| I once took my 4 year old mule, Jake, to a training clinic. | | | | Another example is the difference between arnica |
| When we joined the other 13 riders in the ring the first | | | | and devil's claw, both of which reduce symptoms of |
| morning, Jake was a bit overwhelmed. He was pretty | | | | soreness or pain. Arnica cannot mask pain, but will help |
| wound up with all the activity and just a step away | | | | a horse recover from muscle soreness more quickly. It |
| from an out-of-mule-body experience. It occurred to | | | | will not, however, allow a horse to perform beyond its |
| me that I had not given him any Rescue Remedy or | | | | actual level of fitness. In contrast, devil's claw has |
| taken any myself. I usually give us both Rescue | | | | some medicinal components that would act in the |
| Remedy when we face something new and | | | | body like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. When |
| challenging. I took Jake back to the trailer and we both | | | | regulations allow for low levels of non-steroidal |
| took a dose. The rest of the morning went much | | | | anti-inflammatory agents such as bute or banamine, |
| better. | | | | devil's claw should be a perfectly acceptable |
| It was a long day and the heat index was well over | | | | substitute. |
| one hundred. Jake gave his all and was a bit sore and | | | | In these examples, we are making a distinction |
| grouchy at the end of the day. I took a little extra time | | | | between nutritional supplements or homeopathic |
| to do a short Bowen session on him to help his | | | | remedies and herbal supplements. Some herbs, such |
| muscles relax. In addition to his extra probiotics and | | | | as valerian, kava kava, and devil's claw are medicinal |
| algae at dinner, I also gave him an extra dose of noni | | | | and chemical in action. Even though they are natural |
| juice to help with any inflammation from the extra | | | | substances and may not be harmful to the horse, |
| work. The next morning Jake was bright and ready to | | | | using them to alter performance does violate the spirit |
| go. I did not need any Rescue Remedy as he was | | | | of fair competition. On the other hand, vibrational |
| very comfortable with his new surroundings. | | | | energetic remedies and nutritional products that do not |
| I recently read an article in Practical Horseman about | | | | have chemical-like constituents cannot alter |
| medicating performance horses and was dismayed to | | | | performance and instead allow a horse to be his best. |
| see that the supplements I used at the clinic would be | | | | Homeopathic remedies and flower essences work on |
| considered illegal. The article specifically said, "The | | | | a vibrational plane and cannot mask pain or cause a |
| United States Equestrian Federation's drugs and | | | | horse to act in a certain way. Homeopathic remedies |
| medication rules are clear: Anything that's given to a | | | | will never show up in tests because they are not |
| horse, in any way, with the intent to alter the horse's | | | | physical substances. They also do not have side |
| performance, be it through pain control or | | | | effects or harm the horse in any way. |
| temperament adjustment, is not permitted. That means | | | | Similarly, nutritional support from natural products such |
| anything you give your horse--homeopathic, herbal, or | | | | as probiotics, noni juice, or aloe vera will not alter a |
| otherwise--that's meant to calm him or make him more | | | | horse's performance but can help the horse recover |
| comfortable is illegal unless expressly permitted by the | | | | more quickly and be more comfortable. Stress from |
| USEF." | | | | showing will often cause the bacterial flora of the |
| I feel we should draw a distinction between | | | | horse's digestive tract to change, and this can cause |
| substances that help restore a horse to its natural | | | | discomfort and make a horse nervous. Probiotics are |
| physical, mental, and emotional state, and substances | | | | a natural way to bring back the balance and help a |
| that actually increase a horse's performance beyond | | | | horse feel better. Noni and aloe vera are considered |
| his normal abilities or mask pain. Since this can be quite | | | | herbs but they act in a nutritional rather than medicinal |
| confusing, I'll give a couple of examples. | | | | way by giving the horse extra enzymes and nutrients |
| Consider the difference between valerian and | | | | to recover quickly from stress. Blue-green algae is a |
| chamomile. Both have calming effects. The difference | | | | concentrated nutrient which supports overall health so |
| is that valerian can actual alter a horse's state beyond | | | | can give a horse extra energy and help him focus |
| what is normal while chamomile could only restore a | | | | better at home or on the road. |
| horse to its normal state of calmness. Valerian can | | | | The best way to be successful with your |
| cause a horse that is normally not very calm to | | | | performance horse is to train him carefully, give him |
| become calm or even sedated. On the other hand, | | | | the best nutrition, condition him to be able to withstand |
| giving a chamomile to a horse that is normally tense or | | | | the rigors of competition and support him with natural |
| high-strung would not have much of a sedating effect. | | | | products which do not mask pain or alter performance. |
| Chamomile is effective in restoring a normally calm | | | | I do not see how giving homeopathic remedies, flower |
| horse to its regular state under stressful conditions | | | | essences or nutritional products interfere with the spirit |
| such as a show. | | | | of the medication rules. |