Aids practitioners treating competition horses

The British Equine Federation (BEF) National Therapeutic Use Exemptions (NETUEs) Guide is now available to help practitioners who are treating horses under BEF or FEI regulations.

At FEI events, if a horse needs treatment, permission must be obtained from the Veterinary Delegate or, if it is a major event, the Veterinary Commission.

In competitions under national rules, however, there is no Veterinary Delegate equivalent and the Person Responsible (PR) must instead decide as to whether a horse that has been treated with a prohibited substance will compete.

At national level, the PR for a horse which requires treatment with a Controlled Medication Substance at or close to competition, should discuss the competition with the treating vet so that, if possible, medications can be used that will no longer be present in the horse's system by the time of competition.

When a Controlled Medication Substance is administered, the treating vet should complete a National Equine Therapeutic Use Exemption (NETUE) Medication form, and the PR then has ten working days with which to apply for an NETUE in full, using the BEFAR NETUE form.

The BEF Guide is available in full here.