I think it is unfair to show a horse that is drugged. Like someone else said, I would be really ticked off if someone beat me on a horse that I knew was drugged. Around here, it is not socially acceptable to drug a horse at a show of any level. If people do it, it's done secretly. Trying to increase your chances of winning by using sedatives, it should be considered cheating. If you really think that taking your horse to a show while sedated will help get him accustomed to the experience, then I really think you should enter the class but not be judged (forget what that's called).

Herbal remedies seem to be acceptable, however. I used to ride a pony who was on a couple of supplements like that because he was a nut at shows. I think he was just a dink, and she probably should have just taught me how to ride better... but oh well. I didn't really notice a difference, but she insisted he was better on them. She also wanted me to take Rescue Remedy because she thought I was making him worse at shows, because I was nervous. She may have been right, but I never took it.

Snow White:     "How do you do?"

             Grumpy:   "How do you do what?"