The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced today it has banned two draft horses and their owners owners from pulling contests at state fairs, following random tests for anabolic steroids. Last month the DOA found positive samples in the two horses at the North Stonington Agricultural Fair.
One was entered and owned by the Perkins Family and the other was entered and owned by Eric French and Son, both of North Stonington. State law requires that both the horses and the owners be banned from any state contests for a year.
“The purpose of the program is to assure that animals entered into the contests are not mistreated with the use of performance-enhancing and other types of drugs; that participants in the event do not have an advantage due to the effects of an administered drug; and that spectators can be assured that they are watching an honest contest,” according to the DOA.
“These draft pulling events, a long-standing tradition at our Connecticut Fairs, are enjoyed by many of the fairgoers – and, by working with the Connecticut Fair Association, these random tests not only preserve the fairness of the events but more importantly help ensure the well being of the animals,” Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli said in a Friday news release.