Drugs and Medications

Over the past three years, veterinarians have increased prescriptions of the SGLT2 inhibitors as they have been proven to be effective drugs for treating acute laminitis, a life-threatening condition in horses. These medications are used in horses who are actively experiencing or are at risk for developing laminitis due to insulin dysregulation or equine metabolic syndrome. As these medications are used more frequently, we are seeing positives show up more often during drug tests. In humans,...

Altrenogest, which is commercially sold as Regu-Mate, is an FDA-approved synthetic progesterone used to suppress estrus and seasonal behaviors in competing horses and aid in breeding practices with broodmares. Altrenogest, or any other progestogen, is also prohibited for use in stallions and geldings while competing in USEF-licensed competitions because it has no legitimate therapeutic use in male horses and has been historically used as a calming agent. The prohibition of altenogest, or any...

Methocarbamol, frequently known by its trade name of Robaxin, is a widely used therapeutic medication in horses. It’s also one of the medications we have recently seen the most overages for. Most people think of methocarbamol as a muscle relaxant that’s used to manage horses who tie up after exercise, or who are struggling with muscle spasms or muscle pain related to an injury. It’s frequently prescribed for back soreness. You may have heard some buzz about methocarbamol...

In February, the USEF Board adopted new penalty guidelines for drugs and medications cases, which will guide both informal resolutions and cases before the Hearing Committee. You can find a link to the full guidelines here . The updated guidelines were designed with three goals in mind: Enhance member awareness of the process and promote understanding of what to expect if they are notified of a positive finding. Better reflect how penalties for certain substances are currently treated....

One topic we’ve had a lot of questions about in recent months is supplements (most commonly calming supplements), and how to figure out what aligns with US Equestrian’s rules for competition. Let’s walk through the process of determining whether a supplement is ok to use. Whatever you believe may ail you or your horse, there is probably a supplement out there that claims to fix it. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report showed the human supplement market grew...

In recent years, CBD (cannabidiol) seems to be popping up everywhere – for humans and animals. The hemp-derived substance is one of the active ingredients in cannabis, though unlike THC, it does not create a high. In humans, CBD products are commonly marketed to assist with anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, thanks to the substance’s mechanism of action, in which it binds to two receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. It has been several years since the Food and...

In the human and animal health realms alike, the dietary supplement industry is bigger than ever. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report showed the human market grew from approximately 4,000 products in 1994 to as many as 90,000 in 2017, and the horse supplement world has seen a similar explosion. It can feel easy to solve a problem (or mitigate well-intentioned anxiety about a health issue) by reaching for a supplement. Many people assume that a supplement can’t possibly...

Earlier this summer, US Equestrian added a rule allowing the Federation to begin collecting hair samples as part of its drug testing program. While blood and urine sampling have been part of USEF sanctioned horse shows for many years, hair testing is new and competitors have a lot of questions about it. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian First, it’s important to understand how testing for drugs in hair differs from testing blood or urine. When a horse is given a substance (orally or via...

Lexington, Ky. - Dr. Katie Flynn and Dr. Stephen Schumacher co-led a conversation on Biosecurity and Medications on Thursday, Jan. 23, at the 2025 US Equestrian Annual Meeting. The session, which was presented by Neogen, started with Dr. Flynn leading a conversation on the new microchip requirement that is to go into effect in December 2025. Dr. Schumacher’s presentation focused on Pharmacology, providing an overview of pharmacokinetics vs pharmacodynamics, how medications work within the...