I had a vet who told me that she frequently prescribed ACE during the weaning process because ACE is an anti-anxiety drug. I believe she was referring to the mare, rather than the foal. It does help with separation anxiety. That’s what I’ve used it for when separating my two horses early in the season.
While I completely think it is ok to use a touch of Ace to ensure a horse new to hunting has a good experience – I believe in using what you’ve got in your toolbox to make sure things work out, silly not to – I have also found that ranitidine in their breakfasts works wonders. Keep their stomachs settled in an exciting or stressful situation and the horse will stay much more settled. Doesn’t wear off after a couple of hours either:lol:!!
Just came back from seeing a fascinating movie – Little Chenier, filmed entirely in Louisiana and entirely engrossing. I’ve just popped in to thank you all one more time.
Just for the record, I hunted as a teen. Wound up deciding that I preferred point-to-points and steeplechasing, then moved to West Africa and on my days off raced my stallion against the giraffe herds that browsed on the scrub of the Sahel outside our town. Speed and the competitive passion that seizes both horse and rider are not unknown to me. Now I teach, train, ride cross-country and dressage, trail ride and drive. My questions rise from those varied experiences, and the fact that drugs have never been a part of any of them.
Thanks again!
When a “light dose” is mentioned, how much is that exactly?
I have a friend who had to give her horse 3.5 grms of ACE to get him calm in the hunt field. Is that a light dose or not? I’ve never needed ACE, so I dont know.
3.5!!??!!
Definitely not a small dose to me. I give that if I want a horse super sedate to clip, pull mane, or for vet purposes.
The times that I’ve seen it used, it was more along the lines of 1/2-1 1/2
I’m not sure how to compare grams to CCs so I’m not sure if 3.5 is a lot – I give ACE either orally or IM. I typically give 1 cc. My vet told me that if you didn’t see a reaction at 1.5 ccs, than it probably isn’t going to help.
That sounds like a lot to me. That might be the “clinical dose” Thomas 1 was talking about.
I have never used more than 1/2cc.
[QUOTE=kt-rose;2949184]
I have also found that ranitidine in their breakfasts works wonders. Keep their stomachs settled in an exciting or stressful situation and the horse will stay much more settled. Doesn’t wear off after a couple of hours either:lol:!![/QUOTE]
Can you expand a bit more on how that works for horses? Never heard of using that. 
Always 2-3 cc’s at the horses’ first hunt in the feed. Carry 2 syringes of 2cc’s each for the just in case deal. Have only had to go to the “WHOLE NINE YDS” once in 50 yrs of hunting. Wish they would let us do this in the show ring. Sure would save a lot of lunge time.
Damn mine wouldn’t have been able to stand if I gave him that much before a hunt.
[QUOTE=BridalBridle;2951347]
Always 2-3 cc’s at the horses’ first hunt in the feed. Carry 2 syringes of 2cc’s each for the just in case deal. Have only had to go to the “WHOLE NINE YDS” once in 50 yrs of hunting. Wish they would let us do this in the show ring. Sure would save a lot of lunge time.[/QUOTE]
I could see using that much in the feed as you will probably get some spillage… I prefer either IV or IM but have only ever given 2cc’s and thats at least a good hour before getting on…I have used it for a greenie…and I agree, you can school and school but there is nothing like the real deal… sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry…
I’ll share a little cocktail that really works… just the smallest bit of Demosadan, mixed with about a cc and a half of ace…keeps them NICE and quiet while waiting to get started, the Demosadan wears off quickly, just in time for the little bit of ace to kick in…then you ride, horse hopefully gets tired before the ace wears off…:winkgrin:
I have only had to do this a few times, and sometimes it is wise to fool around at home to see what works best with a particular horse.
