??? about a hypo in PH article

[TxEventer81]

So I was reading the article titled "On the Rail:Doping or Mediation" in Practical Horseman... and while I'm in full support of redoing the FEI's drug policies, my brain couldn't help but zero in on a quote by Dr. Furlong where he gives a hypothetical in the beginning of the article.

http://equisearch.com/equiwire_news/nancy_jaffer/doping_medication_081809/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=eph

It's the fourth paragraph.... Now what I'm taking issue with is the actual example he uses..... Anyway, what I was wondering why would you even compete a horse at an upper level 3-day or HT if the horse colics within 7 days of the event? So at that point, to me, it's irrelevant if the FEI says it's illegal to give Banamine within 7 days because I would think for the health of the horse, that they (rider, owner, vet, person in charge) would give the horse Banamine and not go to the show...

Am I totally in left field? What are your thoughts? Thanks so much and sorry if this seems like a silly topic, but I just want to expand my knowledge! Thanks again!

[pass]

One thing to remember, is "colic" is a very broad term. A serious impaction might take days to recover from, even require surgery, while a tad bit of gas just makes the horse uncomfortable for a few hours, and is just fine the next day, or even a few hours later.

At some point, we need to remember to be on the side of the horse. If it has some gas and you can make it all better with 7cc-10-cc of Banamine, why not do it? It will not change or effect how the horse preforms in seven days. Banamine that far out will not change the outcome of the competition. I think that is the point. Because yeah, it would be ridiculous to not be able to compete because of something so simple.

But I also think the problem is not with the honest people, but with the people that have found ways around the system, and do not necessarily have the horses best interests at heart. Where do you draw the line then? But then again I don't trust many people so I believe that every horse entered should have blood drawn, and then they randomly select samples to run. I think that would keep some more people honest. But that is just my opinion.

[Fixerupper]

Most national federations have a much more realistic approach to medication vs doping than the FEI has at present time. The rational with the FEI seems to be, currently...if we can find it, it is illegal.
There are a few substances that actually do fit into that category (doping)...long acting 'tranquillizers' (anti-psychotics like flufenazine, depressants like reserpine) anabolics and... need we mention... EPO, that can be given months before competition and still affect performance. These substances do not really have a legitimate therapeutic value in sport horses. So...these medications justify the 'nanogram' detection parameters but only for those type of meds. I'm sure there are others, but most medications fit into the category of 'therapeutic' not 'performance enhancing' at the nanogram (a billion'th of a gram) level.
For human athletes the drug testing allows much more leeway for therapeutic meds...essentially stimulants and anabolics are primarily targeted for doping.
If you had a stomach ache, a cold, an allergy reaction, a blister on your toe, a muscle bruise, or an insect bite a week or two before a show...would you feel it fair to have to scratch because you took medication for a relatively minor health issue that was in your 'best interest' to medicate for rather that 'wait and see' if you recovered without medication?
We need to start looking at our equine athletes as more equal rather than less equal to human athletes in regard to medication.

One more rant executed!!! :lol:

[TxEventer81]

Thank you so much for your feedback! Pass... how silly of me... when I think "colic" my mind tends to go straight towards some sort of impaction... not gas. I see where the vet was going with his example now. Fixerupper... I really liked how you phrased what seems to be the FEI's stance "if we can find it, it's illegal". I think that really sums it up!