I am considering having my horse’s hocks injected. I will be showing at recognized shows this winter. I can find no info on USEF’s site regarding withdrawal time. ANyone have any suggestions?
You need to look up each of the individual drugs your vet will use. The steroid is the most likely offender (if you are using one). Many are 7 days, but a few (such as the one my vet prefers to use in SI joints) are 28 days. If you are using something like IA Adequan or ProStride, I don’t know if there is a listed withdrawal time.
If your vet gives an NSAID with the injection, you’ll need to check that as well (and make sure you aren’t giving 2 different NSAIDS within the withdrawal window)
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USEF drugs and medications PDF: page 34, item 3. https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/2Zp2…ons-guidelines
- No horse may be injected with any substance, prohibited or permitted, into an intra-synovial space (joint, tendon sheath, or bursa) within the 4 days preceding competition. No horse less than two years of age may be treated with intrasynovial injections within the 30 days preceding competition
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Yes I know that. He uses Vetalog. I started by looking at the Medications guide. There is no data on the Medication guide about how LONG AFTER injection it is safe to show. It will not be within those 4 days - more like 2 weeks. hense my question.
Vetalog is a corticosteroïde ; triamcinolone.
Email medequestrian@aol.com or Call 800-633-2472 - USEF drug/meds. It is my translation of the rule that if you injected 6 days (to pick a #) prior to show, and happened to get tested at show, you pull out your handy copy of the vet’s invoice and you are fine. But it woudn’t hurt to ask.
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It’s on page 8 of the guide:
corticosteroids other than methylprednisolone and isoflupredone, e.g., triamcinolone and betamethasone ____7 days
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I’ve always been directed to give the horse 2 weeks to gain full benefit from the injections - gradually working back up to full schooling over those 2 weeks. So I don’t imagine I would show within the medication exposure period.
I’d check with your vet to see what the recommend regarding timing of hock injections and showing.
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Thank you. Somehow that escaped me since I ignored that section not thinking it was a sedative or trank… . Just what I wanted to know.
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So because I was curious - and its very rainy nasty morning - I called USEF and asked the question re the 4 days vs. 7 days. Here is what they said: No joint injections of any kind w/in 4 days of show. If joint injections are done 5 days or so out but less than the drug withdrawal time for the particular steroid and sedative, then you may show but have to file a medication report. Those can be done online or at show apparently.
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Yes, don’t wait to be tested and then pull out your receipt. I think there have been some fines for people “forgetting” to file medication reports.
Good luck at the show!
