The US Equestrian Federation has amended its medication rules to restrict the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition horses to just one drug.
The presence of two of the seven approved and quantitatively restricted NSAIDs in a horse will still be allowed before December 2011 (with the exception of the forbidden combination of phenylbutazone "Bute," and flunixin meglumine [Banamine]), but new restrictions are in place concerning their use.
The rule change was decided at this year's USEF Annual Meeting in January, when USEF Board of Directors amended the Therapeutic Drug Rule. Both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) support the rule change, and USEF joins other organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Equine Canada in making the rule change.
"Over the years, ongoing veterinary research has revealed that not only is there little or no benefit to administering more than one NSAID to a horse for most medical concerns, it can actually cause potentially harmful, even severe side effects," the USEF said.
Beginning April, 1, 2010, anyone administering two NSAIDs to a horse within five days before participating at a USEF-licensed competition will be required to complete and file a NSAID Disclosure Form with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative. This form will allow the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Program to collect data regarding the use of NSAIDs in competition horses.
The USEF has developed an education plan to guide management, owners, trainers, and exhibitors through the implementation of the rule change. The Federation has published an informational pamphlet and created the NSAID Disclosure Form.
"It is the responsibility of the competitor and their veterinarian to make certain the use of two NSAIDs within five days of competing is reported on the NSAID Disclosure Form and is properly filed with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative," the USEF said.
From April 1 until December 1, if the use of two NSAIDs is detected in sample(s) collected, and a NSAID Disclosure Form has not been filed appropriately, the competitor will receive a letter of finding from the USEF Regulations Department. For the first offence a warning letter will be issued. The second violation may result in sanctions against the competitor.
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