Steady On The Pimms, Chaps
Life could be about to get just that little bit easier for horse insurance providers with the news that on the spot alcohol testing is on the way to the equine world.
Apparently the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the ruling body for polo in the United Kingdom, will soon begin a regime of pitch side testing for alcohol. They will also test for recreational drugs.
The HPA announced that the main driver was safety. Anything that could hinder a player's judgment is bad for other players and horses alike, a view that can't really be disputed. Random drug testing is already carried out in many equine sports but these new tests will use saliva and give virtually immediate results.
The HPA has also given the rules and regulations an overhaul to match the new capabilities of the testing regime. Drugs will still be treated more seriously than alcohol but players who fail the alcohol test will be stood down on the spot and could receive further discipline.
Anything that enhances the safety of horses and riders will be welcomed by equine insurance customers and providers alike.
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September 01st 2010