| Performance-enhancing drugs are being used in Equine | | | | Michael (2005). |
| Sports to enhance the natural abilities of the horse. | | | | Government agencies will have to be present at all the |
| This process must be changed. Everyone in sports | | | | sports events to ensure proper testing is being done. In |
| wants to be a Super Star but what will they risk to | | | | the Tennessee Walking Horse show circuit a |
| become that Super Star? Horse owners are just as | | | | designated qualified person (DQP) is responsible for |
| competitive as other athletes in the sports arena and | | | | checking for soring and the illegal use of drugs. |
| will stop at nothing to win. | | | | Management of sports events will be responsible for |
| The Tennessee walking horse that is shown in events | | | | having the proper government agencies present at the |
| is a prime example of a breed that | | | | event. DQP's often fail to enforce the regulations of |
| performance-enhancing drugs and action devices are | | | | the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors |
| being used on. The Tennessee Walking Horse is an | | | | Association (TWHBEA) because they normally come |
| exquisite animal that shouldn't be abused. His natural | | | | from within the organization. The DQP's are generally |
| smooth high stepping gait is the trade-mark of the | | | | horse owners themselves and show at these events |
| breed. They have been bred in the United States for | | | | or are members of TWHBEA which could make them |
| centuries to carry the rider over long distances at a | | | | bias in their findings. Because of whom they may |
| smooth fast gait. "The confirmation is the physical | | | | know that is showing they may let their horse go |
| attributes, shape and size of the horse. They generally | | | | through the check when he should be rejected. |
| range in size from 14.3 to 17 hands and weigh 900 to | | | | The DQP's finding should be checked by a licensed |
| 1200 pounds. The modern Tennessee Walking Horse | | | | Veterinian to make sure that his finds are correct. |
| has a definitive head with small placed ears. They also | | | | Often the USDA will make unannounced checks at |
| have a long sloping shoulder, a long sloping hip, a fairly | | | | these equine events. "For those that are opposed to |
| short back and short, strong coupling. The bottom line | | | | the cruel and illegal practice of soring it is proven that |
| of the horse is longer than the top of the horse, which | | | | when USDA officials were present the number of |
| allows then to have that long reaching stride." | | | | soring violations increased greatly." Yeager, Bonnie |
| Tennessee Walking Horse & Breeder Exhibitors | | | | (2001). "Data shows a trend for the Horse Industry |
| Association (nd). | | | | Organization, (HIO), with double-digit violation rates. The |
| The confirmation type of equine that is used for a | | | | rate of soring violations dramatically increases when |
| particular event should depend on what function the | | | | USDA officials are present vs. when the organization |
| horse is to perform. Confirmation of the bone and legs | | | | is self policing its self with DQP inspectors. All shows |
| should be adequate to support the animal during | | | | should be of equal importance and have proper |
| strenuous performance. The quality of the equine is | | | | audits."Fosh, (2001). Management assumes legal |
| indicated by cleanness of bone and head with good | | | | responsibility for any horse that is sore and in violation |
| body smoothness. The equine with correct | | | | of the Horse Protection Act. |
| confirmation will be able to perform his natural gait | | | | The sports industry has a lot of money backing it and |
| without the use of drugs or action devices, examples | | | | they make a lot of money from the winning athletes. |
| are chains, heavy shoes and pads. If all trainers used | | | | This is one big reason that the drugs are being |
| the naturally suited horse there would be no reason to | | | | continued to be used. The politics in the sports industry |
| use drugs or artificial aids. If everyone in the equine | | | | do not seem concerned about the short or long term |
| sports industry used horses with correct confirmation | | | | effects of the drugs on the athletes. Politics in the |
| no drugs would be needed and everyone in the show | | | | sports industry interferes with getting the rules |
| ring would have the same advantage. | | | | changed because they are afraid that the sports will |
| One of the practices used to enhance the gait is | | | | not be as exciting and not generate the same amount |
| termed soring. Soring consists of physically or | | | | of money. |
