talking tactics
Rider Experience - amateur eventer Tamsin Drew shares her own experience of random testing of event horses ...
Stress free random dope testing at National British Eventing competitions
I had my first experience in 2015 of the horse I was riding being picked for a random dope test at a British Eventing National Horse Trials. I wanted to share this, especially for those riders who haven’t experienced a dope test before. You might be picked next time and hopefully, having read this, you will be prepared!
‘Random Dope Testing’ can happen at any National British Eventing Horse Trials at any level from BE80 upwards, it’s meant to be a surprise for the riders and all concerned so it isn’t disclosed when you arrive or collect your number.
After jumping the last fence on the Novice Cross Country Course and galloping through the finish I was approached by a stranger who came up to me asking how my round was. I thanked the person and told them what a great round we’d had! The stranger replied by saying the horse I was riding had been randomly picked for a dope test and she was the vet! The high from my round turned to panic; why this horse?
Although I was concerned at the time, you can be reassured that if your horse is picked, you haven’t been singled out, nor has the vet been watching you or your horse. The testing is completely random, in that when the vet has finished testing the previous horse, he or she will return to cross country finish and pick the next horse who comes through the finish; that unfortunately was me!
Tamsin Drew and her team of helpers at a British Eventing fixture
You aren’t expected to go directly to the stables from the cross country finish, but the Vet or an assistant will follow you to your horsebox and you must continue with your post cross country routine of un-tacking the horse, washing the horse down and walking around.
When walking the horse around, the assistant will follow you as the horse mustn’t be out of sight of the vets until the blood test has been completed. Don’t feel rushed to go off to the stables before you are ready, as your horse’s recovery must come first. If your team of helpers, (owners, grooms and friends) aren’t back
from watching you on the cross country course, make sure you leave them a note or take your phone with you! Otherwise they could be really concerned when they get back and you and the horse aren’t there, especially as the whole process can take from 20 minutes to 1 hour! Make sure you as the rider are comfortable, especially that you have had a drink (or take one with you).
Once ready, follow the assistant to the stables where they will ask you for your riding number, section, class, your horse’s full name and your name.
The vet at the stables will
take two blood samples, which are then wrapped in tape and put in sealed bags to prevent tampering, forms are printed with the rider name, horse name and an identification number. You are then asked to sign the bags and the vet also signs the bags. Do keep watch on the bags until they are sealed. The other vet (assistant) will then complete the remaining paper work, taking full markings and details of the horse.
The vet will also require a urine sample and this can take ages, especially if the horse doesn’t need a wee. Unfortunately the horse I was riding that day had already been before the cross country and although I mentioned this to the vets, you still have to wait in the stable for 30 – 60 minutes until a sample is taken (or not). If one is collected, the sample is taped and sealed in similar bags to that of the blood sample, otherwise the rider will sign to say that no sample was collected. Once all the samples are taken they are placed in a secured cooler.
The Vet will let you know that you will only hear back if the test is positive and this will be within four weeks.
Samples are tested in a designated laboratory and positive results are communicated to the rider, so no news is good news
Equine Page 46
Although being picked, can be very time consuming and a minor inconvenienced to your day, it doesn’t have to be stressful and it’s just part of competing with British Eventing. Co-operation with the vets ensures the future of Eventing is with healthy happy horses!
www.theequinesite.co.uk
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