Schumacher reported that between 20 and 25 percent of USEF-licensed competitions are tested each year and that between 14,000 and 17,000 individual samples are processed each year, with less than 1 percent leading to a positive test. “The reason we have such a low positive outcome rate is because we put the program in place – it deters potential offenders by its very existence. Unfortunately, if we didn`t, abuse would probably be much more frequent,” he noted. Shows are randomly selected by the USEF Office of Drugs and Drugs based on several factors, including the availability of veterinarians and test technicians, the level of competition and prizes offered, the location of the show, and the frequency of testing in the past. In addition to the above benefits of using Equioxx tablets, we are also legally required by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines to use Equioxx instead of Previcox in horses, as a tablet form is available. If we don`t follow their guidelines, we could face penalties and fines from the FDA. So if your horse is currently taking Previcox tablets, we will not refill this prescription in the future and will instead start with Equioxx tablets. For anyone who has taken an Advil or aspirin to survive a weekend of sporting activity, the concept of giving a horse an anti-inflammatory drug to relieve pain that is sure to occur during a multi-day equestrian show will come as no surprise. It got me thinking.

My horse was prescribed Equioxx by my veterinarian for maintenance purposes. Will it be a problem if it ends up being removed for testing? I`m not registered with USEF and the show isn`t recognized, so I don`t even think there would be a way to file a therapeutic use exemption? Should I get documents from my veterinarian or have something with me? You and your horse have just ridden one of your best tests at the biggest regional show of spring. As you leave the arena, praising your mount and congratulating your coach, you notice a young woman with a backpack carrying what looks like a cup on a stick. The technician comes up and introduces herself and says, “Your horse has been selected for the test.” Your stomach is beating even though you know you didn`t do anything wrong. Or just give him a butt within the limits allowed on the morning of the show. I don`t know what they are, but OP seems to have this business well under control. If not, I will ask the show managers a lot of questions about this policy before deciding whether to deal with it or not. I`d bet they don`t have a leg to stand on, even if they have a “positive test.” The key to using Equioxx is that you use it from day one; You should use it at three times the regular dose. An injectable version of Equioxx is now available and, ideally, I would give three times the dose. Otherwise, Equioxx is also distributed as a paste and you would give three pasta at a time in the afternoon of the first day of processing. Then, each afternoon of the show, give an extra dose of the medicine depending on your horse`s weight. As the graph shows, in this way you maintain a blood level above the therapeutic level, but below the maximum permissible value of the USEF.

USEF, the U.S. Equestrian Federation, recognizing this reality, authorizes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs called NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on a limited basis. Starting with the 2012 season, you can only use one NSAID at a USEF show. Common NSAIDs include Bute, Banamine, Ketofen, Naproxen, Surpass and Equioxx. Many have asked why Previcox, the small pet pill version of firocoxib, is not used instead. The reason I recommend using Equioxx paste at horse shows right now is that the protocol I just described has been well tested on horses. The research is clear. On the other hand, absolutely no one has tested Previcox pills on horses. They may work as well as equioxx paste in horses, or they may be poorly absorbed or cause a sharp increase in blood levels of firocoxib that exceeds USEF limits. No one knows because no one has done the research. At least for now, I`d stick to the injectable Equioxx and stick it to horse shows.

By using the dough, you also know that your horse has received all his medication in the right amount. Ask the program for a list of prohibited substances and substances that accept a certain waiting period and act accordingly. Or ask them directly about Equiox. The rules of the show may or may not coincide with the USEF. Either way, I suspect this is a very hollow (and ridiculous) threat. I`m pretty sure the school show wouldn`t get anything from my $$$$ As mentioned earlier, most positive tests come from drug abuse and are not necessarily a deliberate attempt to do something harmful or detrimental to a horse`s performance.