Ohio Administrative Code
Title 3769 - State Racing Commission
Chapter 3769-18 - Drugs; Death of Horse
Section 3769-18-04 - Nerved horses

(A) All horses that have been nerved shall be so designated onto their electronic eligibility and all claim authorization forms for such horses. It is the responsibility of the owner of the horse at the time the horse is nerved to see that this information is placed on the registration certificate and the electronic eligibility. All horses that have been nerved prior to the adoption of this rule must also be certified and it will be the responsibility of the owner or the trainer of such horse to see that such information is carried on the registration certificate. No trainer or owner will be permitted to enter or start a horse that is high-nerved. It shall be the responsibility of the owner and/or trainer of a horse that has been low-nerved to post on the bulletin board in the racing office at each track where the horse competes the fact that the horse has been low-nerved, and it is the responsibility of each track to provide a space in the racing office where the fact of nerving can be posted in accordance with this rule. Where these requirements have been met, low-nerved horses will be permitted to start.

(B) Only the palmar (posterior) digital neurectomy (low nerving) by surgical or other physical (example: freezing) or chemical (example: injecting alcohol or snake venom) means will be permitted in horses to be raced. Only the posterior digital nerve and middle branches to the palmar (posterior/back) part of the foot may be desensitized. This procedure must be done below the fetlock. The dorsal (anterior/front) branches must be preserved so the horse has feeling at the coronary band at the front of the foot on both sides of the midline. Lack of feeling at the coronary band on the front of the foot is prima facie evidence that a horse has been nerved in contravention of this rule. Incisions over nerves at or above the fetlock may be evidence that the horse has been high-nerved, even if partial or complete feeling is present at the front of the coronary band of the foot. In horses racing or to be raced, no "high nerving" (at or above the fetlock, including volar, palmar or plantar nerves) is permitted by any means: surgical, physical, including but not limited to injection of alcohol or snake venom. Any offending party may be ruled off or otherwise penalized under the provisions of rule 3769-18-99 of the Administrative Code.