Important Announcement Regarding The Use of NSAIDs, Rule Change Effective Date of April 1, 2010 

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) would like to ensure that its members are aware of the recently approved rule changes regarding drugs and medications. 

Beginning December 1, 2011, exhibitors may give only one NSAID, rather than two, to horses in competition, due to the harmful effects that the overuse of these substances can have on the animal’s health and well-being. (GR410.1) 

PLEASE NOTE: In preparation for this change, the Federation Board of Directors approved an interim rule (GR410.4), which will be in effect from April 1, 2010 through November 30, 2011. Members will be permitted to give two NSAIDs in accordance with current rules regarding the administration of NSAIDs, provided an NSAID Declaration Form is filed with the show office prior to the horse competing. 

The complete rule change reads as follows: 

GR410 Equine Drugs and Medications, The Therapeutic Substance Provisions. 

[Chapter 4. Drugs and Medications] Effective 4/1/10: 

4. Restrictions concerning the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are as follows: 

Effective April 1, 2010 and through November 30, 2011, at which time only one of the substances listed in (a) through (f) above will be permitted, a maximum of two substances listed in (a) through (f) above are permitted to be present in the same plasma or urine sample, only if both substances are reported on a Federation NSAID Disclosure Form and filed with the competition prior to the horse competing (GR411 does not apply). 

Click www.saddlebred.com to read the rule change as it appears on the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) website. 

Under the current USEF rules, no more than two of the seven approved and quantitatively restricted NSAIDs are permitted in a horse while competing at a Federation licensed competition. The one exception to this rule is that currently phenylbutazone (bute) and flunixin (Banamine) are a forbidden combination, and are never permitted together in the horse at the time of a competition.