Nasal strips for sport horses approved in 15 states

Published on
information-circle This article is more than 3 years old

As of Jan 26, 2000, California is the 15th state to accept use of equine nasal strips on competing sport horses. The golden state joins Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

The strips (brand name: Flair) are used to facilitate breathing of horses during racing and other high-performance events and reduce internal bleeding associated with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (see JAVMA Feb 15, 2000, page 468). They were introduced in November during the Breeders' Cup. Three of eight winners at the Breeders' Cup wore nasal strips.

Research conducted by the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine has indicated that horses wearing the equipment use five percent less energy at work and during recovery than horses that did not wear the strip.