Wow… I really hope there’s an innocent explanation. 
http://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/Article.aspx?Mode=1&ID=750&ESID=7893
Just saw that as well. What would reserpine used for?
P.
Apparently it’s a long acting tranquilliser, the sort given to horses on box rest etc. There’s something about it being used for bleeders also.
God, I really hope there’s an explanation, otherwise it’s very depressing news.
Apparently Kevin McNab’s horse has tested positive for the same thing. 
Who on God’s good earth would ever give Reserpine to an UL event horse?
To improve the dressage??
I don’t know as I’ve never had to use it. Very disappointing though.
No clue but it’s pretty darn suspicious that TWO horses on the Clifton team tested positive. It could be a case of one of the horses in the barn being on stall rest and given it and it somehow being transmitted through contact to the other two horses but I doubt that would clear him.
How long does reserpine stay detectable in the blood? Can it be administered orally, or is it only effective if injected?
Actually it is more likely a cross contamination. Reserpine stays in their system for a VERY long time. When I’ve had horses on stall rest and rehab on it, my vet would say you need more than 90 days off it for it to clear their system and preferably longer.
So if a horse in their barn was getting it, and a spoon used to mix the feed then was used to mix the competition horse’s feed…doesn’t take much!
I’ve used it as pills, powder and an oral liquid…powder is the more common method now. I found it more effective that way (you use a lower dose and it is safer) than the long acting injection. It is very useful for horse on long stall rest and rehab…but I’ve always given up to 6 months for it to clear their system. It isn’t something you give if your horse is just locked up for a week or two.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7213872]
Actually it is more likely a cross contamination. Reserpine stays in their system for a VERY long time. When I’ve had horses on stall rest and rehab on it, my vet would say you need more than 90 days off it for it to clear their system and preferably longer.
So if a horse in their barn was getting it, and a spoon used to mix the feed then was used to mix the competition horse’s feed…doesn’t take much!
I’ve used it as pills, powder and an oral liquid…powder is the more common method now. I found it more effective that way (you use a lower dose and it is safer) than the long acting injection.[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately, though, even a cross contamination at the barn wouldn’t clear him as far as I read in the FEI rules since it’s a Banned substance.
[QUOTE=yourcolorfuladdiction;7213873]
Unfortunately, though, even a cross contamination at the barn wouldn’t clear him as far as I read in the FEI rules since it’s a Banned substance.[/QUOTE]
No it wouldn’t unfortunately. It is the scariest and most STUPID aspect of the FEI rules IMO. If it comes out that the percentage in his blood is so low as to be likely to be cross contamination…he’s screwed. Yet at that low of a dose it really is NOT an advantage.
It is really scary. I have one FEI horse in my barn right now (out of 25 horses)…and it is scary how easily he could get bute or something else in his system just because someone uses the wrong bucket…or puts him in the wrong stall for a minute and he eats something.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7213874]
No it wouldn’t unfortunately. It is the scariest and most STUPID aspect of the FEI rules IMO. If it comes out that the percentage in his blood is so low as to be likely to be cross contamination…he’s screwed. Yet at that low of a dose it really is NOT an advantage.
It is really scary. I have one FEI horse in my barn right now (out of 25 horses)…and it is scary how easily he could get bute or something else in his system just because someone uses the wrong bucket…or puts him in the wrong stall for a minute and he eats something.[/QUOTE]
Yes, it’s pretty darn nerve racking. I guess the rule is just like that sensitivity rule, or whatever it is where it’s there to prevent soreing but if your horse steps on itself and cuts its coronet band and is sensitive to the touch you’re out.
It’s really a shame. His other horse also tested positive for reserpine, which in my mind points to cross-contamination. The levels can be so low as to have zero effect on the horse’s behavior or conditions, but still be enough to get his horses bounced…and could stem from something months and months earlier. Reminds me of the dressage horse in Hong Kong who was dinged for trace amounts of a drug.
Edited to correct the statement re: second horse - it was another Clifton horse, but not his ride. Regardless, I stand by my view that it’s a shame. Reserpine isn’t something that would have an advantage for an UL event horse, but cross-contamination or long term effects from something months earlier could still cause something to test.
