28/08/2024
This is an important read for horse owners and parents of children getting into the horse world. Posted by a vet in a vets only educational group and shared with permission.
The text message dropped in on Sunday night:
“Athena” took “Blaze” to a Gymkhana today and he was hard to control at the g*te. She has had no issues with him when riding where she boards. Do you think we should give him some Ace or chloropromazine? He reared pretty good a couple times. Will send videos if you want.”
(Names have been changed and the photo is not the horse in question)
For those who don’t know, Acepromazine and chlorpromazine are phenothiazine derivative antipsychotic drugs, now used almost exclusively for sedation and anxiolytics in animals.
I took a deep breath and sighed. “Athena” is a nice twelve-year-old girl whose parents have just bought her first horse. I had actually performed a PrePurchase Exam on “Blaze” only ten days prior. He is a ten-year-old good-natured gelding that has been used for barrel racing, roping, and some gymkhana. Athena, on the other hand, started riding two years ago on hunter pleasure horses, riding trained horses on the flat and over low fences. Recently, she decided that she wanted to do some barrel racing with her friends and needed her own horse.
Prior to my exam the previous week, I had viewed a video of Athena trying out Blaze at the seller’s agent’s barn. In the video, it was apparent that riding at any speed around barrels was a new experience for Athena, and she had a pretty hard hold on his mouth. Blaze was putting up with the inexperienced rider, but he was starting and half-halting confusedly as the rider pulled on the reins and the trainer called out helpful instructions.
When my exam was finished, and the purchase was finalized between Athena’s dad and the seller’s agent, Blaze was loaded into the trailer for his trip to his new home. I overheard the agent suggesting to the buyer that they obtain lessons for Athena on Blaze. That is when Athena’s dad made a comment that they were planning to take the horse to a weekend gymkhana in two days. Both the agent and I, in unison, said “No! She needs to get used to her horse and learn how to ride him first.” Athena seemed disappointed, and dad made the comment that she was a good rider. I pulled Athena’s dad aside before they left and explained again that Athena needed to learn how to ride this horse; that she was overmounted and that the horse knew far more about running barrels and gymkhana than she did. We talked about lessons and I suggested different trainers that could help. I told little Athena directly that I wanted her to go home and just get used to riding Blaze, do some trail riding, and bond with him. I told her to only trot the patterns, not to do anything at speed. That apparently didn’t last long.
So there I sat Sunday night, viewing some scary videos of Athena trying to muscle an amped-up Blaze through the gymkhana events with a death hold on his bit. He eventually started rearing and running backwards in response. And then, other “helpful” gymkhana participants responded by telling Mom and Dad (who know nothing about horses or events) that they needed to obtain sedatives from their vet.
I told “Mom” that we needed to talk.
The answer to a rider’s inability to ride a specific horse is NOT to sedate the horse, but that is too often the “go to” position. Pharmaceuticals can have some pretty significant adverse effects, but people often view them as safe and inconsequential. Even if you don’t care about potential side effects, the horse’s welfare, or what is best for the horse, consider that riding a drugged horse at high speed can be a recipe for a disastrous fall and injury.
I asked Mom if she would willingly place her young child in a car driven by a drunk adult? We discussed that although Athena was trying her best, having a death hold on a horse who is trying to do his job is going to end badly, with him trying to escape the pressure by running out, rearing up, falling, or rearing over backwards. Shows, races, and gymkhanas are higher stress than riding in your arena at home. I told Mom and Dad once again, that buying a Grand Prix Dressage HORSE will not automatically make you a Grand Prix Dressage RIDER. That it takes time and practice, practice and time.
I explained my analogy that although Athena had just learned how to adequately ride a two-wheeled bicycle without training wheels, Mom and Dad had just purchased her a high horse powered “crotch rocket motorcycle.” They understood finally, but only after having witnessed what Mom said was her most terrifying day as a mother.
So Athena is now going to work with a trainer and take more lessons. She is going to learn about her horse and the discipline she has chosen.
Most of the veterinarians in this group have had clients request prescription drugs. Most of us have also seen those pharmaceuticals misused, often to the detriment of the horse. The misuse of drugs can be due to ignorance on the layperson’s part, or it can be because of the desire to gain that competitive edge. I have seen fatalities result from the administration of the wrong drug, an incorrect route of administration, or an error in dosage. I have seen horrible anaerobic infections from drugs like Banamine having been administered intramuscularly. I have seen horses tear DDF tendons or displace undiagnosed fractures because they were blocked and worked in order to get through one more class. And I have seen serious horse or rider injuries from riding an “impaired” horse.
As veterinarians we want what is best for the horse, even if that clashes with what you think that you want. If we do not put the horse’s welfare first, who will? We are an advocate for he who cannot speak.
Proper training takes time. Learning a new skill takes work. Practice takes effort. Perhaps pharmaceutical short cuts are tempting; but please consider the horse’s welfare first. That horse who is giving you trouble is telling you something. Sure, he could just have a bad attitude or may not be suited for the purpose. But it also could be pain. It could be confusion. It could be inexperience. It could be your failure to adequately communicate.
I am thankful that the people who come here are seeking knowledge, answers, advice, and help for their horses; and I am proud that there are so many veterinary professionals here offering their time and willing to respond.
