Drugged Horses.

[FatSpottedAppy]

Now that I'm going on another horse search, I'd really like to know the signs of a drugged horse. and yes, I know the ultimate way to go is a blood sample by a vet, but right now I am just looking for signs..

So far I know..
Droopy eyes
Ears tilted back and unmoving
Not much of a reaction to surroundings
Droopy head and lip
An overall exhausted appearance.


And I'm also curious if anyone has heard of people filing on horse's teeth in order to make them look younger? Does anyone have pictures of their 12 year old horse's teeth?

[oursarge]

I've heard of lots of drugged horses but not the teeth filing. I think there might be some things you can't really tell the horse has it in them, I'm not sure I've heard people talking about it. Someone from a horse show who thought they knew alot because they've seen so much but bought a horse who was drugged and they couldn't tell by the way it looked or acted at first, once the drug wore off they had a whack job on their hands. It just acted like a nice calm horse at first. It seems these days to buy a horse you need a vet with a traveling x-ray machine to go with you so he can check for anything some horrid seller might do to the horse including checking their feet and legs. I hate what people do to horses, the horse always suffers in the end. Good luck.

[cloedoll]

Cloe was drugged but I didn't notice any signs actually. The vet estimated she is twelve based on her teeth, if you want, I could get some pictures for you. :)

[HeartofSteel]

In all honesty, horses above the age of 6-7 are very difficult for Vets to estimate and age. After that age they all look very similar so as you may be able to get a estimate it can be a 5 year range on either side.

[EnglishGuy]

A lot of the drugs people use nowadays don't show many noticeable signs. And if they do, you can never be sure if its just the horse or if it is actually a drug without blood testing.

[HeartofSteel]

A lot of the drugs people use nowadays don't show many noticeable signs. And if they do, you can never be sure if its just the horse or if it is actually a drug without blood testing.

I agree with this. Alot of "calming" supplements that are fed through will not test because they are a vitamin based supplement.

[TheRedHayflinger]

excessive sweating while doing nothing is another

[Ryle]

It really depends on the drug used and the amount of it given and the horse. Horses can be sedated lightly and really show nothing much in the way of symptoms other than being calmer and carrying their head a little lower.

[livaward]

slowed pulse with any drug really....just like a human that takes any kinds of relaxing drug your pulse slows dramatically.....

[WashingtonBay]

If the horse is sedated heavily enough for you to notice, it wouldn't be a horse you'd look at and think would be a good barrel prospect anyway. They'd be a dead head.

If the horse is on bute or something like that, you'd just never know from a visual check. Maybe they can test for it, maybe that's cost prohibitive, I don't know. The best way to know if they are on drugs is to take them on a two week trial period so you have time for the effects to wear off and for you to see what they are like at your place.

[Joey A]

If you're talking about Bute, there are no signs. Best mode of detection for a sedated horse is a surprise visit or two to see what they act like when the owners aren't expecting anyone.

[TheRedHayflinger]

the place I bought my first horse from--he pulled random horses out of the field and had his son hop on bareback to make sure they were broke enough to ride (and out of 30 horses I tried out there...only one was a bit of a hothead...a new mare they had just gotten). Then they'd throw a saddle on for me and I'd take a spin. I was the one pointing out what horses I was interested in as well...and I highly doubt he drugged over 100 horses (he had a very large TWH farm...but all were in EXCELLENT shape). Once I made my choice, he even let me ride the stallion she was pastured with...oh my his manners were lovely! Rode him down a dirt path between his field and a field full of mares and another stallion and he was totally focused on me...
They also gave me a 60 day trial...if for any reason within those 60 days I decided I didn't want the horse, I'd get a 100% refund on my money. I swear this guy was the most honest person I had ever dealt with. He pointed out every flaw on all of his horses I tried out as well...

I've seen some horses before that I thought were drugged...so I asked if I could think about it...and then would come back a few days later.


on the droopy head/lip...my little hothead of a SSH stands like this until she is tacked up...always. People always think she's a calm, sweet little pony...sleepy eyed, head drooped a bit, bottom lip hanging down....but once you hop up on her, she's a little pistol! I tell them she is just conserving energy!

[zoel_222]

Whitney was drugged when I got her. She must've had a small dose because she was still mostly aware of her surroundings. She was just really calm, walking out really easy and had a nice low headset. I was stupid and bought her that same day. I got her home a couple hours later and she was bouncing off the walls and has since never been even close to that nice mellow horse I thought I was buying.

I agree with whoever said coming back for a few surprise visits. Also, if you say you're going to be there at 3, come at 2. That way you'll know if they were going to work the horse tired before you arrived.

[FredRock]

I think the easiest way to tell is to think of what a "normal" horse would act like. Say a loud noise goes off, the horse's ears should at least swerve to it, maybe they pick their head up a little. As far as droopy lip, both of my horses do that normally, and both are fairly quiet and slow going when you handle them. You only know they aren't sedated because when something spooks 'em, they spook big. (well, depending I guess)

I've never really dealt with drugged horses, though. (besides when they're heavily sedated for the vet)

[Miracle Whip]

WEll, if the owner doesn't let you ride the horse at the sale barn, that might be a tip?

My mare was jumpy, the seller told me MULTIPLE times she was JUMPY...but he did let let me ride her and I just took it slow and easy with her. She loaded fine, including the unloading and re-loading in the Theisen's parking lot because we had to buy a round pen to keep her in.

She stood quietly for her turn in the sale pen at the barn.

The next day I took her for a ride, had to sack her out to put the saddle on but the ride was fine. When I got home I tried to swat a fly on her neck and she jumped sideways and dumped me. I thought it was funnier than heck.

She was a butthead all that first summer, but her attitude and mannerisms never changed. She truely was a jumpy horse, now, 3 years later you could not ask for a calmer horse. As long as I ride her that is. She is a one rider equine.

[Petra]

Our Trigger looks drugged all the time! If I want to lead him around he is sooo slow, his lip hanging down, couldn't care about anything. Very different once saddled up; especially if we go out for walk. Once out of the yard he is a different horse, very responsive, his walk is brisk; he really enjoys going for walks. I would definitely not go by the low head/ hanging lip/ bored apearance signs.

[FatSpottedAppy]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

The horse in question was a beautiful paint gelding. The way they advertised them was pretty much every thing I wanted.. Ha! Psh. He had no brakes, didn't neck rein(said he did), started freakin' out at the lope, moaned at the lope, and he had slow irregular lope. She and I tried to take him over a small bridge but he would not get on it.. She said, "Well he usually goes on it." Yeah. Right. I heard that a ton of times before.

(Refer back to; Melee-- I dont know why he bucked, he has never done that before. Soco-- I don't know why he's lame. He's never been lame before. Must not want to leave the farm. (Everyone laughs.) NSH whom I forgot the name of-- He has never bucked before, he's beginner safe. JJ-- He's never bucked before. (JJ starts bucking) Wow I dont know whats up with that. (Wont leave the drive way) Owner is silent... There's a couple more.)

Thanks though everyone. Not going back to that place.

Makes me wonder if the people you first came to look at April thought she was drugged.. LOL. She is always droopy and never cared about her surroundings.. on top of that she is the slowest horse ever.