Pedigree Query

Hi, i'm new to this board and have a question...

Can someone tell me what pin firing is and why it's done? Thanks!!

This ones been sitting here a few days. Doesn't anyone know the answer?
Pin Fire is usally used on bucked shins. It's also used on popped splints. I have also seen it done a few times to curbed hocks. Let me start by saying that some folks believe it to be barbaric, but we won't go there lets just say that it can be very effective. The reasoning behind the pin fire is to create great amounts of blood circulation to the lower limb. It also prevents the person in control of the horse from starting back into training sooner than they should. From start to finish it is about a 6 week process. that includes what is called a fireing paint that is applied daily with re- bandaging. After that fase, you move into applying corn starch for soothing of the skin and to absorbe the discharge.

I had a horse come in with scars from pin firing. When I researched it, basically there are two times they do it.

(a) an injury (like bow) is healing and they pin fire it to 'help' the healing
(b) as a preventative measure to toughen up the leg hoping to prevent injury.

The belief was that by pin firing (injuring) the area of the leg, the body will throw more blood and repair stuff at that area to either help healing or toughen it. The study that I was reading said that there is NO evidence that pin firing has any positive impact and called it an outdated practice.

I just did a quick search and couldn't find the original study. I know it was from a university, but can't remember which one. If you really want more info, then I'll do some more searching to find where I read all that, but it was back in 2001 when I read it.

In short, if you have a vet offering to pin fire a horse, maybe get a new vet. BTW.. I think it is done by actually burning them with a device that has a bunch of heated/blunted pins (if you have a horse that is pin fired, you can imagine the size of the pins).. but my memory could be faulty on that part.

Everyone has there own opinion and I respect yours. With that said, I have 30 years in racing and have seen pin fireing 100's of times.Don't hesitate to do it. As for the bowed tendon, although it is the same treatment it's called cross fireing, and I would agree that it's barbaric. As for the scaring, that depends on who's doing it (tecnic) and the temperature of the iron when applied, as well as the follow up care. I have seen horses that you would never know they had it done. But if you don't want marks later on be sure not to freeze fire. Oh while I'm thinking about it, chestnuts seem to show the marks more than other colors grays you get away with it because of the color. If you dont want to pin fire the shins what you might want to do is first, make sure the leg is cool (takes a few weeks ) depending on how bad the shins are. Hose and poultice to speed it along every day. Then more stall rest with hand walking daily a few more weeks. Then you might consider getting on him and (jog only) for a few weeks (every other day) While continuing the cold water hose and poultice. Jog only 10 minutes a day and build him to more time. As you go along determin if he's ready to begin to jog every day. At this point you might also want to begin painting him with a counter irratent. I suggest Dr Harthills paint #3. Follow the directions. Keep your fingers crossed that he doesnt re-buck. Now, does't pin fireing seem like the better way to go?

Studies have proven that any kind of firing or blistering does not improve healing time, it is the same as if you did nothing and just let the horse rest in the stall or pasture. In fact in some horses it can hinder healing by causing secondary problems. Mostly you are paying money and scarring your horse up for nothing.

I totally agree with summerhorse.
A few times (when a horse shipped in which was supposed to be blistered) we just clipped out the legs and did not blister it. When the trainers get the horses back they are always 'so happy' how well the blistering worked. Hm, don't know what else to say...

Remind me never to send my horse to your place. If you cant follow directions then you shouldnt have the buisness Let me ask you.... how many horses have you been around that bucked shins and was or wasnt pinfired? And if your dealing with a back farm Vet he might not like the idea of pin foring because he doesnt own the iron to do it with.

thorohorse: how did I know you would say that?

Ok, back to the subject. Right this very moment in time, I am dealing with a set of bucked shins. This is a 4 year old and the problem began in October. I didn't pin fire nor did I blister him. As of today I am paying for not having done it. If you are racing or puting your horse under any type of stress (training) and find yourself with bucked shins! Make no mistake about it, throw away everything any text book might say about not needing to pin fire and go on with it. This is 30 years experience with horses talking and I've seen more bucked shins than most people have mucked stalls. I did read an artical of interest not so long ago that was written a few years back concerning a study and a training method. If I find the link I'll post it in here.

What are you doing with the 4 year old now? Did you end up blistering him?

Do you know what!!! In our country pin firing is general accepted as un-ethical barberic and not wanted at all.
There is not a single vet, who is willing the job for you, because he stucks his head into a crossed rope, that lots of people like to pull on
Buy sound stock, look at the training track conditions, and give them time or quit racing if you needs to have early winners, because of the stress they need to go through before reaching the goal.

I dug deeply into this question a few years ago when my best horse suffered a tendon injury and the trainer suggested pin or bar firing. All the university vets sais it was a waste of time. The vets association said it was ethically a no no but it was upto the individual practioner although the practise was frowned upon. Every trainer I spoke to was of one mind - " they may not come back after pin firing but as sure as heck they wont come back without it" Somewhat confused I spoke to what are generally thought to be the 3 best UK equine vets. They all were happy to do the operation 2 saying they believed in it as a result of their experience, the 3rd saying he was not sure whether it was the pinfiring or the rest which was the essential feature but he felt it did no harm and was not painful the way the procedure was carried out.

Eventually my horse was done. He suffered in no way at all and came back and won his first race after a 15 month lay off.

I know my post just adds to the confusion but I think it is a fair reflection of what the UK equine industry thinks.
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glass bong

I dug deeply into this question a few years ago when my best horse suffered a tendon injury and the trainer suggested pin or bar firing. All the university vets sais it was a waste of time. The vets association said it was ethically a no no but it was upto the individual practioner although the practise was frowned upon. Every trainer I spoke to was of one mind - " they may not come back after pin firing but as sure as heck they wont come back without it" Somewhat confused I spoke to what are generally thought to be the 3 best UK equine vets. They all were happy to do the operation 2 saying they believed in it as a result of their experience, the 3rd saying he was not sure whether it was the pinfiring or the rest which was the essential feature but he felt it did no harm and was not painful the way the procedure was carried out.

Eventually my horse was done. He suffered in no way at all and came back and won his first race after a 15 month lay off.

I know my post just adds to the confusion but I think it is a fair reflection of what the UK equine industry thinks.
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weed vaporizer

I dug deeply into this question a few years ago when my best horse suffered a tendon injury and the trainer suggested pin or bar firing. All the university vets sais it was a waste of time. The vets association said it was ethically a no no but it was upto the individual practioner although the practise was frowned upon. Every trainer I spoke to was of one mind - " they may not come back after pin firing but as sure as heck they wont come back without it" Somewhat confused I spoke to what are generally thought to be the 3 best UK equine vets. They all were happy to do the operation 2 saying they believed in it as a result of their experience, the 3rd saying he was not sure whether it was the pinfiring or the rest which was the essential feature but he felt it did no harm and was not painful the way the procedure was carried out.

Eventually my horse was done. He suffered in no way at all and came back and won his first race after a 15 month lay off.

I know my post just adds to the confusion but I think it is a fair reflection of what the UK equine industry thinks.
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video review

The come back took 15 months as you wrote, It is about standard, en there are about 5 races to go before the final breakdown!!! I don,t think
our US friend is about to wait 15 months and all the cost, he.ll think in terms of 15 weeks.