Re: RC: RE: Drugs and advertisements

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/17/99 9:36:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time, step@fsr.com 
writes:

<< *nutrient substances administered in doses to achive a
                      pharmacologic effect (DMSO, DMG, yucca and MSM) >>

This is where they get into trouble. Any nutrient can be fed in such a way to 
achieve a pharmacologic effect--and most additives are fed for that purpose. 
Water, sugar, and, it is said, hay can be fed in such a way as to improve 
performance. They should simply list the "drugs" that are banned, devise 
tests for them, and enforce the rules. 

There are reasons, including good horsemanship, that nutritional support for 
the rigors of athletics is morally and ethically justifiable. Equine athletes 
are not pasture horses.  In order to support their activities, they're going 
to have to be fed in such a way that, compared to pasture horses, there is a 
pharmacological effect. That is, the horse becomes healthier with high levels 
of certain nutrients in the diet. 

On the other hand, there are drugs, like bute, that cover up injuries and 
allow a horse to go forward, while at the same time demonstrating nasty side 
effects (in this case, mucous membrane lesions). In my opinion, drugs that 
clearly represent longterm injurious effects for the horse should be banned. 
If a nutrieint is proven to have the same deleterous effects as bute, then it 
should be banned as well. 

On the other hand, feeding gut flora, GAGs, carbohydrates, strong doses of C, 
E and Se, etc. fit into the category of intelligent horsemanship. It is the 
job, and the responsibility, of the horseman to see that his animal receives 
optimum nutritional support. A regulatory body that stands between the 
trainer and the health of his horse, supposedly on high moral ground, is 
simply brain dead.

ti      


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