Longneck - 2015-03-10 8:37 PM

 Why is Dex considered bad?  Because it's anti-inflammatory?

cheryl makofka - 2015-03-10 8:47 PM Dex can cause founder, can mask other ailments such as torn tendons to get more runs out of a horse. Dex can also shorten the life span by 10 yrs Also affects other organs, but I cannot remember how or why. Every drug we give a horse can impact the horse in a negative way, sadly most vets will not tell you the effects of the drug.

SC Wrangler - 2015-03-10 9:49 PM It seems to me that many barrel racers are all about running horses clean -- until it effects their own program.  



The cold hard fact is that these substances are banned by just about every organization with a drug policy.  There is a reason.



Ventipulmin/clenbuterol is an powerful drug that is very easy to obtain (RX from vet) that is very widely abused.  In addition to being a bronchial dialator it is a long-lasting central nervous stimulator that increases areobic capacity, increases blood pressure, oxygen carrying capacity and has the ability to increase the ratio of muscle mass vs body fat.  All reasons it is considered performance enhancing. Albuterol shares many of the same properties.  Dex is a problem for a whole different set of reasons.



Go take a look at all the recent coverage of trainers being suspended both by state racing commission and the AQHA because their horses are testing positive for ventipulmin/clenbuterol.  This is one of the "legal" drugs that is just a big a problem and maybe even more abused than illegal drugs.



I am sure this is not a popular opinion, but if the field is to be leveled it needs to be leveled across the board.

WetSaddleBlankets - 2015-03-10 10:18 PM


This whole thing is horrible because I use it to help my horse. Like us people sometimes we need medications. In my horse's instance he is an awesome athletic horse but cursed with allergies certain times of the year... Seriously, it comes down to either the horse is 100% healthy (not even needing drugs to HELP treat health problems per vet NOT to enhance performance) or if the horse has a health issue they are worthless as competitiors becuase you can not treat or maintain them per rx from a vet and compete on them. If people weren't so stupid by abusing the system and NOT have any compassion for their animals this wouldnt be an issue. BUT people suck and it is always about money, so some of them drug their horse to win at the cost of the animal and everyone eles in the business. My gosh, maybe we should have drug tests for people to compete in horse sports... God forbid if people couldn't ride and compete with out their xanax, adderall, ibuprofen, blood pressure meds or broncholdialators...ect. I am all for drug testing, but for drugs to be illegal when they are used with in a therapeutic dose under the vets direct advise, it sucks.

cheryl makofka - 2015-03-10 10:47 PM I read your comment, and you are using the drugs for performance reasons if you are continuing to run your horse while on medications. It is sad that not many vets have a backbone and refuse to perscribe certain drugs knowing the owner will still be using the horse. I have had horses with respiratory, and broken splints, etc, I have become greatful that my vet educates me about the effects of the drug and the consequences of using the drug while continuing to ride. Last year I had one develop a respiratory infection, she needed to be flushed, I was told best chance for her to not have any lasting effects was to not ride her indoors this winter, therefore she hasn't been rode in over 6 months.

WetSaddleBlankets - 2015-03-10 11:21 PM

 yeah, using them to help him because of his allergies NOT using it just beause as a performance enhancer... So using ventipulmin or albuterol on a horse that needs it due to a DX to help maintian clear airways for running is wrong? using lasix on a horse to help them from bleeding is wrong? using bute when you run after a long trailer ride and sitting in a stall all weekend at a show is wrong?

cheryl makofka - 2015-03-10 11:51 PM Lasix I don't know enough about, thankfully I never had a bleeder. Lasix is allowed on the track, and the down side of Lasix is it washes out meds faster, so race track people like bleeders as then they can give performance enhancing drugs closer to race time without testing positive. Bute after a long weekend, there are more natural antiinflammatories that do not have the adverse effects on the body. Legend, HA, are great antiinflammatories, these can be used instead, are natural and the only potential side effect is possible infection at injection site. I have used Lubrysin and had great results. More expensive but works just as well. To help maintain clean airways, this is a management issue, where we haul, how we haul, how we feed can all prevent this. Allergies, have you had your horse tested? If so what is the allergen? Why not allergy shots (there are some side effects, and I would be discussing and completing my own research on the drugs.) The drugs you have listed are cheap, and sadly most people go the cheap way versus the right way, again it all comes back to the vet not having a backbone, and not advocating for the horse.

cheryl makofka - 2015-03-10 11:51 PM


Lasix I don't know enough about, thankfully I never had a bleeder. Lasix is allowed on the track, and the down side of Lasix is it washes out meds faster, so race track people like bleeders as then they can give performance enhancing drugs closer to race time without testing positive.

