How to Identify Steroid Use in Racehorses

The use of anabolic steroids in racehorses is becoming an increasingly common practice. While the steroids have a short term effect on the racehorses' performance, they take a long term toll on the animals' health. If you think a racehorse might be on steroids follow these steps to identify the signs and symptoms.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. See if the horse has gained mass. Rapid muscle gains are a fairly reliable indicator that trainers are giving a racehorse some form of performance enhancing steroids. A significant increase in the horse's size, especially if the horse has been trained for a while, is an easy and apparent sign to identify the presence of steroids.

2. Look at the horse's behavior. Horses that are given steroids almost always exhibit aggression, especially in the presence of other horses. Males on steroids often try to mount other males, in an attempt to dominate them. Female horses on steroids are similarly aggressive and moody, unhappy when touched and unwilling to perform tasks that are usually not a problem.

3. Consider male reproductive aspects. Male horses on anabolic steroids show a significant and damaging response in terms of the their reproductive anatomy and behavior. Males on steroids often suffer the shriveling of their reproductive organs. Physiologically, the males have a reduced sperm count and potency, making breeding nearly impossible.

4. Check the horse out 2 days before a race. Since anabolic steroid use in horses is not illegal in general but only prohibited 48 hours before a racing event, you should check on a horse 2 days before an event if you want to identify the presence of the drug, especially if you are using drug tests. Get to the trainer and the horse well before a race to identify the presence of steroids.

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[drewhogue]

on 5/28/2009 It's illegal now in all states.