Very true.
However this has moved past theory, into SynNutra Equine encouraging people to use a product containing a specific substance (which apparently does not test) that USEF said is not allowed in competition.
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Can you share what rationale they gave you for even giving you a warning? If it wasn’t on the prohibited list and I can’t see that it falls into any of the classes of generally prohibited substances then it feels like they are making up the rules as they go along and after the fact. As someone who tries very hard to follow both the letter and the spirit of the rules, I find this … concerning.
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But this goes back to the Ulcerguard conversation, which people jumped down that poster’s throat for. The way the rule is written is so broad as to be borderline meaningless. It defines “psychotropic substance” as “mood and/or behavior altering”. So if Ulcerguard makes someone’s horse less cranky, it is TECHNICALLY banned under a strict interpretation of the rule - the same strict interpretation most on this thread are advocating for (and attacking a company for not following).
If my horse is calmer in the show ring with a 20 minute hand graze an hour before he shows, and I’m convinced the chemicals in grass are calming him, do I stop hand grazing him? What about people who use raspberry leaves for mares? Can’t have that for sure.
USEF told me both Tums (calcium carbonate) and/or Nexium (esomeprazole) are fine to compete on. But they didn’t ask me if they calm my horse, or alter his mood/behavior. So how do they know?
Look, I get that USEF needs to have a rule that is broader than their medication list, because unfortunately people are thinking up ways to cheat faster than USEF can test for it and add it to a banned substance list. But of course there is going to be confusion and questions when the banned substance list is very specific, and the written rule could arguably capture almost anything under the sun.
Also, ironically I posted recently on facebook asking for recs for a supplement/paste to help a jumper have a little more focus on the first day of a show and explicitly said I need something that will NOT make it quieter or less hot. Overwhelming answer was Synchill.
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One of them is for treating ulcers.
What does L-Theanine treat?
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This seems very problematic. If you are giving your horse medication pursuant to a vet’s orders, that is not on the list, and not given for the purpose of calming, how are you supposed to know USEF considers it illegal? Sounds like a total lack of due process.
I was surprised to see that Pergolide is on the list. It’s given to so many horses these days. Seems like USEF is going to cause some competitors to choose between showing and providing their horse with appropriate medical care. Sure, you might be able to get an exemption, but I’m sure that costs more money. And at least a bunch of time.
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And any substance that would help “focus” a horse would also be considered psychotropic under the rule as it is “mood or behavior altering” regardless of whether it is calming. Which begs the question of why is it necessary to prohibit anything that could potentially have a mood altering effect? I take meds to manage my own anxiety–why can’t my horse have some herbal supplement that “might” (because let’s face it none of these are rigorously tested to prove the claims) make him a little more comfortable in a strange environment? Did we get these rules just because bad actors were going out of their way to basically tranquilize horses prior to showing? My horse tends to be behind the aids anyway, I definitely don’t need him tranqed–I’d just like to be able to get him closer to what he’s like at home. At what point does something a horse gets every day as a matter of balancing his nutrition become “mood altering”? How do we balance supplementing something like Magnesium, Thiamine or Taurinne, which are necessary nutrients the lack of which could cause spookiness, irritability, etc.?
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If you keep reading, you’ll see that pergolide specifically is now legal under Therapeutic Use Exemption, which means if you have a horse that is prescribed pergolide for Cushings, you submit information to USEF and they grant you an exemption from the rule that is good for 3 years. You used to have to withdraw from it for 24 hours prior to showing which obviously was not ideal.
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Many medications people use to cheat are readily available because they treat something (dex comes to mind immediately).
We offer many products that don’t contain L-Theanine.
That is fair. And the rule doesn’t specify the “substance” has to enter the horse’s body to have that affect. So is a lunge line banned as a “mood or behavior altering” substance under the way the rules are currently written? It is a substance. It is mood or behavior altering…
Yes. And not just tranquilize - it goes the other way for jumpers (trying to make them hotter/more reactive).
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We are regulated by the FDA under Animal Food & Feeds and have been inspected by the FDA twice. Both times have been unannounced inspections and both times the FDA has reported “no changes needed” and found us 100% compliant. It is direct violation of the FDA to put anything in our products that is not on the label.
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I am simply giving you the facts. It is up to each individual to do what they feel is best for themselves and for their horse. We are a company made up of horse people. From Veterinarians, to weekend enthusiasts, to professional horse trainers, to people who just love their horses as children and we work every day to help horses live healthier, happier lives.
It should be…
For people that use it incorrectly as a way to quiet their horses down, not when it is used correctly as a way to let a horse stretch their legs or warm up.
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Right? Most abused calming drugs have a legitimate therapeutic purpose.
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Dumb spinoff question - what in the world would Pergoglide/Prascend create as a behavioral benefit?
I have a senior Cushing’s horse on it and haven’t seen anything that I can think would be performance enhancing.
He did go through the very common side effects of appetite suppression and just generally being out of it when he first started the meds. I suppose he was lower energy than normal while he was adjusting but he wasn’t particularly calmer.
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Maybe your company should be more proactive in learning if any of the ingredients in your calming supplements are not allowed in USEF competition before telling people that they can use it, it’s not on the prohibited list and it won’t test. All it takes is an email to USEF asking the question, as @AngelaHunterRdr did.
Yes, the responsibility to abide by USEF rules is on the rider, so it’s no skin off of your company if you encourage the use of your products that contain L-Theanine. Your customers will suffer the consequences, not you.
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There are rules about excessive longeing and it is obviously not a substance, it’s exercise.
Sorry Demerara, this was a response to Rel6.
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It was treating a metabolic disorder in your horse’s case. The better question is what effect would it have on a horse who did not have a metabolic disorder. It might make them feel pretty crappy. And if you feel pretty crappy, you are generally a lot quieter.
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@skydy., the SynChill person reminds me of the saying “my mind is made up- don’t confuse me with the facts”.
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The attitude of the representative of SynNutra Equine is incredible. The lack of due diligence, responsibility, and concern for their customers is astounding.
Now that they know (what they should have known beforehand but apparently didn’t) they should stop telling their customers that their products containing L-Theanine are OK to use in USEF competition.
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