Guidelines for cardiac Arrthythmia

GUIDELINES FOR HORSES EXPERIENCING CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA POST-RACE OR TRIAL (RQ - HARNESS)

A horse experiencing cardiac arrhythmia during a post-race or post-trial     examination shall not start in any race or trial until the Stewards have received a satisfactory veterinary report. The report must include the results of an ECG performed at rest and cardiac auscultation performed within 30 minutes of completing a satisfactory piece of work of at least 1609 m. Prior to starting in any race, the horse must then perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official trial of not less than 1609 m.

A horse experiencing cardiac arrhythmia during a post-race or post-trial examination, for a second time within a 12 month period, must be subject to examination by a veterinarian with specialist qualifications in equine internal medicine or veterinary cardiology, prior to it starting in any race or trial. The examination should include echocardiography (cardiac ultrasonography), electrocardiography (ECG) at rest and at exercise and any other examination that the examining veterinarian requests. Prior to starting in any race, and pending Stewards receiving a satisfactory veterinary report from the specialist examination, such horses must trial to the satisfaction of Stewards in an official trial of at least 1609 meters and have a satisfactory veterinary report from the race day veterinarian. The veterinary report from the race day veterinary must include the results of cardiac auscultation within 30 minutes of completion of the official trial.

A horse experiencing cardiac arrhythmia during a post-race or post-trial examination, for a third time, will be ineligible to race or trial unless otherwise determined by the Stewards.