The U.S. Equestrian Federation Hearing Committee has issued its first decision imposing penalties pursuant to the Equine Drugs & Medications Penalty Guidelines that went into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

Tasked with protecting the welfare of equine athletes and ensuring the balance of competition, the U.S. Equestrian Federation Equine Drugs and Medications Program constantly monitors products and product claims.

As drug tests have evolved over the years, the USEF Drugs and Medications Department has continually upgraded their program to protect the horse and maintain a level playing field.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation Equine Drugs and Medications Program has worked to protect the welfare of equine athletes and ensure the balance of competition for more than 40 years. The safety and welfare of the horse is always our first and foremost concern; concerns about performance enhancement are secondary.

The author, an equine law practioner, thinks that the USEF's drugs and medication policies need to be updated to reflect the exponential advances in modern day drug detection technology.

Speed limits: They reduce our risk of injury or death. But different streets, roads, highways and freeways each require different speed limits because these each present different risks. The degree of risk presented in each situation—whether a school crossing zone, neighborhood or highway—determines the speed limit.