Ergogenic aids to performance in the race horse: nutrients or drugs

Since the domestication of the horse and its use in various types of athletic competition, its diet has developed from that associated with grazing to feeding of additional energy in the form of grains up to the present situation when numerous supplements are fed in hopes of enhancing performance. Many if not all of these may be considered as ergogenic aids, and under the rules of racing in many countries should be considered as a prohibited substance. Until recently, a blind eye has been turned to whether the rules should be enforced against many nutritional supplements, for example, vitamins and amino acids, especially when given in amounts vastly in excess of normal requirements. However, although arguably a nutrient, large doses of sodium bicarbonate and possibly other compounds with the potential of improving buffering capacity have been used extensively, and rules and detection methods have been introduced to curtail this. This paper reviews the nutritional supplements currently in use and discusses whether the singling out of alkalinizing agents as an enforceable prohibited substance is justified, whereas other substances such as fats can be supplemented in high amounts.