Louisville, Ky., January 17, 2010 -- The 2 a.m. Thursday fire siren (fortunately a false alarm) that shrilled through our hotel wasn't the only wake-up call at the U.S. Equestrian Federation's (USEF) annual meeting here.
The controversial single non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) rule, which had been a point of contention between the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) and the USEF, was approved today by the federation's board of directors in a compromise version that signaled a new tone in the equine drug debate.
It was also, as USEF President David O'Connor put it, "a cultural shift."
The phrase "welfare of the horse" is front and center all the time these days, and that's a good thing. No equestrian organization can operate in this era without paying more than lip service to that concept.
The USEF's veterinary committee and drugs and medications panel (known as D&M) both decided it was time for trainers to stop giving their horses two NSAIDs just to get them to the show ring, when they actually should be resting and/or diagnosed to determine what is wrong with them. While NSAIDs bring down inflammation, they also have an analgesic effect that can mask some lamenesses. Even more important is veterinarians' contention that overuse of NSAIDs causes problems in the horse's digestive system and elsewhere. The single NSAID approach has the endorsement of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Quarter Horse Association, among others, so it was time for USEF to follow suit.
At its December convention, USHJA had opposed the limitation and suggested instead that trainers giving two NSAIDs to their horses file a report to that effect every time they did so, saying that would offer an opportunity for research into the effects of doubling down on the medications. But the open-ended concept wasn't going to fly with USEF.
However, in the spirit of give and take, which is becoming the hallmark of the seven-year-old federation's maturity, intense negotiations resulted in a temporary delay of the proposed effective date for the single NSAID rule, which now will be December 1, 2011. Meanwhile, after April 1, 2010, everyone using two NSAIDs will have to file a special form. Those who don't will be penalized following their first transgression.
USHJA President Bill Moroney, who brokered the deal, thinks the time frame offers a good opportunity for veterinarians to collect data, as well as to educate his constituency about the rule and offer breathing room for trainers to adjust their programs accordingly. Will the new rule result in people flocking to unrecognized shows where there is no drug-testing; less showing, or more unwanted horses once the older ones can't be kept sound enough to compete without their drugs? Trainers have mentioned all those possibilities, but it's yet to be determined whether any of those scenarios will become reality.
One thing is certain, however: the collegial way it all worked out says a great deal about how things have sorted themselves in the USEF universe. Bill Moroney had some interesting thoughts about that.
Listen: Bill MoroneyMost of the convention involved rule change discussions (which get very ho-hum) and in a more interesting vein that requires less caffeine, seeking the way forward for a federation that continues to develop. Anyway, there's always lots of talk.
It's also an opportunity to catch up with what people have been doing since I saw them last year. I chatted with Alan Balch, the former president of USA Equestrian (USEF's predecessor) who is leaving his post as executive secretary and registrar of the American Saddle Horse Association/Registry after six years. He's a USEF board member and will keep busy with the USAE Trust, which funds equine veterinary research.
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- USEF Equestrian of the Year Steffen Peters, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jessica Ransehousen and Junior Equestrian of the Year Maxance McManamy
- © 2010 by Nancy Jaffer
The fun moments come at night during the two big dinners, Horse of the Year and the Pegasus Awards. The star of both was the partnership of 2009 World Cup dressage finals winner Steffen Peters and his mount, Ravel. Ravel didn't make an appearance, naturally (everything was on the second floor of the hotel, and those elevators are a little small for a horse) but Steffen finally made it. He was named Equestrian of the Year last January as well, then had to miss the ceremony because he was conducting a clinic in Florida, so it felt was good to finally see him here in person.
