Re: Cosequin is not a drug

Tivers@aol.com
Mon, 9 Dec 1996 20:47:25 -0500

In a message dated 96-12-09 10:33:52 EST, you write:

Truman:
<< Adaquan IM is not available over the counter but it is basically the same
components as Cosequin. Adaquan has, however, undergone extensive testing
and can prove it claims. Consequin has not undergone extensive
statistically valid testing and hence cannot make definite claims to its
effectiness. There was some initial research that suggested that the
active compound in Consequin is not bioavailable to the horse when taken
orally. Auburn Univ. recently performed research that indicted that
Cosequin was in fact effective. >>

There are dozens, perhaps tens of dozens, of papers citing the effectiveness
of oral GAGs. For virtually every nutrient on the GNC shelves, the situation
is the same. The fact that some people haven't read the research doesn't mean
that it doesn't exist. Nor does it mean that, until the bureaucrats get
around to reading the literature that the nutrient is not useful.

When I came out with my training protocol for Standardbreds, and it started
winning races, it was called "upproven" by the academics. The process has now
earned its users more than $30 million and the equine researchers are just
getting around to admitting it has efficacy--15 years later.

We are coaches, not academics. We do what works best for our horses, just
like a track coach will do what works with his athletes. It is precisely
those things that are "unproven" which represent the cutting edge of athletic
technology. As far as nutrients are concerned, they called Linus Pauling a
raving idiot for several decades, concerning his Vitamin C megadose advocacy.
I've just about come to the point where, when I find the academics outraged
about a new application, I get interested.

We live in an age where all the science being developed around the world is
immediately available to all of us. It is to our advantage to do our own
reviews of the literature. If you find yourself unable to pursue this
information, then you should find someone you know HAS done the work. More
often than not, this is going to be someone who has the INCENTIVE do do that
work. No one in his right mind puts out a product that does not do what it's
supposed to do. However, there are plenty of folk who put out information
that is incomplete, ill-informed or otherwise defective.

Truman, this is not a reference to you, believe me. Your input here is
extremely valuable and you are one of very few analytically-thinking
horsemen. All I can say to everyone on this list is that it's a lot more fun
exploring the cutting edge of applied science than it is to sit back and wait
for permission to think from so-called "authorities"--including me! hell, my
readers teach me far more every month than I teach them. They take my ideas
and stretch them into new ideas.

The one thing you can't be afraid of in this pursuit is making mistakes. It's
the only way to learn what is right and what is wrong.

ti