I am just feeling around to see how common is is for fox hunting folks to give their horses a little bit of ace before the meet to help them settle. It’s pretty common in my hunt, just wondering about others.
[QUOTE=starkissed;4318126]
I am just feeling around to see how common is is for fox hunting folks to give their horses a little bit of ace before the meet to help them settle. It’s pretty common in my hunt, just wondering about others.[/QUOTE]
check the archives, discussed many times here
To be quite honest…I dont get it…My TB gelding has been out of work for close to a year ( ligament injury) he is a big, fairly hot type of guy…so after a few times of me fighting with him to get him to just walk…I decided to give him a bit of ace to take the edge off…the vet said start with 2cc’s…and increase if needed. The first time we went with 1.5cc’s…and the poor guy could barely figure out where his feet were…backed it off the next time to a little dab…and he was better…and we didnt fight but it wasnt the best of rides…I cant for the life of me imagine giving him that and taking him out to hunt…I would think it would be very dangerous…JMO
As noted, many threads here on the subject. I have been hunting since 1971 and never used it, don’t like the concept. I know people who routinely ace every horse, every time. Usually small doses, 1/4 to 1/2 cc orally.
yeah sorry I didn’t realize there were other posts on this topic. I went back and looked and read- even
though there was really one 1 post about it I could find.
but wow- I am surprised your vet suggested 2cc- that’s a pretty big slug of drugs. But If your horse is really hot, it burns off pretty quickly due to adrenaline.
As for my take, I don’t see a huge problem with it. I give my horse a little bit occasioanlly. Never more than .25 or .5mL though, that’s in the vein and it has immediate affect when we are at the meet and everything is crazy. But I do know folks who give it in the vein and then in the muscle so it has a continual draw throughout the hunt.
Not only is it dangerous but it’s also stupid. If they can’t do without, then leave them at home.
I won’t ride a drugged horse…nor do I want to be in a car with a driver who has had a couple valium to “take the edge off”
I want my horse to be in tune with me and with what’s going on, not zoned out and possibly missing an important element in the terrain.
Training is always better than drugs.
