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...