<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by poltroon:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tiramit:
… and the 3-day riders seem to have a handle on their competitors, so what are hunter / jumper folks doing differently? Obviously over-showing. How do the dr/3-day managers sort it all out?
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Eventing is a whole other kettle of fish. First, there’s just no money in it unless you win Rolex, and even then, you spend so much to get there it’s just gravy. No one goes to events thinking that they might win their entry fees back, even. Further, a horse can only the big three-days twice a year - and bad luck can mean that you don’t even get to run. Because of that, it doesn’t attract a lot of absentee owners, and I think there is less pressure for a rider to WIN any one competition.
The danger aspects also come into play - I ain’t drugging any animal that I’m riding at 600 mpm at telephone poles. 
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I really think the reason eventers don’t seem to have a drugging problem has alot less to do with your reasoning above as it does our judging. The ideal performance of an event horse is one that requires/encourages “clean” (i.e no drugging) stable management. When your running XC a couple hours after dressage a seditive for dressage just isn’t a viable option. 
And the danger factor does play a role, who wants to ride a drugged horse XC. I’m brave but that doesn’t make me stupid.
The big reason the hunters are having a problem with behavoir modification drugs is that the “ideal” behavior (I particularly like the “dead horse walking” reference) is just not one that promotes a drug free enviorment. Nor in my opinion is it “natural” for a healthy fit horse to jump around a 3’+ course as if they were a sleep.
Change the judging, rethink what is defined by ideal. It is the only way to change the drugging.
The eventers have no limits on the number of shows a year. But most over campaigned horses just plain don’t perform as well. And when you get to the upper levels most riders focus on being competive at Three days which often means your not pulling out all the stops at the H.T.s.
As an observation from a removed party I would also say there should be a greater (to the point of being severe) penalty tranqs and pyschotics that “modify behavior” than for pain killers. With computere technology suspension history MUST become easily researched as well.
Secondly, I agree that until The List is published speculating on named individuals is in poor taste. HOWEVER, once that list is published I think you people need to make a point of discussing them by name, discussing who thier owners are by name, discussing who their riders are by name and discussing what classes and shows these horses, riders and owner did well at in the last year by name.
Suspension is not severe precisely because there is so much winking, nodding and whispering instead of publicly calling a spade a spade.
My brother worked for the Tenn. Ag dept on a case where a walking horse trainer cut out the frog and placed golf balls in the hoof then covered up with pads. (You think YOU guys have problems 
) That trainer after peanlties returned to continue his successfull training carreer. How? Why? Because politics were such that no one in the industry wanted to talk about it or him. And when he went back to business it was easier to prentend it never happened.
- never let your father choose ski racing over horses!) and was wondering if BCalm, Calm and Cool and those others still legal? Just a question, a simple yet or no will do thank you.
Somebody on the spot care to report in??
