RE: RE: Fw: Drugs

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Linda:

 

Still disagree with you on the drug matter! There is no way any one can give you a clearance time for a drug, no matter what the content or chemical composition is. Each animal (and human as well) has a different metabolism for every substance ingested, injected or infused. To quote a definitive clearance time, and if one substance is done then all substances must be done, would be very time consuming and financially prohibitive.

 

Realize, am I am sure you do with your medical back ground, there are literally hundreds of drugs available and more being developed each day. To cover the spectrum fully is impossible, considering we are expressing the concerns of fewer than 5,000 persons within the confines of North America.

 

So, to play the game you read the rule and live up to it in the best manner possible. Remember it is your horse, your body and your mind as well as conscience. If you think you are doing things correctly then most likely you are.

 

One last note! Consider how fortunate we are that we can disagree but still compete!

 

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Flemmer, Linda [mailto:flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 1:05 PM
To: 'Bob Morris'; Flemmer, Linda; 'Blythe Anne M'
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RE: RE: Fw: Drugs

Bob, you've missed the point by a mile.

 

What about a horse who was treated literally weeks or months ago, under a vet's care, with procaine penicillin, or bute, or was sedated for a procedure (teeth floating, etc)...  With improved, more sensitive drug testing, when does the clearance = ZERO?  The horse may be ready to go back to work, but is there a residual, testable drug there?  What are the guidelines for clearance?
 
What about feeds that carry biotin in large amounts (to improve feet)?  Better yet, there is a local feed here that has Yucca in it.  If one doesn't know any better, they may think that they are simply feeding an "all natural feed".  Do the new members realize that electrolytes are ok?  That ice is allowed?  What topicals are allowed/disallowed?  The information is not presented to them!

 

The AERC committee responsible for drugs needs to do a better job educating the membership as a whole, and especially individuals  who are new to the sport.  We aren't talking performance enhancement and using drugs as a crutch.  I want to know that I am honestly following the rules to the best of my ability.  Give me guidelines & I'll follow them.  On the other hand, I won't withold veterinary prescribed medical treatment of my horse because I have a ride in 2 months and I don't know if the drug will have cleared by then!

 

Linda Flemmer

 ----Original Message-----
From: Bob Morris [mailto:bobmorris@rmci.net]

You stated <<<AERC has been very bad about addressing this>>> I beg to differ with you on this as the rule is very simpleif you read and adhere to it

 

Forget the performance enhancement materials, forget the many substances claiming to extend the useful life of the horse and forget all the patent and "natural" medicines that are out there for sale. Go out and compete on the strengths of your horse and your self. If you cannot do thid then you need a different horse, a different you or a different sport.

 

 

 -----Original Message-----
From: Flemmer, Linda [mailto:flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 9:21 AM
To: 'Blythe Anne M'
Cc: 'ridecamp@endurance.net'
Subject: RC: RE: Fw: Drugs

----Original Message-----
From: Blythe Anne M  wrote: 

 

I'm a newbie, done three 25's and my first 50 was last weekend.  My question is,

How do I find out the legal vs illegal drugs that I can use on my horse?  Someone told me that yucca will show up if my horse is drug tested.  Also what about absorbine? I was told that it would test, too. 

 

AERC has been very bad about addressing this.  Anything other than food and water is considered a drug.  There are NO legal drugs.  There are no published clearance times if your horse had to be medicated and then much later compete.  As lab tests become much more sensitive, minute amounts of drugs may still test positive.  I don't know enough equine pharmacology to make those kind of decisions.  I want to be legal, I believe in No Drugs rule, but I want guidance, too. To answer your question; yes, absorbine and yucca will both test as an illegal substance!

 

Search the archives for previous discussions about this.  Cheryl Newbanks received an old, abbreviated AERC drug list that is by no means all inclusive.  I will send this to you separately so as not to bring the endurance list to its knees..  I hope that it helps.  If anyone else is interested enough to have read this far down the message, I'll be happy to send you a copy as well - just let me know.

 

Linda Flemmer