Doping in Horses

Doping in horses introduced by American trainers in 1903 Administration of drugs to act as a stimulant before racing dates.

Doping in horses was defined as the administration to a horse a short time before race, of certain substances capable of exciting the physical and nervous impulses of the animal, before and during the race, by an artificial action produced on the nervous muscular system.

Doping originated from an old Dutch word, doop indicating any thick liquid used as an lubricant or excitant.

Doping is defined as the administration to an animal of any substance, other than a normal nutrient, for the purpose of affecting its speed, stamina, courage or conduct in a race.

Dopping agents in Horses

Stimulants compounds used in horse racing are:

• Caffeine Adrenaline Sympathine
• Strychinine, Leptazol, and Methamphetamine groups
• Picrotoxin Amphetamine
• Cocaine

Drugs used for impairing an animal’s performance:

• Chloral hydras, Paraldehyde, Strontium
• Barbiturates Bromides
• Morphine Camphor

Veterolegal Aspect of Doping Procedure

For determining whether or not a horse has given drugs should include:

• Clinical examination before the race.
• Demonstration of the chemical cleanliness of utensils used in sampling.
• Recovery of adequate volumes of samples fluids.
• Allowing the owner split samples of the fluids to e analysed or right to have an approved analyst present at the official analysis.
• Use of tests, which distinguish drugs from alkaloids occurring naturally in the body.
• Specific identification and precise determination of the amount of any organic substances defected.
• Provision of signed and witnessed laboratory record protocols by the analyst.

Alteration of description

The description of the animal is altered in case it has been stolen or there are signs which are unsound.

Alteration of description is done in the following ways:

• Castration
• Clipping of mane and tail
• Docking
• Colouring of white patches by hair dye

Bishoping in Horses

Bishoping is the act of changing the appearance of equine teeth to make the horse look younger.

This process can involve such processes as filing down the Galvayne’s Groove or changing the shape or length of the teeth, or using silver nitrate to artificially create cups.

This dishonest practice does not reverse other signs of age shown in enamel rings, the shape of the holes in the smooth-tabled incisors to make new cups which were then blackened with wearing surface or the angle of the incisors from the side.