Disgraceful

That's what I don't understand, how can you sedate your horse days before a competition and not give it a thought!?
 
All that would do is put off everyone who is not a millionaire! showing horses is already very expensive with some classes being in excess of £80, when you add fuel and stableing to that often 1 class at a big county show can cost £300.

Yes so why spoil it for yourself and cheat?
 
That's what I don't understand, how can you sedate your horse days before a competition and not give it a thought!?

Yes I don't get this and vets are under obligation to tell you about withdrawal... every vet even the students from the practice I use always tells me. I assume it's their protocol and I guess I'm mistaken for thinking it's routine practice.
 
Yes so why spoil it for yourself and cheat?
Obviously i dont cheat ans its hard work to make sure horses are clean.

But all charging a doping fee on every entry will do is make it impossible for those of us who are not millionaires to compete and will just make it an even more elitist sport and is unlikely to actually make it a cleaner sport since the vast majority of those doping so far have been professionals
 
I do not think a small amount on every entry is going to make that much difference. Showing is expensive, you have to be a member, horse registered, owner registered, entries stabling diesel, clothes , tack and is an extra £5 going to make that much difference.

Showing already has a poor reputation for favours being done, so you loose your place that you have trailed round countless shows, and spent hundreds £ on because someone gives a horse a couple of ACP? Which is being probably being given not for what its was prescribed for, which also breaking the law.
I used to show for fun, and know a few people who are far more serious about it, if you are spending that amount of money a levy is a drop in the ocean. What if it did knock out the pros who should know better, if they are banned across all societies for a couple of years, more room for new faces.
There is also the question of who they sell these ponies on to, their price based on a performance when sedated. These ponies can be worth a lot of money, bought by families for their competition record and then they wonder why they can not reproduce it.
So for anyone buying a pony after HOYS this week perhaps a drug test should be included in your budget. It may cost you a £1000 but perhaps could save thousand and a lot of heartache.
 
I do not think a small amount on every entry is going to make that much difference. Showing is expensive, you have to be a member, horse registered, owner registered, entries stabling diesel, clothes , tack and is an extra £5 going to make that much difference.

Yes it will in the grand scheme of things. If you eneed 4 classes that's another £20 to add onto your entry fees and first aid. Why should I pay an extra £20 a week to cover the costs of dope tests which I know mine will pass? Why should I pay for the tests of those who fail? Most shows wouldn't get enough entries to cover 1 dope fee test let alone any more so it's entirely pointless punishing and tarring everyone with the same brush.
 
That's what I don't understand, how can you sedate your horse days before a competition and not give it a thought!?

Yes I agree with you ester but the rider I was talking about is very amateur, keeps her horse and retired pony at home on her own and dope testing just did not occur to her, she isn't in the sort of environment where it is discussed. She had also only given a small amount of sedalin and again it did not occur to her that it would still be in the horses system 5 days later, he always feels his normal self to ride the next day so as I say it never occurred to her, it does now.
 
I do not think a small amount on every entry is going to make that much difference. Showing is expensive, you have to be a member, horse registered, owner registered, entries stabling diesel, clothes , tack and is an extra £5 going to make that much difference.

Showing already has a poor reputation for favours being done, so you loose your place that you have trailed round countless shows, and spent hundreds £ on because someone gives a horse a couple of ACP? Which is being probably being given not for what its was prescribed for, which also breaking the law.
I used to show for fun, and know a few people who are far more serious about it, if you are spending that amount of money a levy is a drop in the ocean. What if it did knock out the pros who should know better, if they are banned across all societies for a couple of years, more room for new faces.
There is also the question of who they sell these ponies on to, their price based on a performance when sedated. These ponies can be worth a lot of money, bought by families for their competition record and then they wonder why they can not reproduce it.
So for anyone buying a pony after HOYS this week perhaps a drug test should be included in your budget. It may cost you a £1000 but perhaps could save thousand and a lot of heartache.

Yes it will in the grand scheme of things. If you eneed 4 classes that's another £20 to add onto your entry fees and first aid. Why should I pay an extra £20 a week to cover the costs of dope tests which I know mine will pass? Why should I pay for the tests of those who fail? Most shows wouldn't get enough entries to cover 1 dope fee test let alone any more so it's entirely pointless punishing and tarring everyone with the same brush.

It's not a new thing to have been suggested and yes you are going to get people like you and I up in arms about why should we pleasure showing folk have to pay a premium for the dopers (usually "rich" pros)... however, you are under no obligation to enter. If you can't afford it don't do it simples... that reduces entries, pitching only the "rich pros" against themselves and no show can afford to run like that so it's a couple of shots in their own foot 1. for favours 2. for doping. I'd like to campaign for it then back off sniggering quietly to myself just because I'm an embittered twisted individual.

I was disgusted to find out there was doping in my class so I chose to stop showing, not worth the effort if I'm up against that sort of "competition". I'm there for a hobby and other people are depending on it for livelihood - not my arena. There's other things I can spend my money on. It's only pony showing after all, not life n death.
 
I don't have a high opinion of professional showing I'm afraid.
I don't know what sort of budget the societies have for dope testing but IMO winners of big classes should be tested as standard + random additional tests.
And if entry/membership fees need to rise because of it, then such is life.
 
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