What are the trainers’ responsibilities in racing and sport horses?
Under the Rules, the trainer is held responsible and accountable for the condition of the horses in their care and for compliance with the Rules. The trainer usually has or shares the responsibility for the care, training, custody, condition or performance of the horse. This could be one person or several individuals. Trainers, on a general basis are responsible and accountable under the penalty provisions of the Rules.They are also responsible for guarding each horse at and sufficiently prior to a competition or race, to prevent the administration by anyone, of a forbidden substance, and to know all the rules.Does the trainer have to record veterinary treatment medicines used on the horses in training?
All treatments given to any horse under the care of a trainer, whether in training or not, must be recorded. This applies to administration of a Prohibited Substance, etc. There are Turf Club guidelines for trainers and stable personnel on the responsible use of veterinary medicines. The aim is to reduce the occurrence of inadvertent race day positives arising from the presence of Prohibited Substances in blood and urine.The trainer must also ensure that all treatments and medication administered to a horse under his/her care or control are given in the interests of its best health and welfare. It is the responsibility of the trainer to ensure that only the appropriate prescribed medicines are used when prescribed, and that they are withdrawn at the correct time in the professional judgement and opinion of the treating veterinary surgeon, prior to racing. In other words, every treatment must be fully justifiable by the medical condition of the horse receiving the treatment. Horses that are not trainable as a result of injury or disease, must be given appropriate veterinary treatment before training is resumed. Also the trainer must obtain advice from the treating/prescribing veterinary surgeon as to the appropriate level of training during the treatment phase. Familiarity with the guidelines is a precondition for issue and renewal of the trainer’s licence:Basically the guidelines require regular communication with the stable’s veterinary surgeon at all times to ensure correct use of therapeutic medicines.All trainers and authorised stable personnel should be acquainted with the Rules of Racing and sport horse competition, as they apply to the definition of “Prohibited Substances”.The guidelines also require trainers to be aware of the fact that most of the commonly used, licensed veterinary medicines are in fact Prohibited Substances if detected in urine on race day or competition day. It is not acceptable for the trainer to plead ignorance that he/she was unaware that the product was prohibited, if detected in a positive test.What drugs are never allowed, even in training, for example, anabolic steroids?
There are certain drugs which are listed as banned substances in the Rules (for example anabolic steroids, certain types of hormones, stimulants, etc), that must never be found in horses in training. If veterinary advice dictates the use of anabolic steroids, the condition of the horse is likely to be such that it should be taken out of training. Therefore anabolic steroid cannot be used in horses in training.Which substances are allowed during competition?
It is best to check for each separate discipline as there are differences between racing and FEI prohibited substances lists. Knowing what is on a Prohibited List is important as an indicator of what is allowed during competition. Specifically, any medications that are injectable may not be administered while under FEI rules at the show or event, without an FEI Form 3. This must be completed by a treating veterinary surgeon and countersigned by the FEI Veterinary Delegate present at the event. This administration while under FEI rules may require stewarding by the FEI Veterinary Delegate or designee. The treating veterinary surgeons at a show or event will be required to consult with the FEI Veterinary Delegate. (In racing, injectable medications are not allowed on the day of racing).Certain medications are permitted under FEI rules. These currently include:
Rehydration fluids (intravenously) B-vitamins, amino acids and electrolytes: These have always been allowed orally and in many cases this is still the preferred route of administration. Fluids are not allowed to be administered to horses in the eventing discipline on the morning or afternoon prior to their start on cross-country.Antibiotics: Are allowed (with the exception of procaine penicillin). Anti-parasite drugs (de-wormers): Are allowed with the exception of levamisole (nilverm). Ulcer treatments: Some drugs to treat or prevent gastric ulcers may be given (i.e. ranitidine, cimetidine and omeprazole, gastrogard) under FEI Rules but there is a withdrawal time under racing rules.Regumate: The use of altrenogest (regumate) is currently permitted for mares with oestrus-related behavioural problems. But it is not allowed in geldings in sport horses. Regumate is not permitted under racing rules for fillies or geldings.Topical treatment: All topical wound ointments that do not contain a corticosteroid, local anaesthetic or irritant (such as capsaicin) or any other substances on the Prohibited Lists, are permitted.Joint supplements: Preventative or restorative joint therapies: Many of these products in the oral form (chondroitin, glucosamine, etc.) have always been allowed orally and in many cases this is the preferred route of administration. However in some circumstances a veterinary surgeon may prefer to administer joint restorative therapy intravenously or intramuscularly. Specific examples of the medications used in this case are Hyonate intravenously, Adequan intramuscularly or Pentosan polysulfate intramuscularly, used for joint problems. No intra-articular administration of any medication is allowed under FEI or racing rules without observing the withdrawal period.Is the list of prohibited substances a standard unchanging list?
No, due to the constant, ongoing re-evaluation of the drugs rules, changes are made in them to accommodate the best thinking of the trainers, owners and veterinary surgeons. As new drugs are developed to treat horses therapeutically, and as other drugs are discovered which allow the unscrupulous trainers and veterinarians to take unfair advantage by administering drugs for which there are no effective tests, each association amends its rules to ensure the fairest competition possible for all participants.What is the option where treatment is in the interests of the best welfare of a horse, but where there is a slight risk of drug detection on testing?
Where there is need for veterinary treatment, the welfare of the horse should always take priority. On a general basis, in the case of a very minor condition the treating veterinary surgeon assesses both the risk from treating (integrity) and using adjusted treatments (welfare) and he/she makes an informed judgement to use the appropriate treatment. In any such circumstances, the decision to race or not to race is always subject to the primary consideration of the welfare of the animal.On the other hand, drugs should not be used under any circumstances to allow an apparently normal horse to be trained harder.