What's New - Virginia Equine Imaging

Let me be the first to BRAG on MTR! I know you will hear this news more than once because we are all very, very proud! I just couldn?t WAIT to let you know:

#1 - This past Friday, MTR was visited by an inspector from the British Horse Society to evaluate our center for approval as a BHS Approved Facility and we PASSED with flying colors! This is an incredible honor. While BHS Centers are numerous in the UK, Europe, and around the world, there are only about 6 approved centers in the US. Please visit http://www.bhs.org.uk/ for info on this great organization. MTR is the ONLY therapeutic riding center in the country that is also a BHS center!

#2 - Today, MTR was visited by 2 evaluators from the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association to re-accredit our center. This happens once every 5 years and today makes our 3^rd Accreditation Site Visit. We have always scored VERY high but have never received 100% (last visit was a frustrating 99%!) until TODAY! We met or exceeded every single standard set forth by NARHA, thanks to the incredibly dedicated and professional staff (Jo, Kelly, the 2 Kathys, Ellie, and the barn staff). http://www.narha.org/

#3L - Last weekend, MTR Hosted a NARHA Instructor Training Workshop and Certification which was attended by 22 Instructor Trainees from up and down the East Coast, 11 of whom were tested and certified to become NARHA Registered Instructors!

Thanks to ALL of you who support MTR in so many ways. And when you see our staff, be sure to give them a big ?high five? because they deserve our recognition and appreciation for making MTR truly a PREMIER center. Our riders deserve the BEST and I can say with conviction that they won?t find a better center in the region!

Dr. Allen just attended the ISELP module at Hagyard Equine in Lexington, Ky. The topic was the Clinical Considerations of the Pelvic and Coxofemoral Regions.

Dr. Allen spoke at the 2009 Hagyard Bluegrass Symposium following the ISELP module. His topics were Conditions Effecting the Back Diagnosis and Treatment, Medications for the Equine Athlete and was the instructor for the wetlab on Advanced Intra Articular and Interlesional Therapy.

D&M Program Notice Regarding Use of Liniments

Release: March 03 2009

By Dr. Stephen Schumacher

Recently, there have been some questions related to the use of liniments. The specific liniments in question are:

Equi-Block® Liniments by Miracle Corp.
Ingredients:
Menthol (3%), Purified Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Chamomile Extract, Polysorbate 80, Olibanum Extract, Rosemary Oil, Capsicum Oleoresin, Carbomer, Trolamine, Methylparaben.

Thermaflex Liniment Gel by VitaFlex®
Ingredients:
Menthol 4.0%, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Plant Extracts of Calendula and Rosemary, Oil of Cajuput (Melaleuca Leucadendron), Other Ingredients include: Alcohol, Water, Thickeners, Benzyl Nicotinate, FD&C Yellow #5 and FD&C Blue #1.

Vetrolin® Liniment by Farnam
Ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Green Soap, Camphor, Oil of Sassafras, Oil of Spike, Methyl Salicylate, Oil of Cedarwood, Oil of Rosemary and Oil of Thyme.

(Forbidden substances are noted in italics.)

The classification of these substances as Forbidden is neither a new policy nor a recent development. Some of the ingredients in the above listed liniments have been Forbidden substances for more than 20 years. These substances, and products containing them, are classified as Forbidden because of their potential actions on various body systems when administered intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or orally. However, when used topically and as recommended by their manufacturers, these products have not been associated with a positive by the Federation.

As a practical matter, provided the products containing these substances are administered only topically and as recommended by the manufacturer, there is no need for restricting their use during competitions under USEF rules. However, if these substances are used inappropriately (e.g., in a manner other than topically), this could result in a positive finding in the blood or urine of the horse, which would be a potential violation of the rules.

One exception is the substance capsaicin and closely related analogues (e.g., Capsicum Oleoresin as found in Equi-Block®.) There were four drug violations associated with the detection of capsaicin in the blood following topical administration at the 2008 Olympic Games. Neither of these substances or other capsaicin derivatives should be used topically in any poultice or liniment within the 7 days preceding competition.

It is important to note that many preparations produced for the equine market routinely have their formulations changed without any published notice. It is for this reason that the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Program typically does not comment on products by name, but requests lists of ingredients. It would be irresponsible for the USEF to list name brand products as Forbidden or Permitted as there is no control or notification of changes in their ingredients.

Please contact the Equine Drugs and Medications Program office by phone (800) 633-2472 or by e-mail at medequestrian@aol.com if there are any questions regarding additional liniments than those addressed above.

Virginia Equine Imaging is one of only 5 sites worldwide that host modules for the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP). ISELP is comprehensive program for veterinarians of advanced education in the field of equine lamenesses and osteoarticular, musculotendinous and nervous pathology, covering the different parts of the locomotor system of the horse. For more information http://www.iselp.org

Keeping America's Horses Healthy: Dr. Kent Allen Discusses WEG Piroplasmosis Protocol

Click on the link below to see the latest in FEI medication guidelines or contact the USEF Medication Hotline 800-633-2472.

Letter from Maryland Therapeutic Riding

D&M Program Notice Regarding Use of Liniments

Keeping America's Horses Healthy: Dr. Kent Allen Discusses WEG Piroplasmosis Protocol