What horse products contain Capsaicin?

Question

Ireland have been disqualified from the showjumping events in the Olympics AGAIN, along with Germany, Brazil and Norway.

Horses tested positive for Capsaicin.

I am just wondering what products used on horses contain Capsaicin?

Would it be possible to give a horse a band substance without realising?

Cian O'Connor was disqualified at the last Olympics when his horse tested positive for fluphenazine and zuclopenthixol.

What products contain these drugs?

Answer 1

Cayenne pepper is used in several herbal remedies for cribbing, breathing remedies, and hoof pain, as well as in liniments.  It is always listed as an ingredient, and usually you can smell it. It's possible that people wouldn't know that cayenne pepper is the source of this drug.  Many people don't realize that most drugs come from the same plants, herbs, etc. that they are using as "natural" remedies.  I think it is very possible that they didn't know.  If you are at that level of competition, and know the list of banned drugs, why would you knowingly use it?

Answer 2

Capsaicin releives pain from the horse which allows the horse to jump, run without feeling pain, they get tired but they keep going due o the capsaicin.

also it stops the flow of estrinight in the horse meaning it is basicly knockout out but still running

Answer 3

Wow, I had no idea that was a banned substance.  I wonder why?  Interesting!  

Capsaicin is found in cayenne peppers, though generally you wouldn't feed it internally as an herbal remedy.  Pain relievers (topical ones) are the most likely culprits, I would think.  It's used as an analgesic and also has warming properties (one traditional use for cayenne powder is to sprinkle some in your shoes before you go out in the snow).  I am sure, though, that it would be listed on an ingredients list.  It is certainly considered an "active ingredient".

Answer 4

Capsaicin is used for pain relief and for horses I would imagine it is adminstered in the form of a linament which is rubbed into the horses affected area. The others I have no idea sorry

Years ago this linament was called white Horse Oils.

Answer 5

It is chilli oil or powder.  The idea is that it is rubbed into the horse's legs and bandaged to create a burning sensation which then causes the horse to pick his feet up higher in a sort of "OUCH" reaction.

It is a cruel form of cheating, like rapping and tin tacking where tin tacks are put inside the bandages - again causing pain.

It is illegal but still goes on, I saw it in Germany and I hated it.

I know that it is possible to give horses banned substances, as it is for humans to take them, due to medication or in the feed.  I am not familiar with the drugs you mention as I have not had a horse for a long time.

Answer 6

actually "capsaicin"is used to overwhelm the nervous system in the area that it is applied causing a heat sensation and will cause a neural numbness in that area it also dilates the blood vessels in that area.there are a lot of horse products that use it and the reason it was banned was because it can take a minor injury and turn it into a permanent lameness due to the horses natural pain receptors not being able to protect the horse."equiblock"brand pain reliever has .025% capsaicin and most pain products will list it if they have any in it because of the rules of banned substances.a good trainer and coach will get the list of banned substances and then go thru all their equipment to find out if it has any banned substances in them and go as far as contacting the company's that make them so during drug testing they wont be disquallified.this falls on the trainer and grooms shoulders.