Has the RMTC considered whether hyperbaric oxygen theraphy impacts performances of horses?
Dr. Waterman: We have discussed the use of hyperbaric oxygen a couple of times but to this point, have taken no action in terms of adding language to the model rules. There are a couple of reasons: 1. Any potential effect from the increased level of oxygen in the blood is exceedingly temporary. As soon as the animal comes out of the “tank,” the body is basically trying to revert back to normal. This happens quickly once the animal is breathing normal air, so you would almost have to take the horse straight to the gate from the machine. 2. There is no research on effect on performance in the horse but there is a fair amount in the human. Almost all of the research indicates no benefit in performance parameters from hyperbaric therapy. In fact, a couple of studies hint it may hinder performance. We are keeping our eyes on this issue, and we could change our stance if new info comes to light. From a pure perception standpoint, I am not sure I would recommend allowing a hyperbaric oxygen c
