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Slow Your Roll: Even Chatting About CBD May Get Vets In Trouble

Products that contain CBD seem to be everywhere, from human goods that do everything from relieve pain to promote quality sleep to horse feed additives promoting calmness, relaxation and good digestion—and everything in between. Dr. Charlotte Lacroix, a veterinarian who is now a practicing lawyer, spoke at the 2020 American Association of Equine Practitioners' Convention about the potential pitfalls of dealing with CBD as a veterinarian, reports The Horse.

Lacroix recommended vets talk with their insurance provider and the licensing board in their state before ever chatting with clients about CBD. She reported some shocking statistics: in six states, a veterinarian can lose their license if they even discuss CBD with a client; in two state the conversation must be initiated by the client or the vet can lose his or her license. In 18 states, the vet can discuss CBD products, but cannot prescribe or dispense them.

Why is there such an uproar about hemp, which is legal for human use in multiple states? Lacroix says there are a few reasons:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn't approve the use of hemp in any form for animals
CBD is still illegal at the federal level
A “nutritional supplement” must contain one or more ingredients that occur naturally in a horse's body; CBD is not naturally found in animals, so it cannot be a nutritional supplement
Nutritional supplements cannot claim to treat, mitigate or prevent a disease or a condition; if that claim was made, the supplement would be a drug that would require USDA approval
Limited research has been done on CBD use in horses; much of the data comes from small animal research

It is not illegal for a horse owner to give CBD to his or her horse, since they are not a licensed veterinarian. It is also not illegal for companies to make products that contain CBD as long as they do not claim the product helps with a condition or disease.

Estate Of Joyce And Paul Robsham Donate $500,000 To New Vocations Endowment Fund

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program announced today that the estate of Joyce and Paul Robsham made a $500,000 contribution to the program's endowment fund. The Robshams were two of New Vocations' founding supporters and instrumental in creating the endowment fund in 2005.

“Joyce and Paul loved horses and the sport,” said Patricia Davis, executor and trustee of the Robsham Estate. “They firmly believed that breeders and owners were ultimately responsible for their horses' welfare, and they were adamant that their horses retire from the track before injury to ensure a successful second career. Dot Morgan's integrity and passion for New Vocations impressed Paul so much that he had no doubt in its future growth and long-term sustainability.”

“Paul was a visionary,” said New Vocations Executive Director Dot Morgan. “He saw the need for racehorse aftercare options long before it was recognized by the industry. He had a vision of New Vocations growing into a first-class charity that would serve racing nationally into perpetuity. The Robshams' vision and commitment to racehorse aftercare is truly a gift that will ultimately provide sustainability to our program allowing us to serve more horses in the years to come.”

The donation comes during challenging times when all the program's live fundraising events were cancelled due to COVID-19 and several grants were decreased. At the same time, the nonprofit served more than 600 horses—a record number—in 2020.

For more information, click here.

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GR1 Winner Bellamy Road Pensioned To Old Friends

Grade 1 winner and Grade 1 sire Bellamy Road has been pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility based in Georgetown, KY. Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, made the announcement this morning.

A Florida-bred son of Concerto out of Hurry Home Hillary, Bellamy Road, now 19, retired from racing in 2007 following an illustrious career.

Owned by the late George Steinbrenner's Kinsman Stable and trained by Nick Zito, Bellamy Road broke his maiden in his first start at Delaware Park in 2004. He earned his first stakes next time out, capturing the GR3 Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes at River Downs.

In 2005, he roared back as a 3-year-old setting a stakes record in the GR1 Wood Memorial, a race he won by a record 17 ½ lengths. The victory made him the odds-on favorite for that year's Kentucky Derby, where he finished 7th behind winner Giacomo.

His last start was the 2005 Travers at Saratoga, where he finished second to Flower Alley. Plagued by injuries, Bellamy Road retired that year with four wins from seven starts and earnings of $811,400.

Since 2016 Bellamy Road has stood at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, N.Y., He had previously stood at Kentucky's WinStar Farm and Hurricane Hall.

At stud Bellamy Road sired numerous stakes winners, including 2011 Wood Memorial winner Toby's Corner and the GR1 winning filly, Constellation.

His son, Diversify, GR1 Whitney Handicap winner and 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year, also currently resides at Old Friends.

“Bellamy Road has always had a special place in my heart,” said Kinsman President Jessica Steinbrenner, daughter of George. “His Wood Memorial is the most exciting race that I have ever been to. I remember going back to the hotel afterward and being escorted through the kitchen because of all the people gathered outside. To this day, I still watch his Wood Memorial on YouTube, and to hear the announcer say 'a dazzling performance by a dazzling 3-year-old' brings me to tears every time.

“Bellamy is a rock star,” Steinbrenner continued. “He deserves a retirement where his fans can visit and reminisce. It's exciting to think he will be amongst the other great retired racehorses residing at Old Friends.”

“Jessica is following in her father's footsteps,” added trainer Nick Zito. “George would have done the same thing. They're very special people.”

“We were privileged that Kinsman, WinStar, and the other syndicate members sent Bellamy to us, and have allowed us to stand him in New York for so long,” said Dutchess Views Farm's Michael Lischin, on behalf of the Syndicate Manager, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC. “He is sound and could continue as a stallion but the consensus was that, at his age, it would be in his best interest to retire him to a magnificent facility like Old Friends while he is still healthy and happy. We thank the Syndicate and Old Friends for doing what was right for Bellamy Road.”

“We want to thank Jessica Steinbrenner for trusting us to care for her great horse,” said Old Friends's Blowen. “I know she went out of her way to make sure he'd get to us. Thanks also to Elliot Walden at WinStar who expedited everything, and to everyone at Dutchess Views for taking such great care of him.”

Bute: More Isn’t Better, It Can Be Dangerous

Phenylbutazone (“bute”) should have a place in every horse owner's first-aid arsenal to fight pain. However, if a traditional dose is given and the horse finds no relief, research says owners should reach for a different medication, not just administer additional doses of bute.

To test this theory, Dr. Ronald Erkert of Oklahoma State University conducted a recent study using three different pain treatment protocols on nine horses that were chronically lame in a front leg; each protocol lasted for four days. One group had injectable bute administered at two grams per 1,000 pounds. The second group had four grams per 1,000 pounds of bute injected. The third group received a saline injection to serve as a control. Before each injection and at six, 12 and 24 hours after the final dose, the horses were given a lameness exam and trotted on a force plate.

Erkert found no difference in lameness scores whether the horse was given two grams of bute or four grams of bute per 1,000 pounds. Erkert said that though his study was on injectable bute, administering additional grams of oral bute also has no significant benefit. Four grams of bute per 1,000 pounds approaches near-toxic levels. Bute toxicity can show up as diarrhea, gastric ulcers, colic, kidney failure and endotoxic shock.

Erkert recommends owners who give a horse bute and see no significant change in the horse's comfort level consult with their veterinarian to find a different pain control drug rather than administering more bute.