There are “drugs” and then there are DRUGS…There are nutra-psudical(sp?) “drugs”, “on purpose” drugs, “by accident” drugs, drugs deliberately given, drugs given by someone NOT in charge of the horse(s), etc etc…to assume that is it “drugs” period is spreading rumours. If you have the FACTS then state them. Until then I will think you are just gossiping by inuendo.
Betsy
www.threewindsfarmny.com
Lead, follow, or get out of the way…
George, A daddy? Since when? Last I heard he was down in Florida playing hard and into real estate or golf can’t remember which. I spoke to a good friend of his not too long ago, and certainly no mention of fatherhood.
Janet, sorry I wasn’t referring specifically to Barney Ward’s permanent suspension. I know why he was suspended! But I was referred to the comment made regarding the fact that suspended horses can still be sold and so a profit can be made by the owner, presumably the suspended party! And if the reason for suspension was use of chemical “help” then in some ways the present system allows for the profit to be made anyway. I mean in spite of the cheating! In fact if the suspension comes at the right time (vacation time anyway) some people might say that it pays to cheat! What I’m getting to is the fact that the “punishments” are really just a slap on the wrists of those cheaters.
Why This Matters
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> So many people on this board seem to think that everyone that wins cheats and drugs their horses and all the riders are just little princesses at the big shows. THat is not true for the majority. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The problem is that when your top trainers are suspended for drugging it supports that picture to those outside the sport who do not have the benefit of knowing what and who you know. I’m sure eventers / saddle seaters and QHers can all say they are misconstrued by bad press.
These trainers need to stay clean to keep the sport reputable for everyone’s sake, esp. those at the lower levels trying to eek out a living hauling kids to the local shows. The last thing they need are parents questioning the sport…
In light of Sandstone’s post, all I can say (again) is that it is a shame to see what a child has learned from showing. And Sandstone, I in fact rode with one of the suspended trainers when I was your age (gee, was that ten years ago already?). I am another poster who has shown at big shows and who has subsequently been participating in this thread and watching the suspension list. And while I can understand the pressures trainers face and why they might be tempted to cheat, I do not think it is OK to send a horse into the ring with an illegal drug in its veins in order to gain an advantage over other competitors. It’s not the majority of riders/owners/trainers, but it is terribly disheartening to see that such big names have done this. One of the horses listed in USEF’s magazine was grand champion at Devon for pete’s sake.
I would never send the trainer with whom I rode as a junior another horse. It’s a shame, because I learned a lot from him and he is a skilled rider and trainer. It was truly disappointing to see his name.
I also have to add that I am not sure how I would feel if, in the future, I rode into the ring with a previously-suspended trainer standing at the in-gate to help me. I can only assume there would be a lot of whispering and speculation about whatever horse I was riding and whether it had received some new “untestable” cocktail. I think I would pass on the opportunity for that particular brand of fun.
C.Boylen, where are you able to download the quanitative amounts for drug usage on USEF? Might be my elderly computer…
What causes a horse to be suspended?
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Darkerhorse:
LOL SMACK… I DIDN’T SEE IT COMMING.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You and Timothy Hay can be such dorks sometimes! 
When I was growing up the family business was a chemical research lab so I have actually paid attention to this ongoing sore point.
The Fed ended up with their own lab because they could not depend on individually contracted, independent labs to provide sample results in a timely fashion…in fact it can take up to 6 months if you send any kind of sample in for independent testing…can take more if the lab is also doing tests for local law enforcement. Even our lab had a cooler full of backlogged samples waiting their turn.
Because the Fed operates this lab they can devote all their time and equipment to these tests, train all the techs in proper procedures in splitting samples and retesting positives…this doesn’t always happen in a lab doing everything from testing suspected contaminated gasoline to working arson cases.
No, the Fed operated lab is a good solution, and this one has high accolades from industry groups.
But the time to prepare the samples for testing, storage of the split sample, run the test and document the results means money…and we all know we will squeal like stuck pigs any time the try to add anything to our show bill on check out day.
