Review AQHA Guidelines For Drugs and Medications Prior to AQHA World Show

AQHA Publicity

The American Quarter Horse Association releases the AQHA Guidelines and Rules for Drugs and Medications annually. This educational resource is available online to serve as an addition to AQHA’s official medications rules set forth in the violations section of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

Be sure to review the 2021 AQHA Guidelines and Rules for Drugs and Medications before attending the 2021 Farnam AQHA World Championship Show; AQHA Select World Championship Show, presented by Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan); Adequan® Level 2 Championships; and Nutrena Level 1 Championships, slated for October 28 – November 20 at the OKC Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.

This resource includes advice about understanding the AQHA Equine Drugs and Medications Rules and applying it in practical situations. The purpose is to help accommodate legitimate therapy in compliance with the requirements of the rules. It is important to note, these are only guidelines to serve as an educational supplement. It is important to consult a licensed veterinarian in determining whether a particular substance is required for the welfare of a horse and when determining the dosage appropriate for such horse under AQHA’s rules.   

The AQHA drug-testing program is designed to ensure that horses competing in AQHA competitions are doing so in a manner that will promote the safety and well-being of all horses competing and the enforcement of fair and equitable rules and procedures. AQHA’s policies concerning the administration of controlled substances are well documented as being among the most stringent in the equine industry. AQHA began drug testing at AQHA-approved shows in 1973 and was among the first, if not the first, equine breed association to do so.

For complete information on AQHA rules and regulations, view the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations at www.aqha.com/aqha-rulebook.

Disclaimer: Because the online version of the AQHA Rulebook can be updated throughout the year, it should be considered the most-current version of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations.

AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.