude of questions.

In promulgating this rule, the original thought was that the
competitors were, with very minor exceptions, equestrians
who had the welfare of the horse in mind. Time has proven us
not quite correct in surmising that concept. It appears that
no matter the rule, some jailhouse lawyer will instigate an
act or question to undermine the integrity of such a rule
and thus the nature of this sport. 

To this end, I would point out that the clause most pointed
out in this rule is <<<"AERC prohibits from
competition equines who contain evidence of the
administration of abnormal substances or of normal
substances in abnormal amounts">>>

Please realize this does not state a drug test is paramount.
The evidence of used syringes in your horse trailer could be
" evidence of the administration" that could be used against
a competitor. Remember that the stretching of the wording
could go both ways.

Bob Morris
Director, Northwest Region 

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID 

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Ridecamp Guest
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 10:13 AM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] letter to AERC directors


Please Reply to: Frances gumbootballet@xxxxxxx or
ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
==========================================

I have just posted the following letter to the directors of
the AERC and am looking forward to some clarification of the
current rulings about banned substances. 
Dear Board of Directors;
  I am a fairly recent convert to Endurance riding and find
myself confused by the issue of what substances are and are
not legal for use in competition. I have spoken to seasoned
riders about this issue and have spent time on Ridecamp
exploring the subject, one which seems to generate conflict
and confusion at every turn. I clearly understand that drugs
and medications are not to be used at any time in
competition. It is the AERC policy about holistic substances
that I am at sea about. To my knowledge most
homeopathic/holistic supports work by increasing the
recipient's level of health and wellbeing, allowing that
person or animal to work at a higher level. Substances such
as Arnica, DMG, MSM, Carb-Charge etc. do not test and, in
the case of DMG, occur naturally within the cells of all
mammals. I personally know of riders that are competing and
winning while using some of these supports. I also know of
riders who feel ethically restrained from competing with a
horse that is supported by anything other than standard
types of feed. Therefore, my question to you is " What is
the AERCs stand on holistic/homeopathic support in
competition?" and "How can the AERC fairly regulate
substances which work by increasing a horse's wellbeing and
which cannot be detected through testing?" I feel that this
is an important issue which needs to be seriously addressed
in order to give all competitors an even playing field.
-Frances Forgues, Cumberland, B.C.


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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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