Nerve cutting is a measure to remove or reduce the sensation of a certain part of the horse. There are two types of variants: physical or chemical. In the case of Propulsion, he should have undergone diode laser (physical) after suffering from "chronic lameness" according to the veterinary protocol.

In the US it is allowed to compete even though the horse has undergone nerve cutting - but it is not in Sweden. In the Swedish trotport's ban list, it appears that a nerve cut is a prohibited measure, and it contravenes the Swedish doping regulations.

Explains the concept

Chief veterinarian Flemming Winberg is a specialist in horse diseases and he has read the veterinary protocol

- In fact, cutting a nerve means cutting a nerve. A nerve cut can be likened to cutting off an electrical cord. There is simply no current and it will be the same for a horse here when the feeling disappears. A nerve goes down and up and you simply cut off the connection and the horse gets no feeling.

Veterinarians have studied Propulsion, and he has had a feeling in the forefoot. Flemming Winberg has a clear picture of how it can come together.

- The horse regains the feeling fairly quickly in the skin, but that does not mean that the horse has a feeling in deeper parts. Then I know that the veterinarian who has done this procedure is very skilled. We can be convinced that it was done to make it appear as little as possible afterwards.

Believe in more cases

What effects does this procedure have?

- It is not performance enhancing in itself, but it does mean that the horse can perform close to the top despite being in pain because it does not feel pain. It will be the wrong horse to win, simply.

Do you think there are more similar cases?

- With certainty, we can be convinced of that. I think this will be an awakening for the sport and I would like to see an audit of the horses imported to Sweden from the United States over the last ten years.