Very interesting article.  Are American horses the only horses that use lasix?  The article mentioned "overseas" horses don't unless they come here to race.  How do the "overseas" horses do without using the drug as in do they remain healthy enough to race?

I was also surprised to read that our horsemen are almost universally opposed to the ban!  Who is he talking about - breeders, owners trainers?  When I read things like this, I also wonder what else they are opposed to.  For example are they opposed to retirement funds for their horses which will cost them additional money?

Lauren

Lauren as far as I know Lasix is only allowed as a race day medication in North America ie America and Canada. Horses are trained differently in Europe than in America. Horses in Europe stay at their trainers farms and they have straight gallops these can include up and down hills. I believe the horses gallop and also do little wind spurt type faster gallops. Horses over there at times do bleed and they are put on a vets list and given time off, then hopefully when they race again they do not bleed. But I think they are only given 3 chances and if they bleed 3 times they are banned from racing there. So they have 2 options retire, or send to USA to race on Lasix. From what I have read our Lasix use is partly why European breeders do not breed to US Studs.

I agree with your second paragraph totally.

 

Thanks for your answer.  It was very good and understandable!

Do the horses bleed from their lungs?   If so, is that why the European training methods are different - to give their lungs a better chance of developing and/or being stronger?

Lauren

Thanks Lauren, I have some experience with race horses, but most of my horse knowlege is with show horses.

 

You may already know about this site but I found it very interesting...

I found a link to the British Horseracing Authority site on the RIPDeputyBroad facebook page (which is also very good!)  The facebook page highlighted retraining of a racehorse but as I was reading through the site, I found this section about Medication and Doping Control FAQ's.

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/equine-science-and-welfare/medication-and-doping-faqs.asp#33

I believe I read on there somewhere that pretty much all that is allowed is water and food in a bucket!

Lauren

Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2011

OK.  That is spooky that we were posting something at the same time!

Please listen to Bob Baffert on Talkin Horses, August 16.  He talks about the dangers of the ban, especially on young horses, and the effect on the small time trainers.  It was very interesting.  I think the ban should be on pain killers that mask pain and the joint injections, and the steroids.

THey already banned the steriods, and pain killers, ie:bute and banamine, the Lasix ban is just for 2 year old stakes races to start with.

 

But what about joint injections?  You have to hear what Baffet says about the effect on young horses and the small time trainers.  It's worth hearing.  He is a big time trainer and may have a point.  Anything that's good for the industry, I am for, but, there are cons too.