Listen, making a horse “more focused” or “more ready to work” or “more comfortable in his/her own skin” are most certainly behavioral effects. Drugs that affect behavior are not allowed in the show ring.
I do a lot of layups and take care of many horses who are receiving different types of behavior altering drugs so that we can complete their recovery from injury or surgery as safely and smoothly as possible. I would describe the effects of most of those behavior altering drugs exactly as people are describing depo in this thread. The horses aren’t obviously sedated, they are simply more focused on the caretakers handling them, less aggressive and reactive in turnout, less reactive to their environment, less sensitive about proximity/behavior of other horses, less distractible, etc. They are exactly, “more comfortable in their own skin.”
Frankly, I’ve never been one to point fingers and say “more training.” Many horses have personality traits or behavioral tendencies that are really difficult to train them out of. No one is evil for wanting to do things, including use medications, that make their horses more comfortable or less stressed.
But, I think that we as an industry have to make a decision: either we are going to allow the use of mind altering substances in competition horses or not. People have argued for years that the rules should allow for small doses of acepromazine. But, I can’t agree with that. First of all, competition is purely optional, no one has to compete. Secondly, equestrian competition should be a competition of the horse, the rider, the partnership, the training, etc. It should not be a contest of pharmacology. Lastly, the use of behavior altering drugs in horses is a slippery slope. What would/wouldn’t you allow and how would you choose?
FWIW, even if equestrian sport did decide to allow horses to compete on behavior altering substances, I feel sure that medroxyprogesterone wouldn’t be on the list. There are too many reports of adverse events. There are much better and safer mind altering medications horses can be given. The ONLY advantage Depo has is that it has, up until now, been show legal.
and finally I wanted to stop it because I had heard and read some negative things and honesty again I was not sure it was working - she blew up and had her moments- almost always at home that seemed to have nothing to do with her cycle- after 3 years of showing her with a lot of success she is now doing Western and loving it!!! Like I said I feel for those who are upset but the fact it