The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) notified trainers and veterinarians on July 8 of new rules that go into effect on July 24 restricting the use of shock wave therapy (SWT) for the treatment of orthopedic injuries in horses at California racetracks.

Effective with the start of the Del Mar race meet, horses receiving SWT treatment cannot be entered to race for seven days following a treatment.

Furthermore, all SWT machines must be registered with the CHRB official veterinarian and can only be operated by veterinarians. All SWT treatments must be confidentially reported to the CHRB official veterinarian.

SWT involves the use of a machine to transmit energy waves through the skin to underlying soft tissue and bones. While this treatment can be very beneficial in the treatment of certain orthopedic conditions, it also appears that the treatment can produce an analgesic effect (pain relief), which makes it a safety issue for horses and riders. In a memo to CHRB veterinarians and stewards, Executive Director Roy Wood indicated that “the analgesia produced by SWT is a matter of concern