Is there much drug testing in eventing?

[Badger]

I have evented for two decades. Brought three homebreds through the ranks to prelim, plus evented a few OTTBs along the way. I’ve paid a lot of mandatory drug fees as part of my entries through the years.

I have only once, in all that time, had a horse tested. It was a random test of a prelim horse at Fox River Valley roughly 8 years ago.

I can’t remember even seeing testing going on or hearing about testing from friends at the events we ride at. I am aware of testing at the WEG level and similar, as occasionally samples come back positive.

I’ve been reading the epic GAMA thread over on h/j, and testing seems to be part of life on that circuit.

Luckily, eventing does not seem to have the same drug culture as hunters. However, if testing isn’t being done, do we know how clean we really are?

And where are all those fees going that I’ve paid over the years? Are eventers supporting the policing of hunters and other disciplines without policing ourselves?

Has your event horse ever been tested?

[Highflyer]

I’ve had one tested once, out of probably 50 events at Prelim and Training. My mom has had hers tested 3-4 times out of I would guess several hundred events at Prelim and Training. I do occasionally notice other people having horses tested at events.

[asterix]

I was tested once (10 years eventing). We do have a stall set aside during horse trials for testing.

[goodmorning]

I was wondering about this after an announcement was made at Millbrook requesting people to stop dumping syringes in the trash & use the provided sharps containers :eek:

Announcement made it seem like it was quite the problem. I did notice some very full sharps containers as well…find it hard to believe it was all simply Legend or the like. And if you suck enough to not use the sharps container, well…

[Jeannette_formerly_ponygyrl]

I’ve seen the tester I know at a couple events the past oh, 5 years. If I hadn’t known he was a tester, I wouldn’t have known just looking at him, fwiw. But no, I’ve never been tested, and I’ve wondered the same thing about how many are.

[prospect]

I’ve never been tested -i did not compete much this year being in between horses at the moment… but last year at least 2 friends were tested at different events.

[Badger]

It would be interesting to test the needles collected in sharps containers to see just what exactly is being injected at shows.

[acottongim]

I know that my stallion’s trainer/rider has been tested several times. Not sure if he has been lately though. He used to joke about it that he gets tested because he routinely rides/events stallions (who are known for their manners). Of course he’s always been negative.

On a side note, I personally don’t event but show in dressage and used to do some DSHB classes. One year my (then) 2 or 3 year old mare, who was showing in the DSHB class only, was pulled and tested. There were several DSHB horses (weanlings on up) that were tested along with some of the performance horses at that show.

[weixiao]

[QUOTE=acottongim;8309815]
I know that my stallion’s trainer/rider has been tested several times. Not sure if he has been lately though. He used to joke about it that he gets tested because he routinely rides/events stallions (who are known for their manners). Of course he’s always been negative.

On a side note, I personally don’t event but show in dressage and used to do some DSHB classes. One year my (then) 2 or 3 year old mare, who was showing in the DSHB class only, was pulled and tested. There were several DSHB horses (weanlings on up) that were tested along with some of the performance horses at that show.[/QUOTE]
I used to compete a stallion (pure show jumper) who was very very quiet and impeccably behaved. I was once tested at 9 horse shows in a row. They swore it was random but we always joked it was because I was on a quiet, well behaved stallion as well.

I’ve never been tested eventing but I have seen the testers around with other people.

My, hopefully not naive, assumption is that the drugging seen in the hunter world is not so prevalent in the eventing world. At the lower levels, the $$ probably isn’t there to justify it and particularly at a one day event drugging for dressage isn’t very conducive to success in the other phases, nor is it at all part of eventing culture. At the upper levels, again, not a great move for XC or SJ a tired horse and i would guess a lot of UL horses show at the FEI levels regularly which would make you a moron to mess with this stuff, even 30 days out.

[Divine_Comedy]

My horse has been tested at least twice at FEI levels and at least once or twice at horse trials that I can recall. I’ve also seen numerous others tested, particularly at FEI levels. Some shows seem to have more testers than other.

[Fergs]

I’ve never been tested but I do see them regularly at events. (Well, I did when I lived in Area II.)

They seem to focus on certain horses. A friend of mine used to ride a pretty well-known former Advanced horse at the lower levels, and her horse was tested all the time, regardless of how they finished.

[LadyB]

In Canada, my horse has been tested at least once a year.

