Remove NRHA From Management of Drugs and Penalties
With an ongoing acknowledged poor record of performance by the Boards of Directors and Executive Committees placing horse’s welfare at risk and enabling an unfair competition landscape, immediate changes are required to who manages the drug rules and penalties.
The Final Straw: With the board of directors and executive committee (BoDEC) approving the continued off-label use of Sedivet on horses on the premise of tougher penalties, we look closer at what is really going on. The membership and public are outraged.
On close review of the rules and policies, it becomes very clear that most likely the new penalties will have little to no effect on those horses testing positive and will continue as business as usual. Read on to find out why that is the most likely outcome and the repercussion on the BoDEC.
Table of Contents
- Rumours of Years of Drugging Confirmed
- Horses returning positive tests for prohibited substances retain titles and prize money
- Penalties Are a False Positive
- Why the NRHA Animal Welfare and Medications Policy Will Continue to Fail
- Is the Revised Policy Flawed – you be the judge on the fine print?
- Is the BoDEC meeting its fiduciary responsibility?
- Rumours of Years of Drugging Confirmed
Reining is an industry with many rumours constantly swirling around it for years, of excessive drugging of horses to win. The President has now openly confirmed that drugging has been a problem for years and remains a problem.
The President, Rick Clark, released an open letter to members attempting to explain their decision.
In a surprise admission, he stated, ‘we did not have the support to go to no allowance for Romifidine (Sedivet) at this time. It is as simple as that.” So Clark publicly admits horses are being sedated to be shown – so much for their mantra of willing guided.
- Horses returning positive tests for prohibited substances retain titles and prize money
Clark further admits, “If a horse tested positive, their name was never publicized, and they got to keep their title, purse money, and prizes. So they essentially got away with a slap on the wrist, and no one would know.”
On review of the rule books of the past few years, the option to take action was at all times available by the medications hearing committee, but Clark’s statement demonstrates they elected not to take action as set out in clause (0). E. Animal Welfare and Medications Provisions Applicable to all NRHA Events.
(o) The owner or owners of a horse found to contain a forbidden substance or any metabolite or analogue thereof may be required to forfeit all prize money, sweepstakes, added money and any trophies, ribbons and “points” won at said event by said horse and the same will be redistributed accordingly.
The released former policy in the open letter clearly states in all areas ‘pending hearing committee review’.
- Penalties Are a False Positive
Further in the rule books, there are a number of clauses concerning the management of horses testing positive. The penalties are at the discretion of the medications hearing committee. Section 1I. 8 and E. Animal Welfare and Medications Provisions Applicable to all NRHA Events. (N) (O) (P)
(p) Said person responsible may be fined and may be suspended from all participation in NRHA approved events as outlined in the Animal Welfare and Medications Policies
Section 1I, 11 (b) and (f)
(f) When a member is disciplined or sanctioned, the Hearing Body’s findings and determination will be presented to the Board and the Board may cause information regarding the discipline or sanction to be published on an appropriate disciplinary list.
Whether the penalty was $250 or $250,000 makes no difference, as the most fundamental step of publishing their name on the disciplinary list was not taken. Publishing positive drug tests for banned substances is often thought of as the greatest punishment, more than money and suspensions. Therefore, to be a known drug user to compete and have titles removed is a punishment and would be fair competition; an expectation of the membership.
The penalties are not the issue – the process of managing rule breaches and who is involved is the problem.
- Is the Revised Policy Flawed – you be the judge on the fine print?
The Revised Animal Welfare and Medications Policy Revised August 2022 contains the same flaws that have seen horses shown drugged and competitors and owners win prize money uninterrupted.
The policy sets out a process:
- The NRHA Board of Directors approves the members of the Medications Hearing Panel and can remove members of the panel.
- [the panel] shall have the discretion to (i) affirm the penalties, (ii) modify the penalties, or (iii) revoke the penalties.
- [if there is an appeal], the Executive Committee have the right to (i) affirm the penalties, (ii) modify the penalties, or (iii) revoke the penalties. The Executive Committee’s decision is final.
The Board of Directors and Executive Committee are ultimately remaining as the management of the welfare program. This same process has existed since 2015 and has failed the horses.
ITS TIME TO TAKE THE MANAGEMENT OF DRUGS AND PENALTIES AWAY FROM THE NRHA
- Is the BoDEC meeting its fiduciary responsibility?
The fiduciary responsibility of any board, in summary, is:
- The Duty of Care
- The Duty of Loyalty
- The Duty of Good Faith
The current and past BoDEC are responsible for protecting the horses’ welfare and providing a platform for fair and honest competition.
However, Clark’s letter of August 2022 has outlined that this was not the case, even in the light of hard evidence of positive drug tests. In providing his factual account and attempts to change rules he says “hopefully never find ourselves in such a dire situation again“.
Notably, Clark advises the changes will be taken in baby steps and provides no timeline for resolution for what is the most heinous experience for horses and matters of Animal Welfare in an equestrian association. This is unacceptable.
The members of NRHA, and the general public, expect more than they have experienced to date. Members are against drugs, particularly Sedivet, on mass by the commentary in private reining groups. Questions over the fees paid for drug testing and the validity of that spending are also high on the member’s agendas. It would be fair to say, the board does not represent the sentiment of a large proportion of the membership based on the online surveys in those groups
The thoroughbred industry battled with self-regulation for many years, and it is now law that HISA manage their medications and rulings. An independent body was created to ensure the welfare of horses and clean competition.
The NRHA cannot be trusted to manage the rules and penalties based on past performance, and the fact that 67%+ of the current board voted to retain an off-label drug for use by competitors raises alarm bells for many members and the broader public.
The members need to take action to change the rules or be seen as complicit in supporting what can only be described as a dirty sport.
© 2022 Reining Trainer Enigma. All Right Reserved.
All their blustering of importance and superior to the FEI – there is the answer. They couldnt get a horse shown without drugs and had to run away before they were busted. What a pitful set of board (past and present) to knowingly allow cheats to be awarded.
The board does not respsect the rule book so why would any member. You all knew it was happening and just keept the circus going. This sport definitely needs cleaning up and those that are involved will never have the guts to do what is required. They have shown their true colors already
The sad part is it’s not only the Reiners, it’s all the disciplines. Something needs to be done. When the higher ups are doing the same thing or allowing it to be done to their own stock how can you expect them to enforce the rules? It’s disgusting.
This is a major problem in the cutting horse shows/industry
Dirty veternarians making piles of money doping horses
With AQHA and APHA looking for solutions and NCHA, NRCHA with issues – maybe it’s time they pool resources and get a western independent body to manage all their drugs and penalties. Clean it all up before its too late. California is creeping across the country.
As a thoroughbred trainer, I strongly advise y’all to be very, very careful what you wish for.
HISA is a complete, draconian Disaster in the TB racing world. You do Not want this! Pay attention to the current PAST Act in Congress ( * hint* it is Not just heavy shod horses ) you’ll you be swept up under laws promulgated by animal rights nuts. Animal Rights is Not equitable with animal welfare. The rights folks consider all use of animals to be “exploitation and abuse ”
Please, please, please figure out a way to clean up your own house! If you don’t, you won’t have a sport at all in less 5han a decade.