ESC Implements Drug Policy Changes That Offer Improvements to the Management of Equine Tissue and Joint Inflammation

Effective May 1, 2025, ESC is reducing or eliminating withdrawal times for three anti-inflammatory medications: 1) Phenylbutazone (Bute) and 2) flunixin meglumine (Banamine), which may now be given as a one-time treatment up to 6 hours before competing. When using the 6-hour withdrawal regimen, these medications cannot be combined with a multi-day stacking protocol. Horses may not have received any NSAIDs 36 hours prior. This 6-hour withdrawal regimen without multi-day stacking will offer anti-inflammatory management and reduce stress on the gastrointestinal tract for many horses. Agents or veterinarians may still continue to use the traditional 12-hour withdrawals for these medications if they so desire. Medication forms are NOT required when used as directed.

The third anti-inflammatory therapy is Firocoxib (Equioxx) and is used for the management of equine arthritis, given through a daily oral regimen. ESC is eliminating the 12-hour withdrawal for horses on this arthritic medication. Going forward, agents/trainers will ONLY need to register Equioxx/Firocoxib prescriptions annually with ESC by submitting a medication form with the prescribing veterinarian’s information. Then, continue to give Equioxx daily to your show horses and compete at any time. This is the same process ESC put into place for the more humane management of Cushing’s and Navicular through continued medication use while at ESC shows.

Our Trotting Breed Show Horses are stabled for weeks at a time on top of hard concrete. Our show facilities are generally convention centers or sports arenas, and their concrete surfaces can contribute significantly to inflamed joints in our show horses. Also, our show horses rarely win a class for being the fastest or exhibited at speed. Our show horses are to be judged on Quality of Breeding, Conformation, and Presence, which cannot be prescribed through medications. This is where the Show Horses differ greatly from Olympic and Racing sports. The average age of our show horses is 12 years old, and these horses go on to be our future breeding stock or lesson horses. We must ensure we use common-sense therapeutics that support our show horses. These changes will be reflected in the May 2025 ESC Rulebook and website in the coming days.