I went to Midsouth in 2011, my horse was tested. That year, at home he was tested 2 times.

This year my mare was tested for her first time. But for some reason I tend to be a target.

There are people who haven’t been tested ever in the many many years they’ve evented, but for some reason mine always gets tested. I know 100% its just by random pick, still seems crappy. Luckily I don’t show when my horse is on medication.

I do know a few people who have shown on medication, and never get caught…

[beowulf]

Just curious, how is the random pick selected?

I’ve never had my horse[s] tested… meanwhile, every event I go to, it seems the competitor NEXT to my horse (be it stall or trailer) is whisked off for testing!

[LadyB]

I asked the Equine Canada drug tester this past weekend as my horse was walking to the testing stall. She said she just looks at what horses are showing, and picks the ones that have enough time in-between each phase that she can take to the testing stall. I legit asked if she just closed her eyes and pointed at one on the sheet LOL! She said it somewhat works that way.

[BigMick]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8309860]
Just curious, how is the random pick selected?

I’ve never had my horse[s] tested… meanwhile, every event I go to, it seems the competitor NEXT to my horse (be it stall or trailer) is whisked off for testing![/QUOTE]

I’ve had a horse tested twice (in 10-15 years) of eventing and my friend had hers tested when we showed together at least once.

I asked the tester the same question. She said she just decides that day that she’ll pull every horse that’s gray, or bays with stars, or something like that.

Now, my horse had a heartbar shoe on one foot and a pad that was a bright enough color you’d notice it. So I wonder if she really singled me out because she noticed that and wondered if my horse was “propped up” with meds as well. (he wasn’t of course).

All in all, the process was painless and educational and the tester was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She was so complimentary of eventers in general and commended us on how we are so hands-on and committed to our horses’ well-being.

This was at the Hoosier Horse Park about 8-9 years ago.

My other horse was tested at KHP a few years ago. Again, it was an easy process and the testers were super nice and friendly. Did their job and were on their way. Luckily, both of my horses were prolific pee’ers so they got their samples quickly.

[phoenixrises]

Besides pain stuff what the heck would you give an eventing horse? I guess calming for dressage and uppers for XC?? seriously most eventers I’ve met don’t strike me as the type. Or is it more pain management?

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=phoenixrises;8309917]
Besides pain stuff what the heck would you give an eventing horse? I guess calming for dressage and uppers for XC?? seriously most eventers I’ve met don’t strike me as the type. Or is it more pain management?[/QUOTE]

I think for eventers, it’s more likely to be joint/pain management. I’ve been around a few UL barns and a few shady ones in eventing and I’ve never seen an illegal calming supplement given, but I’ve seen my fair share of joint or pain medications that weren’t necessarily legal.

ETA: I just want to clarify I haven’t seen someone “mask lameness so they could compete” - by and large I think we don’t do that - but I have seen people give stuff to help the more creaky/arthritic or perhaps old injury types.

[LadyB]

Its more pain management. Like someone trying to mask a lameness to get their show in. Horse welfare is not the top of their list.

Previcox is illegal to use while showing in Canada, but you can use it in the states. I know people who have used it for sore horses to mask any lameness so they could show.

Some use liniments to help heighten their senses.

[gardenie]

I have been drug tested, I seem to attract the testers (the last time I asked how he decided and he noticed my horse in the dressage and decided on us randomly), as was my friend I traveled with to River Glen. I believe every horse except for one that I have competed has been drug tested. Most of the time they end up taking blood because mine aren’t in stalls most events.

[JER]

If anyone wants to get an idea of the frequency of testing at the FEI levels (and also who was tested), the FEI keeps a list here: Negative Results FEI.

If it’s human doping that interests you, USADA publishes a list of athletes tested here. You enter the sport and the year and they’ll give you names of those tested. There is relatively little testing of equestrian athletes, probably because testing is expensive to administer and equestrian sport is not considered a hotbed of human PEDs.

When I lived in California, my horses were tested several times, especially the horse that wouldn’t pee unless he was on grass or shavings and not if anyone was watching. I’d tell the tested just to take blood, that urine collection wasn’t going to happen, but they’d usually insist on holding the horse for far too long (an hour, when he needed to go do SJ or XC) and say things like ‘I can always get them to pee.’ No, you can’t. I really don’t mind drug testing at all but I do mind hijacking a horse for an hour during a show when I’ve already explained the situation and requested a blood test.