Because it minimizes risk. No matter how good the rider, hiccups can happen - bicycles nearby, wind picks up at the wrong time. Drugging eliminates one of the big random variables in horse showing.
Eh gotta disagree with the Kelley riding criticisms. Sheâs rides great. Maybe not as mentally sharp as she was as a junior due to some lifestyle choices, but still rides super. The scuttlebutt at the AA shows is along the lines of, why DO they feel the need to drug so much since she rides so well and they have nice horses? She would win anyway, maybe just not as much and not on as wide an array of horses.
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What kind of cocktail would you give a horse that requires five weeks withdrawal?? And why on earth would you want to constantly keep a horse from being a horse if you know how to ride and your business is sale horses? So sad, disgusting, and bad for the sport. We donât need another NYT story.
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But itâs the grooms that are big cokeheads?! 
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I feel absolutely sick for any horse currently standing Farmer/Glefkeâs Lane Change Farm. Really, Cocaine??
Even more disturbing is so many owners and riders will just shrug this off and continue to put horses and ponies in this barn for further torture and continue to buy from them further filling G & Fâs pockets.
A few well known event riders recently tested positive for banned substances at a local FEI event. Perhaps USEF needs to step up their game for these big money classes.
I feel for Kodachrome; is he still in the barn at LCF?
Perhaps the DEA needs to show up at LCF. Sick, sick, sick. and sadly these two are not the only people doing this.
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Did you read the whole thread? Not trying to be snarky but the basic premise is that Kodachrome is no longer there but went to a surprising choice of a program
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And my response to reasons like this⊠crap happens, the horse is a living, breathing creature, of course itâs going to react to outside things⊠deal with it! Iâd rather sit on a horse that can react if needed than to a drugged non responder! I once rode my old mare a several hours after being sedated by the vet for a procedure. Never again, it was like she wasnât there, and if needed felt like she wouldnât be able to respond and get us out of trouble. Nope⊠not a nice feeling, I got off and to this day cannot understand why anyone would want to ride, let alone jump, a drugged horse!
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Yeah, I tried to upload to the biggest image possible, not sure why it is still so small. I can message it to you if you want.
A lot of people are saying, âhow donât you know your horse is drugged?â. It has to be different just being an owner that, by choice of the owner or of the trainer, is very hands off. I only ride at the lower level so I lunge, bathe, trailer, etc. my own horse, but someone that just meets the horse at the ring could, maybe, in la-la land, not know what medications are involved? I guess?
Yes, this happens - and in many large programs, where owners pay a daycare fee, they show up far later than the horse does, and God knows what happens between saying goodbye at the end of show day 1 and arriving on show day 2. It is not uncommon at the highest levels of hunter showing to have said program for said owner and when owner shows up at 12PM to show in her 2PM A/O class, horse could have easily been drugged and owner is never the wiser. If owner knows what horse feels like drugged vs. not drugged itâs one thing, but for some owners who are in this type of program, it is not unreasonable to think owner wouldnât know what the horse feels like without drugs at a show. :no:
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Well yes, but youâre presumably in this sport for enjoyment.
For them, this is a business. And like any business, they are trying to maximize return and minimize risk.
Iâm not saying itâs right or ethical. But it does make sense, when presented in that light. Itâs not about a lack of skill, but about ensuring profit.
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in that case, start setting the owners of the horses down too! If people suddenly realize that theyâll be fined/suspended then maybe these unethical trainers will also see their pipeline dry up and thatâll help change the drugging! I think, but I could be wrong, in Canada suspensions go to the horse, rider and owner ? Iâm actually surprised that the horses arenât suspended in the USA!
edited to add: after reading our rules, we suspend/ fine the "person responsible " ⊠I always sign my entry as this as Iâm feeding etc⊠basically itâs the person whoâs looking after the horse at the show (my trainer signs for most of the horses she does not allow her groom to sign). Plus rider and horses can be suspended but it doesnât mention owners!
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I was at a trainer who drugged client horses and I am 100% sure many of them did not know. Especially where the rider was a teen and the parents were not horsey. I left.
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Donât want to go thru whole thread, but would like to know what happened to Kodachrome.
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I have followed the whole thread and still managed to miss whether Kodachrome is still at LCF and if not where he went. A quick update from someone who knows would be appreciated.
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When a horse tests positive for a drug⊠and the trainer is suspended. I think the HORSE also needs to be suspended from getting ANY points or money. The horse needs to be RED FLAGGED. Even if horse is sold or leased. Horse can still show⊠but NO points or money can be collected. Any money won needs to go to a ushja worthy cause or grant of some sort.
Once the trainers suspension is lifted⊠the horses red flag is lifted.
If trainer gets a 2 yr suspension⊠horse is red flagged for 2 years. Doesnât matter if horse gets sold or leased⊠itâs red flagged till trainer has done his/her time.
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I, for one, am in this sport for the love of the horse, and have been so both as a professional, where it was my business, and as an amateur, where it is for my enjoyment.
The only thing that makes sense about people like that are that they are in this for the love of business and money, not for the love of the horse.
âEnsuring profitâ means that their payday is more important than their horses welfare. And while it may âmake sense,â itâs a disgusting excuse.
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Not that I think this is great, or is scientifically valid, or works, even, but it doesnât sound horrible. Then I went and googled it and have to say - the comments on other discussions about it are ate up with dumb. SMH!
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Itâs in the hard-to-read Selma Garber FB clip posted a few pages ago. Kodachrome is now at Holly Shepherdâs place in AL.
As to Selma Garberâs post on MindfulâŠjust wow. Kelly was all over the COTH article on Mindful some years ago, gushing about how much she loooovves him. Some kind of loveâŠ
And the Garbers were huge cash cows for Larry and Kelly. They bought a lot of horses from LCF and partnered on others. Glad they got their eyes opened, and that Mindful came through it all OK.
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Same as when you get a killer hangover- itâs when you mix them.
Id like to think that if an owner truely did not know and the horse turned up with a positive and garnered a reputation, theyâd sue. But I know better, the good old boys club that whines you canât show a horse these days with no drugs and clamors for a rule change will be sure an owner who sues doesnât get great prices for their sale horses or many ribbons in the ring. Along with the traditional reminders of vandalism and bad mouthing.
Sincerly hope LCFs choices donât inspire another rule change to allow these choices as the AE Pre Green kerfuffle did, But I wouldnt bet against it.
The drugs used by people looking for an edge to win are not necessarily the same drugs or the same dosage as your vet sedating your mare for a procedure. Theyâre looking to slightly quiet the horse and keep it focused on the job at hand. the horse still needs to jump brilliantly, move gracefully, and be highly responsive to the rider. This is why owners might not know the horse is drugged. The difference between a drugged horse and a non-drugged horse could be very subtle.
