Comments for Injecting Perspective

Comment on Today in Life by Jan Westmark

Jan Westmark — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 02:02:16 +0000

Sorry to hear about your Aunt.

Comment on Uh Oh by USEF bans “Carolina Gold.” Now listed as a prohibited substance : EVENTING NATION

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:38:22 +0000

[...] Dr. Alex Emerson, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, has an interesting perspective on the product and the USEF decision. As a vet specializing in sport horses (and hunter jumpers in particular) he approves of the ban. Apparently Carolina Gold can have some dangerous unintended side effects, and while it could "help keep horses off the lunge line," it does not seem to be in the horse's best interest. Dr. Emerson asserts that perhaps changing the expectations of show hunters would be better, and move away from the "dead" look that wins so many ribbons. Read more here. [...]

Comment on Uh Oh by DonovanFarm

DonovanFarm — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:12:18 +0000

Good for you. Totally agree. Very tired of dead looking horses being preferred over those in the ring who are NOT sedated.

Comment on Uh Oh by nadine peacock

nadine peacock — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:38:38 +0000

Great article Dr. Emerson !
My question is why doesn’t USEF drug test champion, reserve, and crashes ? It would make it easier for the Vets doing the testing and would clean up a lot of the abusive drug use. No arguing with the random pickings- it would be the rule that you win you test! To me it makes sense to test winners and then their placings would be fair and square. As it stands now, champion is the one with the best cocktail .
We need someone like yourself to make suggestions to USEF to improve the sport, protect the horses and keep riders safe.

Comment on Uh Oh by Ellen Shevella

Ellen Shevella — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:35:14 +0000

Hey Dr E, I am very proud of you. Keep up the good work. We need you in the industry.

Comment on Uh Oh by USEF places Gamma Aminobutyric acid on the Prohibited List | Gilmore Horsemanship

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:57:17 +0000

[...] “This afternoon the USEF announced that it is going to stop playing dumb. They placed Gamma Am… [...]

Comment on Uh Oh by FEI_rdr

FEI_rdr — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:43:34 +0000

As a trainer and rider, it’s long been my contention that the drugging problem isn’t a horse issue — it’s a sportsmanship and horsemanship issue. Teach riders to be good, effective, strong, bold, compassionate, and WORKmanlike equestrians, and the battle is 99 percent won. Riders should have enough experience, confidence, and training to handle whatever issues may arise in the ring and out without resorting to anesthetising their animals! Let’s face it, if someone needs to do that in order to get around a course, either they or their horse is in the wrong sport, or they’re seriously underprepared and need to spend those show dollars on more lessons, and (perhaps) a more suitable mount.

Comment on Uh Oh by RiderWriter

RiderWriter — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:00:24 +0000

I am pleased that USEF made this announcement, but I expect all the people who earned ribbons on horses doped with “CG” are thinking, “Big deal. Something else will come along soon.” Sad, but true. In the meantime there’s always the leg-destroying endless lunging.

I’m afraid I snorted a bit when I read the part about AQHA not liking “peanut rollers” so they changed it. Last time I checked, the AQHA judges are STILL happily rewarding the most defeated-looking, tail-deadened, “troping,” head-at-the-knees Western Pleasure horses they can find. Their rule book may read differently but the show pen hasn’t changed.

The hunter world has a loooooong road ahead of it if we truly do want to change things and let the horses act like HORSES (and incidentally, REAL hunters) instead of automatons.

Comment on Uh Oh by This Was Just Lying Around the Internet – Get My Fix

This Was Just Lying Around the Internet – Get My Fix — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:24:18 +0000

[...] I know you would never do this to your hunter. *ahem* But, chances are you know someone who does. Consider it fair [...]

Comment on Uh Oh by Carol Ames

Carol Ames — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:08:40 +0000

Agreed, part of being a trainer, the most difficult part is educating the owners; I agree that the judging standard must change first!