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Performance horse brochure
This guide covers essential tips on poor performance, lameness, biosecurity and emergency care for your sport horse.
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Care for them with confidence
For horse care and husbandry procedures where horses may become too anxious to work with safely, acquiring prescription Dormosedan® Gel (detomidine hydrochloride) from a veterinarian ahead of time can provide peace of mind and a helping hand to facilitate safe experiences.
Dormosedan Gel
The only FDA-approved oral sedative of its kind that horse owners can administer themselves with a prescription from their veterinarian. This unique gel is designed to help improve safety for horses and handlers during nonpainful horse care procedures such as farrier work, clipping, sheath cleaning, bandaging, first-time turnout and more.
Learn more How to use Dormosedan Gel
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use DORMOSEDAN GEL in horses with pre-existing atrioventricular (AV) or sinoatrial (SA) block, with severe coronary insufficiency, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, or chronic renal failure. Do not use in anesthetized or sedated horses, or in conditions of shock, severe debilitation or stress due to extreme heat, cold, fatigue or high altitude. Handle gel-dosing syringes with caution to avoid direct exposure to skin, eyes or mouth. See full Prescribing Information, here.
Industry guidelines and resources
We're here to help you do what's best for your horse while on the road. Keep the right contacts close this show season by saving the resources below.
Organization
Contact Information
Medical Information
Clean Sport for Horses Veterinary Forms or enter vaccine records and temperatures in the FEI HorseApp
The PRCA does not currently have its own equine drug testing and medication policy
Resources
Documents
Equine vital signs poster
Printable, customizable poster that explains normal vital signs.
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Biosecurity brochure
How to help prevent infectious respiratory disease outbreaks through vaccination and stall-side diagnostics.
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Biosecurity tips poster
A downloadable poster with biosecurity tips for horse owners, trainers and grooms.
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Pro-Stride® APS brochure
Explanation of key information about Pro-Stride APS and why it stands apart in long-term lameness management.
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Restigen® PRP brochure
Explanation of key information about Restigen PRP and its benefits for use in soft tissue injuries.
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Dormosedan Gel brochure
This guide helps horse owners learn how to administer Dormosedan Gel properly.
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Articles
Videos
Ask the Equine Experts: Stablelab® for Biosecurity
Dr. Holly Helbig shares how she uses Stablelab in a competitive environment to help manage quarantine and biosecurity protocols.
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Ask the Equine Experts: Reviewing Stablelab Test Results With Horse Owners
Dr. Ginger Reagan and Dr. Mary Gochnauer share how vets use Stablelab to measure SAA stall-side and guide quarantine and biosecurity protocols.
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Ask the Equine Experts: Talking to Your Clients About Pro-Stride® APS
Dr. Kim Harmon shares how she talks to her horse owner clients about Pro-Stride APS.
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How Dormosedan Gel Works
This video explains how to dose, administer and use Dormosedan Gel for effective mild sedation before routine horse care.
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FAQs
What can I do to help prevent the spread of infectious disease with my horse while traveling and competing?
Before You Travel
- Only travel with a healthy horse
- Monitor temperature before departure
- Follow a veterinarian-directed vaccination plan
- Check event health requirements
- Clean and disinfect your trailer before loading
- Avoid nose-to-nose contact with other horses
- Do not share equipment — ever
- Monitor your horse daily for signs of illness & continue to monitor temperature
- Practice strong personal hygiene
- Reduce exposure at communal areas (water troughs, shared water hoses)
- Quarantine returning horses
- Continue monitoring temperature for 10–14 days
- Clean and disinfect equipment again
How does the Stablelab test help me spot infection early?
Stablelab is a stall-side blood test your veterinarian uses to measure Serum Amyloid A (SAA) — a powerful biomarker that rises rapidly in the bloodstream when a horse is fighting infection. Visit Stablelab® Stall-side Diagnostics to learn more.
SAA has been shown to be 30x more sensitive than a thermometer for detecting subclinical infection.13 So even if your horse’s temperature is normal, Stablelab can still detect underlying infection.
Stablelab gives results in just 10 minutes, allowing your vet to make immediate decisions. That means no waiting on lab work while your horse’s condition progresses.
Stablelab quantifies the severity of infection
- Healthy horse: 0 µg/mL
- Infection: SAA commonly rises into the hundreds or thousands
Serial testing helps monitor if treatment is working. SAA drops rapidly as infection resolves — about 50% every 24 hours. This prevents overtreating, undertreating, or guessing.
How can I check medication rules and withdrawal times for my horse before a show?
Determine which organization governs your show
Different shows follow different rulebooks: Rules differ between them, so always confirm which applies to your specific situation. See industry guidelines and resources linked in the chart above.
Always consult your veterinarian
Every horse metabolizes drugs differently, and environmental factors (stall contamination, illness, feed, fitness) alter clearance times. Veterinary involvement with these decisions is always advised.
How are all-natural treatments like Pro-Stride® APS different from traditional joint injections?
