di·chot·o·my
dīˈkädəmē/
noun
noun: dichotomy; plural noun: dichotomies
a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. So says google.
Now let's just start by saying I am not for competing an impaired, injured, horse. The sport of endurance pushes boundaries, and it pushes them hard. But does it need to be as stringent as it is, and is the org talking out of both sides of its mouth on the issue. I'm going to post up a few thoughts, and let the thinking minds ponder on it.
Banned
Anti-inflammatory drug- but legal after the ride for the horse that is hurting from what he just did.
Steroid eye ointment- totally non-performance inhancing
Lets make this list shorter
Just about every darned thing is banned.
But
Post ride and Pre-ride : IV drips okay, injection of banamine is okay, Bute is okay, actually post ride you can throw the medicine cabinet at that horse, no worries.
IV drips okay, dosing of sodium, magnesium, calcium (this is okay during the ride too), low dose ulcer medication A OK.
Injected hocks. Hmmm....why do they need injected if you are riding within the horse's training capacity?
So for the sake of winning, or running til the wheels about fall off we can do certain things that are rather mind boggling to get through the day. If the horse is so stressed that it needs treated for ulcers preventative or otherwise, maybe he's telling you that you are not being a good steward. Maybe he doesn't like his job. Maybe the horse needs "less". If you have to dose the crap out of your horse after a ride (or during) to keep electrolytes in balance, maybe you are pushing harder than than horse needs. Maybe we ask too much. Maybe we should rethink what is good for my horse on this day?
Really...think about the dichotomy of it.
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