Drug Usage in Horses

The use of drugs in the horse industry has always been a real concern of mine. Recently a good friend of mine Al Dunning went out on a limb and voiced his objections to drug use. I know lots of respected trainers that condone and use drugs to show their horses. NRHA has never taken a stand against drug use citing the problem with enforcement. The very least the NRHA could do is to come out and say they do not condone the practice. AQHA has drug rules in effect but has found them very hard to enforce except at certain shows like the World Show. Drug usage in human athletes has been shown to not only be unfair to the other competitors but to be detrimental to the athlete’s health as well. It is no different in the horse industry. Humanely and morally it is just unethical! One other thing to consider is that horses that win are horses that are promoted at some point as being superior for breeding. If a horse is promoted that had to rely on drugs to win then it’s offspring would not be the superior individuals that they were hoped to be. I have no problem with the use of drugs that help heal. But the use of drugs to give an unfair advantage to a lesser talented horse is just plain wrong. It is not something the breed organizations can handle all alone. All of us should voice our objections to there use and encourage the NRHA and others to establish drug rules and enforce them.