Injections of any medications or substances cannot be given to your horse on the same day the horse competes, as per EC Rules, Section A: General Regulations, Article A1003.1 – Prohibited Practice.
In line with FEI rules, horses competing in classes that start after 6 p.m. may be treated by injection until 10 a.m. the same day. In other words:
- If your class start time is earlier than 5:59 p.m., injections may not be given on the same day as your class.
- If your class start time is 6 p.m. or later, injections of permitted substances may be given before 10 a.m on the same day as the class, ensuring that proper elimination guidelines are adhered to.
The one exception is IV rehydration fluids and antimicrobials (not procaine penicillin G). These may be administered by a licensed veterinarian more than six (6) hours before the class start time. In other words:
- If your class start time is 2 p.m., IV rehydration fluids and antimicrobials may be administered before 8 a.m. on the same day as the class.
Antihistamines and NSAIDs and nutraceuticals, oh my! Do you have a question you’d like the Equine Medication Control Committee to answer? Send your inquiries about the EC Equine Medication Control program to equinemeds@equestrian.ca.
Please note, this does not constitute legal advice. Information included in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not, and should not be taken as, advice regarding a particular situation. You should not rely on, nor take or fail to take any action based upon this information. You are encouraged to seek legal advice regarding your circumstances, and you should not rely upon anything you have read in this article without seeking appropriate legal advice regarding the application of EC Equine Medication Control Rules to your particular circumstances.
