The United States Equestrian Federation has announced a rule change to add hair testing to its anti-doping arsenal, effective July 1, 2025. In addition to blood and urine testing, hair testing can help combat the use of prohibited substances in show horses, such as barbiturates (including the euthanasia drug), according to a release from USEF.
According to the Chronicle of the Horse, the USEF rule change was made “in response to what officials said are credible reports that some owners and trainers misuse barbiturates that can evade detection in urine and blood tests. The new rule takes aim at these banned substances with more precise testing technology, with the goal of discouraging the use of dangerous barbiturates.”
USEF’s chief veterinary officer, Stephen Schumacher, told chronofhorse.com: “Certain substances should never be in the horse when they’re alive — period. We’re not out to get people; we’re out to protect horses. That’s what we’re looking to do, and this provides another tool for us to do that.”…