We show folks don’t have the pari mutual pool to provide this kind of infrastructure.
We are getting better but still have far to go.
The Horse World. 2 people, 3 opinions. That’s the way it is.
That brings up a question I’ve been considering: what restrictions are placed on the suspended horses of a suspended trainer? In other words, can those horses be sold? And if they are sold during the suspension period, does that release them from suspension? Can the new owner immediately begin to show that horse or must the original suspension period expire? Just curious.
Another easy way to get on the list is to claim you are a member and fill out the affadavit when you are actually not a member.
You know, huge European shows run on FEI rules without a vet issue - besides, if it is an emergency, presumably you’d be pulling the horse from competition anyhow. If it is not an emergency, then you either follow the rules or withdraw. It’s not brain surgery.
you know, i have never understood the allure of the “nextel” walkie-talkie phones. I mean, how can you be more directly connected using a walkie talkie than talking to someone live on the phone? I think phones have more instantanious results, just keep the thing plastered to your ear and you’ll be just fine. Besides, who’s gonna hear Mary-jo when she’s yelling for you to grab her some hoof polish… your pocket?
~Emilee~
I think it is interesting about how everyone keeps saying… It is only a few bad apples… not all BNT do this etc etc.
I am from NC. On another thread about recommendations for BNT in NC… I can personally name 3 out of the trainers named that I have either personally known to add a little cocktail to their equine’s diet or I know for a fact it has been done via one of their working students.
So… it seems like for an area as small as NC it is interesting that either many are bad apples, the bad apples are infecting the entire bushel, or it is much more than what any of us are willing to admit.
As a side note, when I was much younger and knew nothing about horses… I used to always want a horse that I could get up in the morning and lunge like so many other people. It was not until later I realized that I was fortunate that my trainer truly matched riders and horses together and that for all of her faults two things she would have never tolerated would be drugging a horse nor having to lunge to death any other horse.
Of course admittedly we did not go to many A shows (and I most certainly never showed at the A level), but I am pretty grateful that my experiences have been the entire opposite of what this thread is about.
Christina
Instead of consistently testing the top 10 why not go after some of the toe dragger’s, the 4 faulters and the unexpected lackluster performances?
_\]
– * > hoopoe
The ancient Greeks did not write obituaries. They only wanted to know if you had a passion.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dana:
So, I lease a horse from Trainer A and have it in a totally different barn and in a totally different state. When Trainer A is suspended, I then can’t show the horse that I’m leasing for that length of time!!! What a mess. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
A friend of mine is in this exact situation with an animal they lease from one of the new vacationers. They are still exploring their options- very annoying for them!
Not so sure I agree with you.
Eliminate two-way radios! 
Oh come now! You know we hunters can’t expect to get to the ring without an entourage of trainers, assistant trainers, and grooms assisting us with every move! Getting this army of assistance coordinated, mobilized, and to each ring at the appropriate moment takes organizational and tactical skills exceeding that of Tommy Franks! Can’t be done without two-way radios! 
Plus it’s so much fun to radio back and make the harried working students run 2 miles back from the trailer because you forgot your hoof oil! 
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison
My understanding in this case the horse was done, but the trainer wanted them to wait until he was done training for the day. Not just wait for X other horse to finish. So it was a little more complicated than the normal, let me give him a bath.
I have also never had a problem with getting the horse settled in whatever manner needed before the tester took over. They just stood around and watched, which of course made me do only the immediate things.
It is also my understanding that you can refuse to have them give the Lasik without any penalty towards you. They also do not have to have both blood and urine. They can leave with only one if there is a problem getting either.
I had one horse that WOULD NOT pee in a cup. They always tried, but after about an hour, they would just take the blood and go.
Had another that you CANNOT get near with a needle. He will try and kill you. They went with just the urine. I told them he would not let them take blood and they tried. Never seen a vet run out of a stall so fast in my life.
What about changing the standards for judging hunters? Penalize rounds that are “too quiet”?
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