AUS Ban ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Taken from the Horse Journal

Anabolics encourage the body to build muscle tissue. Growth and sex hormones are natural anabolics, necessary for normal growth and development. Synthetic anabolics aren’t bad in and of themselves. They help debilitated animals, such as horses recovering from malnutrition, prolonged illnesses, severe injuries and even the ravages of old age. In these conditions, synthetic anabolics help the horse’s body build muscle tissue rather than burn it and help make better use of available nutrients.

Unfortunately, this valid use of synthetic anabolics has been perverted to the point that more are sold and used to create unnaturally pronounced muscular development in sales yearlings or beef up performance horses. This is simply the easy way out, and it’s the horses who end up paying the price.

Side Effects

Anabolic-steroid abuse is associated with multiple side effects. The most familiar in human steroid abuse is “steroid rage,” those horror stories of young men becoming increasingly aggressive and out of control. The same thing happens to a high percentage of horses given anabolic steroids. In fact, this increased aggressiveness is considered desirable by some trainers.

Less well known, but equally serious, is the effect on growing bone. Young animals given anabolic steroids experience premature closure of the growth plates. Not only are they shorter than they should be, the horse’s bone may be inadequate to support its actual body structure.

Tendon and ligament injuries are common in humans abusing steroids. Experts believe this occurs because the drugs stimulate rapid and dramatic muscular development but without a matching increase in size and strength of the attached tendons and ligaments. Although no one has studied it, it’s likely the same thing occurs in horses.

Internal organs also suffer. Anabolic steroid abuse can damage the heart and the liver. They have a negative effect on the reproductive system. Testicles shrivel, ovaries stop cycling and infertility results. If the abuse began early in life, infertility can be permanent.

That about says it all, Muhti. Knowing this, how was it ever possible to keep on using the stuff for so long with a clear conscience?

....Mav I am an idiot totally gullible as in 2002 I tried to launch a range of non steroidal feed supplements with limited success.....most of the trainers I detailed said that they would have to consuly with their vets.... I thought it odd at the time and wondered who was actually training their horses....now it is clear.....they are receiving hypodermic assistance and that is why the vet features as an integral part of the team....horsemen my arse..... Biggest con artists in for self enrichment....poor pin cushion pony bred to be an ongoing experiment....ever wondered about those well performing sorts that mysteriously drop dead from heart failure etc makes one think does it not