What’s allowed, what’s risky, and how to keep your horse—and your record—clean on show day. Bookmark this for vet-box sanity checks.
Verify the current rule—not a search summary.
Competition policies, substance classifications, thresholds, reporting rules, and penalties can change. This guide is educational and cannot clear a product or set a washout time. Check the current official database for your governing body and ask your veterinarian. USEF issued a July 8, 2026 member warning about inaccurate AI summaries of drug policies.
This page is a label-reading and source-routing guide. It is not medication advice, a withdrawal schedule, or a guarantee against a positive test.
Verify first. Then choose the routine.
The two-pack is the straightforward route for riders who already use Draw It Out® Gel in ordinary care. This is not competition clearance. Verify the current rulebook, every named ingredient, and your event-specific requirements before use.
Current governing-body rules and veterinary guidance control. No product page replaces that verification.
A classic “hot” counterirritant found in some old-school liniments and braces. Multiple high-profile positives. Treat as outright prohibited for FEI competition and commonly banned elsewhere.
Label clues: capsaicin, capsicum oleoresin, cayenne, “hot muscle rub,” “heat-activating.”
Converts to salicylic acid. Under FEI it’s a controlled medication with thresholds. Heavy or occluded topical use can push levels. If wintergreen shows on label, avoid near show time.
Label clues: methyl salicylate, wintergreen oil, gaultheria, salicylates.
Topicals with genuine anesthetic effect (e.g., lidocaine, mepivacaine, procaine, bupivacaine) are broadly forbidden. Even residual contamination can be risky.
Label clues: “numbing,” “anesthetic,” “-caine” endings.
Common OTC counterirritants. Different bodies treat these differently; testing targets evolve. If it says “cooling/icy/hot” and lists menthol or camphor, treat it as a risk close to competition.
Label clues: menthol %, camphor %, “icy,” “cooling rub.”
Look for obvious red-flags: capsaicin/capsicum, methyl salicylate/wintergreen, and anything “numbing.” If a plant oil is listed (e.g., wintergreen), remember the metabolite could be controlled even if the plant name sounds “natural.”
Pro tip: Avoid “hot” products under wraps or boots. Occlusion = more absorption = more risk.
Racing and polo have separate frameworks (e.g., HISA/HIWU, USPA). If you cross over, confirm those lists too.
If the current official source and a secondary summary disagree, use the official source and contact the governing body or your veterinarian.
These are generally considered low-risk in simple topical form, but rules evaluate specific substances, not vibes. Search each named ingredient in the current FEI/USEF resources before use and avoid occlusion if you’re uncertain.
Menthol appears in many OTC rubs; treatment varies by body and evolves with testing priorities. Treat menthol/camphor products as risk close to competition and verify status via the FEI database and your federation’s guidance. When in doubt, choose a menthol-free option for show day.
“Natural” doesn’t mean “permitted.” Methyl salicylate metabolizes to salicylic acid, which is a controlled/threshold substance under FEI. Heavy or occluded use can trigger findings. Safer plan: avoid around competition.
There is no responsible one-size-fits-all answer. The exact ingredient, concentration, amount, application area, route, governing body, testing program, and horse all matter. Use the current official rule source and ask your veterinarian for product-specific guidance.
No universal, official FEI “product certifications.” The only reliable method is to check each named ingredient against the current lists/databases and follow the testing program rules for your discipline.
Racing, polo, breed, local, and international events can use different frameworks. Confirm the organization governing your specific class.
This guide is for general education. Always consult your veterinarian and your governing body’s current rules before competition.
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