Virginia Law

No horse that has been "high nerved" may be entered or raced. A horse that has been "low heel nerved" may be entered and raced. The following provisions shall apply to horses that have been "high nerved" or "low heel nerved":

1. A "high nerved horse" means a horse whose nerves have been desensitized by any means at or above the fetlock, including volar, palmar or plantar nerves;

2. Lack of feeling at the coronary band at the front of the foot is prima facie evidence that a horse has been nerved in contravention of this regulation;

3. Incisions over nerves at or above the fetlock are 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;

4. A "low heel nerved horse" means a horse whose posterior branch only of the palmar digital nerves have been desensitized by any means below the fetlock;

5. A horse that has been "low heel nerved" must have the procedure designated on its certificate of foal registration, eligibility certificate, or other registration document, and this designation must be certified by the practicing veterinarian who performed the procedure;

6. The primary responsibility rests with the owner to see that the certificate of foal registration, eligibility certificate or other registration document is properly designated and certified by the practicing veterinarian when a horse is low nerved;

7. Prior to being entered, a horse, that has been "low heel nerved" must be examined and approved by the commission veterinarian for racing;

8. The racing secretary shall maintain a list of horses that have been "low heel nerved" and shall cause this list to be prominently displayed in the racing office; and

9. The primary responsibility rests with the trainer to see that all horses that have been "low heel nerved" and are under his supervision are immediately added to the list of nerved horses maintained by the racing secretary.