Bute after a long weekend, there are more natural antiinflammatories that do not have the adverse effects on the body.

Legend, HA, are great antiinflammatories, these can be used instead, are natural and the only potential side effect is possible infection at injection site. I have used Lubrysin and had great results. More expensive but works just as well.

To help maintain clean airways, this is a management issue, where we haul, how we haul, how we feed can all prevent this.

Allergies, have you had your horse tested? If so what is the allergen? Why not allergy shots (there are some side effects, and I would be discussing and completing my own research on the drugs.)

The drugs you have listed are cheap, and sadly most people go the cheap way versus the right way, again it all comes back to the vet not having a backbone, and not advocating for the horse.

luckygirl04 - 2015-03-11 12:53 AM To answer the question that was initially asked, instead of going off topic...they have only tested at a handful of rodeos, like calgary, reno, Houston, Omaha....So in a sense by testing at those select rodeos perhaps they are "leveling the playing field," (just to quote one of the above responses.) Have they done anything about those they found "doping" and I by doping I mean anabolic steroids, no, they have not. They may expand it and continue to test. I think you will be perfectly fine giving what you are giving, I don't think that's exactly what they are testing for (heard that from someone who would know). As far as your horse goes, you can't change your lasix, and I wouldnt, and I wouldnt care to on a bleeder, ever. But have you tried Tri-Hist granuals for allergies? I've noticed this works better than dex....and for all you nay-Sayers against bute, I haven't noticed anything working better have you? Please give your horse a $94 shot of legend EVERYtime you think he is a little off on the rodeo trail and please tell me your results... I would love to know. :)

SC Wrangler - 2015-03-10 9:49 PM It seems to me that many barrel racers are all about running horses clean -- until it effects their own program.  



The cold hard fact is that these substances are banned by just about every organization with a drug policy.  There is a reason.



Ventipulmin/clenbuterol is an powerful drug that is very easy to obtain (RX from vet) that is very widely abused.  In addition to being a bronchial dialator it is a long-lasting central nervous stimulator that increases areobic capacity, increases blood pressure, oxygen carrying capacity and has the ability to increase the ratio of muscle mass vs body fat.  All reasons it is considered performance enhancing. Albuterol shares many of the same properties.  Dex is a problem for a whole different set of reasons.



Go take a look at all the recent coverage of trainers being suspended both by state racing commission and the AQHA because their horses are testing positive for ventipulmin/clenbuterol.  This is one of the "legal" drugs that is just a big a problem and maybe even more abused than illegal drugs.



I am sure this is not a popular opinion, but if the field is to be leveled it needs to be leveled across the board.

luckygirl04 - 2015-03-11 1:53 AM To answer the question that was initially asked, instead of going off topic...they have only tested at a handful of rodeos, like calgary, reno, Houston, Omaha....So in a sense by testing at those select rodeos perhaps they are "leveling the playing field," (just to quote one of the above responses.) Have they done anything about those they found "doping" and I by doping I mean anabolic steroids, no, they have not. They may expand it and continue to test. I think you will be perfectly fine giving what you are giving, I don't think that's exactly what they are testing for (heard that from someone who would know). As far as your horse goes, you can't change your lasix, and I wouldnt, and I wouldnt care to on a bleeder, ever. But have you tried Tri-Hist granuals for allergies? I've noticed this works better than dex....and for all you nay-Sayers against bute, I haven't noticed anything working better have you? Please give your horse a $94 shot of legend EVERYtime you think he is a little off on the rodeo trail and please tell me your results... I would love to know. :)