[QUOTE=DancingQueen;3479332]
Just got word that the capcaisin in the case of at least the Norwegian horse was found in a bottle of what we call “pickspray” meant to keep the horse from chewing his sheets, stablewraps etc.[/QUOTE]
Gah. Yes, I’d wondered about that as a possible, too.
The horse would be so much better off with one of those nasty neck cradles than with pepper spray on the wraps. 
Originally Posted by DancingQueen
Just got word that the capcaisin in the case of at least the Norwegian horse was found in a bottle of what we call “pickspray” meant to keep the horse from chewing his sheets, stablewraps etc.
See that’s the point that some of us have been trying to make about the FEI 0 Tolerance and the sensitivity of the drug testing. It comes out in the media that these are positive DOPING results. DOPING to me has the connotation of some Dick Francis Mystery novel - dark seedy etc. Whereas here you have a rider who’s infraction was that either he, his groom put some nasty tasting liquid stuff on a blanket to prevent horse from destroying it. Again, I am not saying there are seedy, shiffless characters out there, however, it saddens me to see that some riders reputations will be wrecked because they are accused of DOPING. The media sensationalizes these reports to make for good stories when the truth might be much less sensational.
DancingQueen - where did you hear that story from -
Until last week, the top vets in Europe were recommending Equi-block.
Really? Seriously?? That is very surprising. The FEI rules are simple - ZERO TOLERANCE, so why would a top vet recommend a liniment that has an ingredient that is well-known to be a no-no?
To say that the international scene wasn’t “aware” of Capsaicin is ridiculous, especially since a lot of the riders spend their winters in Wellington. Just because they used it “before” and it never tested doesn’t mean it wouldn’t test the next time. If I was warned to not use Equi-Block on my ammie jumper at regular A-rated shows, why would it be okay to use on an Olympic horse?
These riders knew that they would be highly scrutinized and tested for everything and anything, especially after Athens. Hong Kong widely promoted their drug facilities as some of the best in the world.
I am not saying the riders meant to “dope” their horses, my indignation is that at that level they know better, they know it’s zero tolerance, they know what’s on the list - they know that if it’s NOT on the list to ask a cadre of vets if the ingredient is suspect. Don’t know the answer, call the USEF vet or call the FEI and ask. (USEF can tell you if something is against FEI rules too, their staff is great about answering drug concerns and questions)
There are plenty of other ways to relieve sore, tired muscles beyond a liniment. If Denis Lynch wanted something for his horse’s back - why not put a magnetic blanket on it? Why not have an acupuncturist work on the horse?
Every Olympic rider or trainer I’ve worked with would never take a risk on a product or ingredient they weren’t 150% sure of and would not use a suspect ingredient 30 days prior to a competition like the Olympics. Always err on the side of caution!
We have two FEI horses in our barn - they are taken care of and fed by ONE person. They have their own scoop. Nothing is mixed in with the other horses. Even fly spray ingredients are looked at. At shows, again only ONE person is allowed to work with them. Buckets, feed tubs, blankets, brushes – everything is separate from the regular show horses.
You want to play at this level, you gotta know and follow the rules.
[QUOTE=Riding Fool;3480788]
Really? Seriously?? That is very surprising. The FEI rules are simple - ZERO TOLERANCE, so why would a top vet recommend a liniment that has an ingredient that is well-known to be a no-no?
To say that the international scene wasn’t “aware” of Capsaicin is ridiculous, especially since a lot of the riders spend their winters in Wellington. Just because they used it “before” and it never tested doesn’t mean it wouldn’t test the next time. If I was warned to not use Equi-Block on my ammie jumper at regular A-rated shows, why would it be okay to use on an Olympic horse?
These riders knew that they would be highly scrutinized and tested for everything and anything, especially after Athens. Hong Kong widely promoted their drug facilities as some of the best in the world.
I am not saying the riders meant to “dope” their horses, my indignation is that at that level they know better, they know it’s zero tolerance, they know what’s on the list - they know that if it’s NOT on the list to ask a cadre of vets if the ingredient is suspect. Don’t know the answer, call the USEF vet or call the FEI and ask. (USEF can tell you if something is against FEI rules too, their staff is great about answering drug concerns and questions)
There are plenty of other ways to relieve sore, tired muscles beyond a liniment. If Denis Lynch wanted something for his horse’s back - why not put a magnetic blanket on it? Why not have an acupuncturist work on the horse?
Every Olympic rider or trainer I’ve worked with would never take a risk on a product or ingredient they weren’t 150% sure of and would not use a suspect ingredient 30 days prior to a competition like the Olympics. Always err on the side of caution!
We have two FEI horses in our barn - they are taken care of and fed by ONE person. They have their own scoop. Nothing is mixed in with the other horses. Even fly spray ingredients are looked at. At shows, again only ONE person is allowed to work with them. Buckets, feed tubs, blankets, brushes – everything is separate from the regular show horses.
You want to play at this level, you gotta know and follow the rules.[/QUOTE]
Maybe the top vets in Europe didn’t get the memo about the new testing technique for Capsaicin… according to the FEI - until recently they hadn’t developed a testing technique for Capsaicin. But then again, one might have to also be a chemist of sorts. If a bottle says contains “Capsaicin” is one thing but if it says “Contains PEPPER” is one really supposed to know that that means Capsaicin. When the FDA banned Ephedra from the market OTC diet drugs suddenly started marketing the wonders of the herb Ma Huang.
I guess now if you are going to be an FEI level rider part of your team is going to have to include a pharmacologist…
I red it in a swedish online horse magazine. We are a little invested in the Norweigan horse since a swedish guy is their chef d’equipe so it made it to the papers there.
As far as I understood it Sylve (their chef d’equipe) was both outraged and perplexed and could not figure out where the capsaicin came from. After testing all the products used around the horse it was found in the pickspray.
Well another one for the hearing:-
Of all people.
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