A rule change designed to reduce incidence of corticosteroid abuse in equine athletes was among several topics discussed in the Veterinary and Equine Drugs and Medications (D&M) committee meetings and D&M Open Forum Jan. 16-17 at the 2003 USA Equestrian (USAE) Convention in Lexington, Ky. Veterinarians, competitors, and industry officials on these committees convened to vote on rules which affect 27 breeds and disciplines competing under the jurisdiction of the USAE, which is the current equestrian national governing body in the United States.

The Veterinary Committee had met by conference call Dec. 11, 2002, and formulated the proposal, which was presented to the Equine Drugs & Medications Committee at its January 16 meeting. A. Kent Allen, DVM, Chairman of the USAE Veterinary and D&M Committees, presented the committees’ joint recommendations during an open forum on Jan. 17.
The centerpiece of the rule change proposal would establish a quantitative limit in horses’ plasma for the amount of the corticosteroid dexamethasone, to try and prevent overuse of the medication. Additionally, it would classify other corticosteroids as forbidden, in order to prevent their non-therapeutic use. These other corticosteroids would fall within the requirements of other forbidden medications and could be administered only for a therapeutic purpose, not closer than 24 hours prior to competing, and with submission of a medication report form to the competition steward or technical delegate