Jeff Blea, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Council issued the following memorandum on December 2 to associations, CTTs, TOCs, trainers, owners, veterinarians and horseman.
Physiotherapy CHRB Policy and HISA Rule 2271—Prohibited Behaviors
For clarity and practice, the HISA rules, and thus CHRB policy, define physiotherapy as the use of any electrical or battery-powered medical treatment device, including but not limited to electromagnetic wave therapy, lasers, electromagnetic blankets, boots, electric shocks, or any other electrical device that may produce pain relief.
Physiotherapy modalities are prohibited for 48 hours for racing and 24 hours for training.
Burning heat or applying any substance that causes blisters or blistering of the skin is prohibited. The prohibition of stapling and freezing applies only to the dorsal aspect of the third metatarsal (“leg”) bone. This ban will begin with the 2022 foal crop and will not apply to ponies before 2022. Pinning and slingshot other structures is not prohibited.
Please refer to HISA Rule 2271 below for further clarification on prohibited conduct.
2271. Prohibited Practices The following are prohibited: (a) Using physical or veterinary procedures to conceal the effects or signs of injury in order to allow training or racing to cause injury harmful to the health and welfare of the Horse. (b) Use extracorporeal shock wave therapy in a manner that can desensitize any limb structure during racing or training. (c) Surgery or chemical nerve ablation to desensitize musculoskeletal structures involving the extremities. (d) Heat includes, but is not limited to, needle burning and freezing, or application of any substance that causes blistering or blistering of the skin, or an anti-irritant effect. (e) Using equipment to shock Horses with electricity, including but not limited to electric whips and cattle batteries. (f) Use of electrical medical therapy devices including magnetic wave therapy, lasers, electromagnetic blankets, boots, electric shocks or any other electrical devices that can produce pain relief within 48 hours hours after the training activity or at the start of the exercise. the published posting time at which a horse is scheduled to race.
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