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California Clarifies Equine Physical Therapy Rules

Physical therapy modalities are prohibited 48 hours to race and 24 hours to train.

Equine medical director Dr. Jeff Blea

Equine medical director Dr. Jeff Blea

Courtesy of OwnerView

Dr. Jeff Blea, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board issued the following memorandum Dec. 2 to associations, CTT, TOC, trainers, owners, veterinarians, and horsemen.

Physical Therapy CHRB Policy and HISA Rule 2271—Prohibited Practices

To provide clarity and practicality, HISA rules, and therefore CHRB policy, defines physical therapy as the use of any electrical or battery-operated medical therapeutic device including, but not limited to, magnetic wave therapy, laser, electro-magnetic blankets, boots, electro-shock, or any other electrical devices that may produce an analgesic effect.

Physical therapy modalities are prohibited 48 hours to race and 24 hours to train.

Thermocautery or the application of any substance to cause vesiculation or blistering of the skin is prohibited. The prohibition on pin firing and freeze firing applies only to the dorsal surface of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bones ("shins"). This prohibition will begin with the foal crop of 2022 and will not apply to horses foaled prior to 2022. Pin firing and freeze firing of other structures is not prohibited.

Please refer to HISA Rule 2271 below for further clarification of prohibited practices.

2271. Prohibited Practices The following are prohibited practices: (a) Use of physical or veterinary procedures to mask the effects or signs of injury so as to allow training or racing to the detriment of the Horse's health and welfare. (b) Use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in a manner that may desensitize any limb structures during racing or training. (c) Surgical or chemical neurectomy to cause desensitization of musculoskeletal structures associated with the limbs. (d) Thermocautery including but not limited to pin firing and freeze firing, or application of any substance to cause vesiculation or blistering of the skin, or a counter-irritant effect. (e) Use of a device to deliver an electrical shock to the Horse including but not limited to cattle prods and batteries. (f) Use of electrical medical therapeutic devices including magnetic wave therapy, laser, electro-magnetic blankets, boots, electro-shock, or any other electrical devices that may produce an analgesic effect within 48 hours of a training activity or of the start of the published post time for which a horse is scheduled to race.

This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.