VK – Can’t really explain the details, but a friend of mine who hunts but also has some event horses requiring Gastroguard/Zantac stumbled on it. Stress and excitement so often go straight to a horse’s stomach and then that discomfort adds way more than most would expect to their behavior. Especially as you are out for a while, they are not eating hay to soak up the stomach acids, etc. Ranitidine/Zantac buffers the acid and leaves the horse much more comfortable. 20-30 tablets in their breakfast or a tube of Ulcerguard does it for mine. I do the same thing if we are showing or eventing.
Hope that helps!!
Wow.
Just.
Wow.
First of all ACE is not a miracle drug and horses can do just about anything they would normally on ace even at doses of 2 cc’s plus.
We have had recovering horses injuries who were drooling and at half mast with a hind foot cocked and still could buck the living day lights out of a rider and dump you! Just ask any moron who has used it for clipping and went at a horse with half closed eyes how quick that hind foot came up! (well and the sweating makes it moot for clipping on many horses)
What is can do for a SANE fit horse who is ridden all the time is take a marginal edge off for the hunt field. Have hunted on west coast (ca, I know hahah) and in the nevada desert which can be pretty exciting as well as 3 states on east coast. What I will say is I saw ACE in all of those locations and not a TON of it but it was discriminately used. A TOUCH of it can get you through the first 1/2 mile walk without hitting pavement and by the end of the first gallop horses are settled and the stuff is worn off anyhow. SO IT DOES NOT work on the constant A- HOLE horse who is a dancing prancing, leaping idiot in the field anyhow. OH and also to be honest at a couple hunts only later in the season when those horses were UBER fit was ace used, in the start of the season when horses were just coming to fitness none was needed. By the end of season you have a VERY fit horse and those with a lot of blood benefited (or rider did) from a little help.
“Originally Posted by kt-rose
I have also found that ranitidine in their breakfasts works wonders. Keep their stomachs settled in an exciting or stressful situation and the horse will stay much more settled. Doesn’t wear off after a couple of hours either!!”
“Can you expand a bit more on how that works for horses? Never heard of using that. :-)”
Well many horses have acid issues the ranitidine hydrochloride tablets OR Zantac (same thing) helps them.
And of course ulcer guard or gastro guard is people prilosec which is Omeprazole and much better than zantac if they have actual ulcers!
BUT it does not CALM a horse for hunt or showing. What it can do is make a fussy horse who is suffering from acid issues feel better. Think the point was some people do not get the tail ringing and fussy behavior can be a sign of pain from acid.
Hmm thats very interesting! Something I will consider in the future! So I can just pop a horse with reguglar old zantac? Is that an OTC drug? Thanks for the info!
“Vkent
Hmm thats very interesting! Something I will consider in the future! So I can just pop a horse with regular old zantac? Is that an OTC drug? Thanks for the info!”
It will not change a not trained horse, or a hot horse or a jerk horse.
It “MAY” have some effects on horses who are in pain or reacting to acid BUT otherwise it does not calm horses in general
Yup, I understand that part. Just something to store in the back of the head for future reference. I love little tid bits like this, never know when you’re going to need it!
The problem with ace is that horses can’t LEARN when they are aced (medical fact) - so giving them some to help them when starting isn’t really helping them (despite how it appears to you!) Ace dulls the horses’ reactions - thus, if a horse is truly afraid, it will not be able to handle that fear in such a way that it lessens - what they will remember is the fear as much as the “good” experience.
We used to hack the greenies to the meet so the horses would lose that “edge” and settle more quickly. If the meet were far away, we’d trailer part way there. It worked!
I have one horse to whom I give some oral ace to clip - but that is only because he had a bad experience and there is no other /better tranq to give him. 
[QUOTE=Painted Wings;2948212]
In those days they used the Ace granules in their morning food rather than the injectable.[/QUOTE]
I know a lot of people who still use the granules for hunting. One horse in particular is a former huntsman’s horse, and therefore has some problems settling down as part of the field. The granules allow for a smooth transition in and out of the medication. And of course only the absolute smallest dose to have an effect is ever used.
In my opinion, if you use just enough to take the edge off, and your horse can still be alert and jump safely, using Ace isn’t that big of a deal.
