An extraordinary rule change proposal that would ban certain injectable medications and other substances including formaldehyde, pentobarbital and oxytocin from horse show grounds has been revised—and expanded—in advance of next week’s U.S. Equestrian Federation Annual Meeting (Kentucky), where it will be discussed and voted on by the board of directors, after breed and discipline stakeholder groups largely rejected the first draft.
Eighteen stakeholder groups—including the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and the USEF Dressage Sport Committee—disapproved of the proposed changes to rule GR 414.8, drafted by the USEF Veterinary Committee, and just six, including the USEF Eventing and Jumper Committees, approved it. Most of the groups that disapproved emphasized that they agreed with the intent of the rule, but were stuck on the same provision in the list of prohibited substances—a provision, listed as “K” in the rule, that would prohibit “any prescription medication in any formulation without a label identifying the horse for whom it is prescribed, pharmacy, prescription date, and prescribing veterinarian, unless it is the possession of a veterinarian, and not yet prescribed or otherwise prohibited under these rules.”
“Disapprove as currently written, but agree with principle,” the dressage committee wrote in its response to the draft. “The group addressed objections with item K, noting that certain medications (bute/Banamine/dexamethasone etc.) may not be prescribed for specific horses, but are often on hand for emergency situations. It was also noted that [there] should be considerations for facilities that are emergency receptors or vet-based facilities.”
Other organizations and individuals that responded to the rule draft echoed that concern, noting that common medications like bute, Banamine, Equioxx and GastroGard are often dispensed and used on a herd basis rather than individual basis in large barns, or kept on hand for emergency use for any animal requiring them.
A few negative responses also questioned the enforceability of the rule change, which as written does not just prohibit them from being used, but also prohibits them from being brought onto show grounds by anyone other than a veterinarian.
“Who is responsible for enforcing this rule?” hunter/jumper trainer Archie Cox wrote. “Are stewards meant to search tack trunks? Seems impossible to enforce except drug testing.”
In response to concerns, the veterinary committee has submitted a new draft of the rule. The new draft re-words provision K.
The new draft also expands the rule change to include a new section, GR 414.9, to add a provision that would prohibit rectal administration of any substance on show grounds.
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The reworded section of the proposed changed to GR414 Prohibited Practices reads (changes noted in boldface):
8. It is a prohibited practice to use and/or possess any of the following substances on competition grounds:
- a. Injectable ACTH [adrenocorticotropic hormone]
- b. Injectable adenosine
- c. Injectable formaldehyde
- d. Injectable magnesium sulfate
- e. Injectable melatonin
- f. Injectable oxytocin
- g. Injectable pentobarbital, except by a veterinarian for the purpose of euthanasia
- h. Injectable thiamine
- i. Injectable tryptophan
- j. Liquid nitrogen
- k. Any injectable prescription medication in any formulation without a label identifying the person to whom the medication was dispensed, pharmacy, prescription date and prescribing veterinarian, unless it is in the possession of a veterinarian and not yet prescribed or otherwise prohibited under these rules.
9. It is a prohibited practice to rectally administer any substance on the grounds of a Federation competition.
“This rule change was developed to address concerns and reports of inappropriate use of substances in the field and to ensure that we are protecting horses and fairness on the field of play,” USEF spokeswoman Vicki Lowell said in an emailed statement.
See the complete text of the revised rule change, with comments from individuals and from breed and discipline stakeholder groups here. The rule change proposal may be discussed during a rule change forum taking place at 4 p.m. Eastern Time Jan. 24 and will be voted on during the USEF Annual Board Meeting, happening 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 25. For more information, or to register to attend, click here.