Diann Langer’s abuse article

[Night_Flight]

@MHM

Not accusing you of anything, obviously. Just stating a fact regarding the idea of calling off a drug test for that reason.

I had a drug tester decide to switch horses after watching my feisty mare in the ring (in Canada, mind you). Little did the tester know that the feistiness occured only within the confines of the show ring, but multiple witnesses watched the tester follow me to the in-gate, watch my round and then turn around to flag the horse that had gone before me instead (I was last in the order).

I assume her instructions were to just show up and test whatever horse happened to be going into the ring when she arrived, since it had nothing to do with placings and she seemed to have some degree of flexibility.

[Djones]

I had a very skilled old vet who could cure or heal anything. He was a genius with horses. He was also in demand to do tails and I’m sure was amenable to ‘helping’ a particular trainer deal with particular horses. Anyway. we shared mutual contempt for another vet in the area. One day he told me she had called and asked him to talk her through how to do a tail. He was aghast at the very idea, and he rattled on about the risk and danger to the animal’s health, etc. Hypocrisy in action, you know?

We can’t lean on show managers and vets to carry this burden, it’s too human and fallible.

[enjoytheride]

This sounds very strange to me as well.

Also, the post above mine where the drug tester skipped a horse because it was “feisty.”

[mroades]

Andy Kocher just showed here in my home town this past weekend. It is all over the socials…I am disgusted, but not a rated show and his brother is dating the trainer.
Squick ick and more ick

[MHM]

I will say I’ve asked drug testers in the past how they picked the horses for the random ones, and they said they will look for a horse who seems cooperative, since they were going to have to spend the next couple of hours around it. Lol.

But to me, that is different than picking one, starting the procedure, and then deciding to bag it later on.

[Ghazzu]

I believe I’ve told this story before, but back when I was in vet school, I went to an Arab show with my trainer/friend as a groom.
We ran into my surgery professor who was drug testing.
We sat down and had lunch together, and a local shipper stopped at our table to say hi to me.
After he left, doc asked me who he was, and said the guy had prevented an ugly incident at another show.
Doc had stopped a pony kid leaving the ring and asked her where the adults she was with were, as her pony had been chosen for drug testing.
A teenaged girl appeared and began mouthing off, and he calmly asked her to get the responsible adult.
When Dad showed up, he was 3 sheets to the wind, and began threatening Doc (who was ex-Marine and could hold his own if needed.)
Just as the guy prepared to take a swing at Doc, shipper stepped in and took him aside, telling him that he was in deep enough doodoo, and actually striking the drug testing vet would only make things worse.
After telling us this, Doc paused and then said, “You know, a bunch of people have seen us sitting here together. I’m going to have to test your horses so nobody thinks I’m playing favorites.”
We were amused, particularly since one of them,a lovely little stallion, would definitely not pee if anyone was watching. We warned him, and 45 minutes later, they finally gave up and pulled blood.

[kenyarider]

If it weren’t for the fact that needles would be put in the regular trash, I’d suggest we get rid of the sharps containers. I do think it’s ironic given our repressive drug laws, that there are containers for needles all over horse shows. In part of major cities where drug activities are occurring, there are NO sharps containers.

[enjoytheride]

How does getting rid of sharps containers prevent the use of needles?

[OverandOnward]

@MHM

Was that at a recognized USEF horse show? That does not sound at all like the usual procedure.

USEA recognized horse trials. Lower level division. In the mid-2000’s.

[kenyarider]

It sends a message that drugging is not acceptable, nothing more.

[DMK]

Makes me wonder if they just couldn’t get the vet over to draw blood in a timely manner and they had a minimum # of samples they were trying to collect that day. Pure speculation, but that’s about the only thing I can come up with to explain that outcome. Then again, I guess there’s nothing that says you absolutely must complete a sample collection on a horse selected.

[Headsup123]

This

[Rumorhasit93]

Not even an entire week into DC and THIS is what I saw today:

Draw reins in the 1.20s - chin to chest, cross cantering and trantering. Something is clearly wrong with the horse (and that’s coming from someone who’s horse doesn’t do lead changes, but we never, ever cross-canter).

As long as this continues and people PAY to ride with these trainers, nothing will EVER change. I am without-words-angry. I want to scream into the abyss.

The video was too big to link here but feel free to those curious - go watch the open 1.20s on 1/8 and go to the DSQ round

[NaturallyHappy]

@Rumorhasit93

As long as this continues and people PAY to ride with these trainers, nothing will EVER change

This is, sadly, so very true.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Why?

Why not a vet tech, on site, who can pull blood from 50% of the class? And then test 50% of those.

I’m not sure of the cost - what are the lab fees? Are there any stats out on how many horses are actually tested per show?

Edited to add - or make it truly really super random. Just have the computer spew out the entry numbers that will be tested, then go test them.

[BrownDerby]

@mroades

Andy Kocher just showed here in my home town this past weekend. It is all over the socials…I am disgusted, but not a rated show and his brother is dating the trainer.
Squick ick and more ick

Yes, the schooling shows have welcomed him with open hands the last few years.

[OverandOnward]

@DMK

Then again, I guess there’s nothing that says you absolutely must complete a sample collection on a horse selected.

It was the random selection thing as well. My horse didn’t get a ribbon at that horse trial. Re testing, he was just filling out the numbers, I think. But I have no idea how they made their decisions, I just know that they never came back to draw blood, which I told them they were welcome to do any time. Plus this was circa 2007 and things may have been different then.

[StormyDay]

I know that urine samples are probably better for testing for certain things but I really wish they would just do blood draws on the horses instead. One of my fears is getting selected for testing when I’ve trailered in for the day and so I don’t have a stall for my horse to hang out in waiting for them to pee… and I just have to stand there for hours after being hot and sweaty from riding and likely hangry from not eating with a horse who is frustrated they aren’t going home yet. And you know it will also be a day I have fallen off on course so I’m dirty, sore, tired, hungry, and sweaty.

[CRD]

Deleted because I’m gonna start my own thread about this because this thread has too far in for people to understand what I’m talking about.

[Ghazzu]

@Mouse_amp_Bay

Why not a vet tech, on site, who can pull blood from 50% of the class? And then test 50% of those.

I’m not sure of the cost - what are the lab fees?

There is wide variation from state to state in the licensing/scope of practice of veterinary technicians.
In almost all cases, they must be under the supervision of a DVM, so you’re back to square one.
I haven’t got the current pricing of drug screening at hand, but it is fairly substantial.
(upwards of $150/horse)
Mind you, I’m not disagreeing with the sentiment of those here advocating for more testing, merely the practicality of the logistics.