Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> I am having a hard time figuring out how this is any different
> (philosophically) from major league baseball players using 
> steroids to improve their batting averages...except that in 
> endurance riding there aren't any rules against it.
The difference lies in the drugs themselves. Some drugs ARE classified as
performance enhancing. Some are classified as mind-altering. Some are
classified as anti-inflammatory. Etc etc.

We may practice zero tolerance in AERC, but it's NOT true that a drug is a
drug is a drug for people. If it were, why are there 4 levels of narcotics
classifications? Why are some drugs totally illegal [cocaine], some mostly
illegal [pot], some by RX only, some OTC but you have to go to the
pharmacist to get them [allergy meds], and some totally OTC [ibuprofen,
acetaminophen]?  Because there are **differences** in all these substances -
how they can be administered [self vs. medical professional] and most
importantly in their effects.

So do we hold the horses to a higher standard than we do ourselves? Of
course we do. But we also have about a zillion times the cognitive abilities
of a horse and can make a informed educated choice about doing so.

Kristen



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