Pro-Stride® APS (Autologous Protein Solution) is made from your horse’s own blood, concentrated stall side into a solution rich in:
- Anti-inflammatory proteins (including IRAP / IL1 receptor antagonist and A2M)
- Platelets and growth factors
- White blood cells
- A natural, competition-safe option
- Less frequent injections (Bertone et al)
- Joint support that focuses on treatment, not just symptom control (pain relief)13
- A steroid-free protocol (especially for metabolic horses or those with steroid-wear concerns)
- Contain manufactured corticosteroids (e.g., triamcinolone, betamethasone, methylprednisolone) and/or hyaluronic acid.
- Focused on symptom control, not tissue regeneration.
- With repeated use corticosteroids can contribute to cartilage damage13,14
- Blocks inflammatory cytokines like IL‑1 and TNF‑α, helping halt the inflammatory cycle driving osteoarthritis.
- Delivers growth factors that promote cartilage and tissue repair.13
- Acts as a regenerative therapy: supports healing rather than masking symptoms.13
- Corticosteroids suppress inflammation quickly, but they have some downsides:
- Effects are temporary.
- Repeated long-term use may be associated with cartilage degeneration.14,15
- Horses with metabolic disease or PPID may be at an increased risk of developing laminitis if corticosteroids are used for joint injections.16,17
For more information on Pro-Stride APS and other Zoetis regenerative devices, visit our lameness solutions page.
How can I tell if my horse’s behavior problems are pain-related?
Subtle signs of pain can be easy to write off, but you should think twice if your horse is consistently demonstrating any of the following behaviors:
- Sudden change in attitude or willingness
- Asymmetry or movement abnormalities
- Sensitivity to touch (withers/back/hind end)
- Changes around tack and mounting
- Stall and ground behavior shifts
- Performance decline
- The behavior is new, worsening, or unpredictable
- There are visible asymmetries
- You notice head bobbing, toe dragging, or hind‑end inconsistencies
- The horse refuses normal activities or becomes suddenly dangerous (bucking/rearing etc.)
- You’ve ruled out tack issues and training inconsistencies
References
1. Dyson, S, et al., Evaluation of poor performance in competition horses: A musculoskeletal perspective. Part 1: Clinical assessment, Equine Vet Educ, 2016
2. Martin BB, Reef VB, Parente EJ, et al. Causes of poor performance of horses during training, racing, or showing: 348 cases (1992–1996). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000;216:554–558.
3. Fraipont A, Van Erck E, Ramery E, et al. Subclinical diseases underlying poor performance in endurance horses: Diagnostic methods and predictive tests. Vet Rec. 2011;169:154.
4. Knight PK, Evans DL. Clinical abnormalities detected in post-race examinations of poorly performing Standardbreds. Aust Vet J. 2000;78:344–346.
5. Data on file, Equine Orthobiologics Market Research Study Parts 1-4 US Market Research Dept. Jun 27 2025.
6. Bosch G., et al. Effects of platelet‐rich plasma on the quality of repair of mechanically induced core lesions in equine superficial digital flexor tendons: a placebo‐controlled experimental study. J Orthop Res. 2010, 28(2): 211-217. http://doi.org/10.1002/jor.20980
7. Chahla J., et al. A call for standardization in platelet-rich plasma preparation protocols and composition reporting: a systematic review of the clinical orthopaedic literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2017, 99(20): 1769-1779. http://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.16.01374
8. Kon E., et al. Subchondral and intra-articular injections of bone marrow concentrate are a safe and effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, multi-center pilot study. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 2021, 29: 4232–4240. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-021-06530-x
9. Bourebaba, L., et al., Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in Horses - Molecular Background of its Pathogenesis and Perspectives for Progenitor Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2019, 15:374-390. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12015-019-09875-6
10. Fluvac had the most doses sold of all equine vaccines in the United States. Animatytix Equine Vaccines Segment Data, December 2024.
11. Zoetis Inc. Data on file. Study report no. 14OREQBIO-1.
12. Oertly M, Gerber V, Anhold H, et al. The accuracy of Serum Amyloid A in determining early inflammation in horses following long-distance transportation by air. AAEP Proceedings. 2017:460-461.
13. Usimaki A, Ciamillo S, Barot D, et al. Single injection of intra-articular autologous protein solution in horses with acute interleukin-1B-induced synovitis decreases joint pathology scores. EVI July 25, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14203
14. Chunekamrai, S., Krook, L.P., Lust, G., Maylin, G.A. "Changes in articular cartilage after intra-articular injections of methylprednisolone acetate in horses." Am J Vet Res. 1989 Oct;50(10):1733-41.
15. Wernecke, C., Braun, H. J., & Dragoo, J. L. (2015). The effect of intra-articular corticosteroids on articular cartilage: A systematic review. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 3(5), 2325967115581163. https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967115581163
16. Page AE, Johnson M, Parker JL. The Effects of Intra-Articular Triamcinolone and Autologous Protein Solution on Metabolic Parameters in Horses. Animals (Basel). 2024 Aug 2;14(15):2250. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152250
17. Page AE, Rauber-Ramos AM, Humiston M. Initial investigation into the metabolic effects of intra-articular betamethasone on normal and insulin dysregulated horses. JEVS, Volume 147, April 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105404
Dormosedan is a registered trademark of Orion Corporate, distributed by Zoetis under license. Stablelab is a registered trademark of Epona Biotech Limited, used under license. GEQ-01443