[QUOTE=GotSpots;7213901]
It’s really a shame. His other horse also tested positive for reserpine, which in my mind points to cross-contamination. The levels can be so low as to have zero effect on the horse’s behavior or conditions, but still be enough to get his horses bounced…and could stem from something months and months earlier. Reminds me of the dressage horse in Hong Kong who was dinged for trace amounts of a drug.[/QUOTE]
It won’t just get his horses bounced but he will be suspended from FEI competition for years.
[QUOTE=yourcolorfuladdiction;7213904]
It won’t just get his horses bounced but he will be suspended from FEI competition for years.[/QUOTE]
Not necessarily. Where do you get that?
[QUOTE=GotSpots;7213901]
It’s really a shame. His other horse also tested positive for reserpine, which in my mind points to cross-contamination. The levels can be so low as to have zero effect on the horse’s behavior or conditions, but still be enough to get his horses bounced…and could stem from something months and months earlier. Reminds me of the dressage horse in Hong Kong who was dinged for trace amounts of a drug.[/QUOTE]
The second horse was Kevin McNab’s ride, not Jocks and as far as I can see they are not based at the same barn at all.
According to a news report one is based in Surrey and one in Berkshire.
They could possibly both have been feeding the same herbal supplement or as some people are saying on social media they could be victims of a sabotage attempt against the Clifton name. It could be done so easily by someone with a grudge who was able to gain access to the Burghley stables. :no: Definitely scary thought and one that can’t be dismissed.
It is terrible news for the sport. I hope it is a mistake. I am hoping the B sample is negative.
I too have a racehorse in the barn with my event and retired horses. He eats from a different bucket, has his own feed tub and water bucket, and I have my medications set up where they are taken care of in the tack/feed room and not out where the horses are stalled. And I wash hands after handling him. His blankets and halter, and especially bridle, are not in the common tack area, the racehorse stuff is all hung up in another tack room. While we use the stable pitchfork and wheelbarrow to clean his stall, his stall is on the end and is done either first or last. I do these things without even thinking - it’s such a habit - but certainly there’s easily room for cross-contamination of a prohibited substance in my regular routine, so I can see how this would happen in his. I cannot imagine anyone would thinkingly administer this to an FEI horse knowing the risks. It looks to me like a contamination positive but who knows.
To use a more European phrase, I am gutted for Jock. Hell of a year and he doesn’t deserve this. That said… everyone competing at that level must know the rules and account for how to orchestrate their barn to function inside of them. It is as BFNE said very frightening just how quickly that a horse could get a lick of a tiny bit of bute powder. I think we may see people start to test their own horses close to the event so they can know if they are truly clear.
Now since it is England, one could wonder if someone did this intentionally. I doubt it. But the levels found would indicate the levels of it readily in his system and point to cross contamination or intentional doping.
Sucky situation all around. Wish FEI would set some thresholds wherein cross contamination levels, that would never be considered an advantage, would be worthy of a fine but not all all out suspension.
Emily
To paraphrase Occam’s Razor:
“The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.”
We had a pony sell, pending the drug test. It came back positive for reserpine. I had never even seen the drug in my life, much less given it to a bomb proof event pony. Did some panicky research, and found out a specific weed can cause a positive result. And guess what we found a couple of in the pasture? Crazy! There was a more sensitive version of the test $600 that could determine the difference. We did that and indeed it proved it was only a weed. It was a lovely waste of money, time and lot of stress.
Does FEI use the same test that can lead to false positives?
“…Now since it is England, one could wonder if someone did this intentionally. I doubt it. But the levels found would indicate the levels of it readily in his system and point to cross contamination or intentional doping…”
Em, what do you mean by this? Are you thinking a new Dick Francis plot? Because I am. I can’t imaaaagine Jock doing this intentionally. 'Course I don’t KNOW the man, I just happen to think he is a lovely guy who has worked his butt off to get where he is and I would be shocked and horrified, as well as gutted, to see this turn out to be intentional. Sure seems to me some creep with a vendetta slipped Promise a micky.