| chemically administering pain to the animal for a short | | | | The rules need to be defined so they are they are |
| term to make the horse lift his feet higher and step | | | | consistent and clear to organizations and athletes. "The |
| with more reach which makes the horse perform | | | | key to solving the problem of doping in sports is to |
| above and beyond his natural ability. This kind of | | | | educate the competitors and the public so they will |
| performance provides spectators with a spectacular | | | | understand what is going on behind the scenes in |
| show. Physical soring may consist of bruising the | | | | sports." McCarthy, Michael (2005). Updates should be |
| bottom of the horse's foot or by placing a nail higher in | | | | developed and published to the public for their review |
| the hoof to cause pain. Chemical soring may consist of | | | | and input. "Public pressure may result in more rules and |
| chemicals that are illegally applied to the legs or feet to | | | | stricter enforcement. The goal should be to improve |
| cause a burning sensation. "Chemicals that are used to | | | | horse welfare without restricting the ability of the public |
| achieve this effect are fuel oil, mustard oil and other | | | | to enjoy interaction with horses."(Houpt, Katherine, |
| petroleum products." (Sound Horse Organization, | | | | Davis, Sharon, (nd). I would like to challenge the public |
| Yeager, Bonnie 2001). Certain pain blockers are given | | | | to be more aware of what goes on in the Equine |
| to an injured equine so that it can perform for a short | | | | Sports arena. Everyone should ask themselves this |
| time in the sports event. Some of the drugs used may | | | | question; am I looking at the best Equine athlete based |
| consist of narcotic tranquilizers, ace, stimulants and | | | | on genetics, proper care, diet and training or am I |
| local anesthetics. The use of these drugs and | | | | watching the performance of an equine athlete that |
| chemicals are illegally applied to the equine athlete | | | | has been sored and or drugged. If everyone in the |
| without Veterinarian supervision. Although, the USDA | | | | industry followed the same rules the sports industry |
| APHIS prevented one type of soring, trainers quickly | | | | could still make the same amount of money and the |
| found other ways to sore the equine athlete. | | | | athlete would still be healthy. The health and welfare of |
| "Some of the short and long term effects are nervous | | | | our athletes are far more important than what |
| system disorders, sterility, crippling and genetic | | | | revenue we can generate from the sports events and |
| mutations." Houpt, Katherine and Davis, Sharon (2004, | | | | the concessions that go along with sports activities. |
| p. 6)." The use of soring and drugs is placing the health | | | | References |
| of the equine at risk for the enjoyment of man. The | | | | Kayser,Bengt, Mauron,Aleandre, & Miah,Andy |
| act of "Soring is prohibited by USDA | | | | (December 21, 2005). Retrieved 01/21/2006, from |
| regulations."(USDA, 2001) | | | | EBSCO HOST database. |
| The Horse Protection Act was enacted in 1970 to | | | | Houpt, Katherine, & Davis, Sharon. (2004). Equine |
| protect all equines from the atrocities being committed | | | | Production & Performance. Retrieved January 21, |
| by the use of chemicals and drugs during sports | | | | 2006, from Equine Production & Performance |
| competition. Depending on the horse's nature stimulants | | | | Web Site: |
| and calming drugs are often injected in the animal. | | | | Fosh. (nd). Retrieved January 26, 2006, from |
| According to experts "the monitoring of the use of | | | | McCarthy, Michael. (2005, December 17). Profile: |
| drugs is a main concern in sports. It must be clearly | | | | Richard W. Pound, QC-chairman of WADA. , , . |
| defined how drugs may be used and who may | | | | Retrieved 01/26/2006, from EBSCOHOST database. |
| administer the drugs legally and for the right purpose in | | | | Sound Horse Organization, & Yeager, Bonnie, |
| regards to the athletes health and well being." | | | | USDA (2001). Soring. In (Ed.), (A ed., p.). : . |
| Kayser,Bengt, Mauron,Alexandre, Miah,Andy (2005). | | | | Tennessee Walking Horse and Breeder & |
| The USDA performs similar to the "World Anti-Doping | | | | Exhibitors. (nd). Conformation. Retrieved February 16, |
| Agency, (WADA) and is an anti-doping agency that | | | | 2005, from |
| governs other sporting organizations. They help | | | | USDA (2001). The Horse Protection Act: |
| members adopt the best practices and fund scientific | | | | Responsibilities of Horse Show Management. In Tech |
| research for drug-detection technology." McCarthy, | | | | Note Animal Care. |