Just a thought on the “why” drug use may be endemic in the horse community – it seems to me that the horse show world attracts a lot of obsessive compulsive people, with addictive personalities. (I know even I, a mere pony mom, am “addicted” to horse shows, and ponies in generally, spending all of my disposable income on the little varmints and their rider, and that, almost by defnition, a hunter/equitation rider has to be be pretty obsessive to achieve.) Maybe that’s why you see so many cigarette smokers and heavy drinkers in the horse world, and why drugs seem to have taken such a strong hold. The tendency toward addiction is already there and, it appears, so are the opportunities.
Okay, now just stop a minute and think about HORSES getting it. Nuff said.
I must brag a little about New Jersey, our equine activity law does permit us to refuse entries and the right to compete from anyone we feel in under the influence of any substance that impairs their ability. And, without the right to sue us!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bertie:
[B]Allyson, you tell a powerful story. Thank you for sharing. Maybe your story will help others struggling to overcome similar issues.
Do you or Debra have any ideas about what can be done to help people in the horse community with addictions, and those trying to help them? Some professions have organizations that provide and encourage counseling and professional help. Should the AHSA or some other horse related group make help available? Would that have helped you in your struggle?
I think of my job, where professional confidential counseling is available at no cost to people who need help with emotional problems, addictions, or even less serious life issues. Unfortunately, most people working in the horse world don’t have services like that at their fingertips. Most are either self employed or working for small businesses and really have to seek out help for themselves, on their own, with little encouragement or monetary help.
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
When Allyson told me about this thread I decided I should join and post.
Yes, drugs are a growing issue in the horseworld, one I have lost many dear friends to. I also know people who suffer with it still. But what can we do? I have taken action on our local show circuits to raize awareness - one local show ground has brocheures and numbers of intervention/drug help programs posted. I have attended numerous discussions on the topic and here is some of what has come up:
~random drug testing at shows for humans, similiar to that we do now on horses.
DRAWBACKS: many legal substances test as illegal and there are sometimes legitimate reasons for someone being on certain drugs (IE morphine) which could be considered illegal. Thus you might suspend someone from a show only to find out they had a legit reason for that they did and that now they are angry b/c they missed a chance to point etc etc.
~strict (AHSA related) penalities for drug involvement/conviction. IE if a trainer was caught by law enforcement doing drugs they would be barred from the AHSA shows for X period of time.
DRAWBACKS - may keep trainers off the circuit but they are still training - and realistically how many people get caught anyway?
~Increased drug awareness education - maybe if people knew more they’d do less drugs. Idealistic and hard to impliment.
In the ideal world I’d like to see some sort of outreach and support group. Training is a high stress job and we as trainers as in a position where we can influence not only the well being of a horse but also of our students (especially juniors). I’d like to see a way for trainers to come together and share ideas, strategy and information - to brainstorm and solve and dicuss problems in the industry. Something to facilitate communication - perhaps in the ideal world the AHSA could sponser some sort of trainer’s conference.
I would also like to see stricter supervision of juniors on the circuit - to eliminate the drugs and alcohol they may partake in at unsuperised parties.
We know that the problem is and we know what our goal is - a clean drug free horse world. But the steps in between are muddy - I know from first hand experience. I don’t know what the answer is but I have ideas and I am looking for it - let’s get together and get constructive to try and tackle this problem.
Debra Charing
dcharing@yahoo.com
Allyson you are very fortunate to have learned that chemicals can make you think your are happy when your are really miserable.
I think two things, one I sense that somewhere down deep Allyson feels guilty that she couldn’t help her mother. Allyson you were not her keeper. You had every right to find the truth for yourself. That is free will and you can be very proud that you did not go down in the quicksand with your mother. I think you must be a very strong and beautiful person who will become a very self confident role model for others.
Second I would like to push this issue back a step. While I agree with everything above what bothers me is what has failed that peer pressure becomes so important? What is there in this sport that we can change the creates an atmosphere of dependency?
Right now we cannot talk about how to fix it, unless we can identify the root causes. The goals, should they be changed? Is it the winning or the money or the respect from peers?
I am very concerned because as I have said my generation was not so much a victim of peer pressure. We found something we loved to do and then hoped we could keep a roof over our heads and do it. Doctors were doctors because they really wanted to cure sick people. Teachers were teachers because they really enjoyed teaching other people. I hope to survive on my farm because I really love horses and what they can do for children and adults.
So it disturbs me that this sport which I believed to be a safe haven that generated high self esteem and achievement of goals with a personal best has some how changed and is responsible for the opposite.
We know that the horses are medicated to enhance their performance, we are discussing medicating with chemicals people. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT PURPOSE? Is it to enhance performance? Is it to escape a lack of ability to perform? Is it to pretend that this world is the best of all times and places? Is life so futile that they cannot face it and WHY?
We have some who are killing themselves with eating disorders. Why do so many have this perception of an image to which they do not match? Why is “individualism” being sacrificed to the "herd mentality?
What can we do to change these perceptions and illusions?
Well, look at what just happened with Eric Lamaze on the Canadian Team. The bloody fool KNEW he would have to pass a whiz quiz, I mean sheesh! This is The Olympics we’re talking about. Yet, he had to (ahem) blow 
this wonderful opportunity because he couldn’t (ahem) keep his nose clean for 3 lousy months. He was selected for the highest honour in sports, and he ruined it for some nose candy. 
Then the final coup de gras was his ultra-lame explanation; “Oh I only use it recreationally, not as a performance enhancer.” Like the drug test can differentiate between the two uses! Puh-leeze! This is his SECOND offense. Must they really allow him all three strikes before booting him out for good? 
I guess I have been dumb lucky on the trainers I have been with.
Perhaps growing up in the inner city taught me more than I thought. I guess I have a good sense of who to avoid.
