Keystone Dressage & Combined Training Association

Be sure to keep up with upcoming events on our Calendar of Events.

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At this year’s USEF Annual Meeting held January 13-17, 2010, an important rule change was approved affecting the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition horses. Over the years, ongoing veterinary research has revealed that not only is there little or no benefit to administering more than one NSAID to a horse for most medical concerns, it can actually cause potentially harmful, even severe side effects.

Motivated by its commitment to the welfare of the horse, the USEF Board of Directors voted to amend its Therapeutic Drug Rule and restrict use to a single NSAID beginning December 1, 2011. Both the American Association of Equine Practioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) support the rule change, and USEF joins other organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Equine Canada in making this important rule change.

While the presence of two of the seven approved and quantitatively restricted NSAIDs in a horse will still be allowed prior to December 2011 (with the exception of the forbidden combination of phenylbutazone “Bute,” and flunixin meglumine [Banamine®]), it is important to note that new restrictions are in place concerning their use. Beginning April, 1, 2010, anyone using two NSAIDs in a horse within five days prior to participating at a USEF-licensed competition will be required to complete and file a NSAID Disclosure Form with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative. This form will allow the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Program to collect valuable data regarding the use of NSAIDs in competition horses.

USEF has developed an education plan to guide management, owners, trainers, and exhibitors through the implementation of this rule change. The Federation has published an informational pamphlet and created the NSAID Disclosure Form. Both the pamphlet and the forms will be shipped to all Competition Managers for distribution from their competition offices. Additionally, both the form and the pamphlet are immediately available online at: http://www.usef.org/documents/drugsMeds/NSAIDDisclosureForm.pdf and http://issuu.com/equestrian/docs/nsaidandyourhorseweb?mode=embed&layout=http://www.usef.org/issuu/nsaids/layout.xml&showFlipBtn=true

It is the responsibility of the competitor and their veterinarian to make certain the use of two NSAIDs within five days of competing is reported on the NSAID Disclosure Form and is properly filed with the USEF Steward/Technical Delegate or their Designated Competition Office Representative. It is important to note that a standard USEF Medication Report Form may not be used in this particular instance. Once filed, it is the responsibility of USEF Steward/Technical Delegate to collect the NSAID Disclosure Form(s) and submit them to the Federation Office in Lexington, Kentucky.

For additional information and veterinary literature regarding NSAID use and the change to the USEF rule concerning their use, visit: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/Drugs/NSAID.aspx.

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation ® is to provide leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.

They really did it this time!!!

Lion Country Pony Club wins the PC Dressage Rally Nationals!

This is a picture of the VERY exhausted Lion Country Pony Club Quadrille Team (Quatre Cheveux) - all smiles after winning 1st place (and a gold medal) in USPC Championships in Virginia last weekend following 4 days of competition.  This was quite a surprise, even though they worked very hard (many late night practices several times per week over the winter - all over town - lots of trailering horses and homework left until 10 PM to pull this off!) to get ready.  The team from Virginia has been doing this for 9 years, plus were older girls, and qualified for dressage and eventing also (can only pick one discipline to ride in for Championships) - which meant they were extremely good!  The folks from Virginia were shocked, to say the least, that our girls beat them - and 1st year newbies at that!  the girls worked so hard and did a great job!

Be sure to come see the girls ride their Musical Freestyle Quadrille at AG Progress Days on Tue!

Welcome back Melissa Deines as Treasurer and Emily Furumoto as V.P.  Be sure to check out the full Library List on the Membership Page and contact Karin if you would like to check out a book or video.  FYI - Officers hold their positions for two year terms and elections for President, Secretary and Librarian (Newsletter Editor) are held on alternate years with Vice President and Treasurer.  Elections for Vice President and Treasurer will take place Nov 2007.  Out-going Officers have the option of being nominated for a second term.