Race Day Medication

Horse Racing Partnerships Debate The Use Of Lasix

Like any major sport in the United States Horse Racing struggles with its medication policies and regulations. It is largely agreed upon that the sport as a whole needs some kind of medication reform. But the issue still remains, which drugs should be regulated and who will regulate them.

The most controversial medications are those that are administered on race days, specifically, Salix (Furosemide) commonly known as Lasix. This drug is commonly given to horses on race day, a few hours before their race to prevent EIPH (exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage) which is bleeding in the horse’s lungs that is caused by exercise. This is a common occurrence in thoroughbreds throughout the U.S. and Lasix helps prevent the bleeding in the horse’s lungs. The problem is that some feel that this drug is a performance enhancing drug that is only masking symptoms that are naturally occurring in the animal.

Major groups that represent thoroughbred racing for horse racing partnerships and owners across the country are in disagreement on whether to ban Lasix or not. Very influential groups like the Jockey Club and the TOBA (thoroughbred owners and breeders association) believe that race day Lasix should be banned and horses that have EIPH should not run and the “bleeders” should not be bred. And on the other side the strongest opposition is the trainers. Trainers feel that most of their horses would not be able to run without Lasix and they would be left with very few horses that do not have EIPH. It would effectively be like taking most of their barn away and starting over.

Whether banning race day medication like Lasix is actually a good idea for the sport or not is a tough question to be answered, but the real problem seems to lie in the fact that there is no governing body in thoroughbred horse racing. Unlike in baseball and every other major sport, horse racing does not have a commissioner or oversight committee that enforces rules and regulations nationally. Without a central body overseeing and regulating horse racing as a whole, states will begin to make decisions on their own, and unfortunately rules may be different from state to state. Slowly but surely different entities will start and have already begun to ban race day Lasix from racing. For Example, the Breeders’ Cup has implemented a ban of Lasix in all of their 2 year old races starting in 2012. It would be hard to imagine all these 2 year olds running in the beginning of the year with Lasix and then trying to run without it come Breeders’ Cup race day.

What seems evident is that more research needs to be done in the U.S. about the effects of race day Lasix both positive and negative. In addition, racing as a whole will need to find a way to come together in agreement so the sport itself is not affected by the infighting because of the lack of leadership in our sport. Hopefully, with more research, information, and debates between trainers, thoroughbred partnerships, and committees everyone can come to a decision on race day medication that puts the welfare of the horse and the sport first. Because at the end of the day, without race horses for sale and new race horse partnerships forming year after year the sport will not be able to sustain itself.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

How To Tack A Horse

A Thoroughbred Partnership’s Trainer Shows How To Tack A Horse

Race Horses For Sale

Have you ever wondered what all the different pieces of equipment are when tacking a horse before training? Or maybe you have never noticed all the different pieces that are necessary to getting a horse ready for a morning workout. For thoroughbred partnership Blinkers On Racing Stable’s trainer, Mike Puype, he likes to use the same equipment for jogging, galloping, and breezing during morning training.

The first piece of equipment is called the shammie. The shammie is a small cloth that is applied directly to the back of the horse and is used to keep the saddle from slipping off the horse’s back. This piece is obviously very important to the safety of the horse and the rider. Applying this piece properly is imperative. Next, the saddle cloth is placed on top of the shammie. The saddle cloth acts as a protective layer for the horse. Without this piece the rider’s legs and boots would constantly rub against the horse and irritate its body. Then, the pad is placed on top of the saddle cloth which is used as a cushion for both the rider and the horse, so there is not direct contact with the saddle to the horse’s back.

Once the pad is placed the saddle is ready to go on. The saddle lies directly on top of the pad and it is also very important how this piece is placed on the horse. In order to secure the saddle a strap known as the girth must connect from one side of the saddle and be pulled under and around the horse’s girth and tightened like a belt to the other side of the saddle. This girth also has a protective pad around it so it won’t irritate the horse’s body when it is tightened. During training the girth does not need to be as tight as it would be for a race but still needs to be secure or the saddle will come out of alignment.

After the saddle is secure there are a few more pieces that Blinkers On horse racing partnership trainer Mike Puype likes to use. Attached to the reins he uses a small triangle piece that each side of the resins is threaded through and sits right by the horse’s chest. This piece is called the martingale which gives the rider more control of the horse and restricts the horse from being able to raise its head to certain level. He likes to use this piece so the rider can have more control of the horse, especially if the horse is excited or a little tougher to train.

In addition, Mike likes to use bell boots and polos for jogging and when a horse is taken over to the paddock before a race. Both bell boots and polos are used as protective equipment that keep the horse from striking its front hoof with its back or striking its front leg with its back legs. The bell boots are rubber covers that sit on top of and cover the hooves, protecting the horse from grabbing a quarter (striking the bottom of their front hoof with their back hoof). The polos are cloth wraps that are wrapped around the front ankles and cannon bones of the horse and also act as a protective piece of equipment. Now that the horse is fully tacked, they are ready to hit the track for morning training! To watch Mike Puype explain how a horse gets tacked in the morning click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZExHpGWmWzw&list=PL3BE7DB2384165BD4&index=2&feature=plpp_video

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!