Pin Firing

[Cherrytop & Spicery Stud]

One of the new mares on the yard looks to have been Pin Fired.

What do you think

[hairys]

As everyday is a school day, please can you explain Pin Firing please Cherrytop?

[Milliesmum]

Article here: www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care-index/1370/107799.html?cid=1370&aid=107799

Definitely looks that way, although strikes me as odd that it's on the front of the leg - would have expected to see it more at the back and sides if done for a tendon problem?

[Cherrytop & Spicery Stud]

this is what I found
www.answerbag.co.uk/q_view/185648

[Cherrytop & Spicery Stud]

Sadly have very little history at the moment. She never raced thoe was in traning. Has bred some very nice foals.

[hairys]

I'm horrified surely thats just cruel? Would the hair not grow back white though?

[Cherrytop & Spicery Stud]

that what made me question it alittle the fact it's got no white hair.

She is 10yrs

[morwenstowstud]

There was an ex racer at a yard we were at over 20 years ago that was pin fired, and I'd say looking at these, IMO yes she has been pin fired. Either that or she has VERY unusual 'markings'. He was dark bay and had no white either.

[hunter]

looks like she has been fired not because of tendon trouble but she has at sometime had sore shins from racing on hard ground at too younger age !!!

[cholderton]

I agree with Hunter. I worked with a point to point trainer nearly 30 years ago, and he would religiously 'fire' his horses at around 6 years of age (if my memory serves me well!) as their legs were shot from the strenuous racing and jumping at an early age.
They NEVER had white hair once the scarring had faded.
Even then, all us girls thought it barbaric to say the least, and hated having to care for them in their recovery, as they were so obviously in pain!

[Cherrytop & Spicery Stud]

From what I can find out she never raced but was in training. She has bred a fue foals and they are just hitting the race courses.

PS she is Flat bred

[brindlerainbow]

I agree with milliesmum, I have only ever seen firing marks on tendons, not on the front of the legs. I have always believed that firing is to repair the tendon, the marks are left by the red hot firing pins being inserted into the tendons, it would be impossible to insert firing pins into bone!! it would also be strange that she has never raced but managed to injure herself enough by just being in training to need firing. I didnt think that many flat horses needed firing as in my opinion it was chasers and hurdlers that had the strain on their tendons from jumping.Hair never grows back white from firing scars either. I had to hold a lovely point to pointer while he was being bar fired and it was awful, he was heavily sedated so felt no pain at the time but he certainly did afterwards, he had 18 months off work before going back into training with a wonderful trainer and went on to break down again on his 2nd run.

[morwenstowstud]

Helen, pin firing was also done for splints and curbs hence the marks down the cannon bone. I found this article on the web which may or may or may not be of use, but if you search pin firing splints, a fair bit comes up.

www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=2783&kw=pin%20firing

The extract below is taken from the article.

Firing is done more often in racehorses than in other performance horses, and has been used for more than a century in conditions of recurring injuries such as a splint, curb, or chronic bowed tendon. The process is performed under sedation and local anesthesia, and the pain inflicted is fairly short-lived and usually well-tolerated by the patient.

[bailiwick]

She has possibly been freeze fired for sore shins, this is quite commen in 2yr olds and dont always grow white hairs

[stephjw1]

It was common practice years ago so was blistering very painful

[victoria (highhill)]

We have had several pointers who have had shins and tendons pin fired - no white hairs on any of them. Would definately say your mare has had her shins fired. You say she is flat bred but never ran, probably had sore shins as say a 2 year old and by the time she was fired and given the needed time off, it would have been too late torun her as a 3 year old. I know lots of flat horses run after they are 3 or 4 but a lot don't and if she didnt appear to have a huge amount of ability thats probably why she didnt run.

[Cherrytop & Spicery Stud]

Thanks.

She has been a Broodmare. I know she sold as a 4 year old for £42,000

[summer1]

Hi. I rode racehorses (flat) in California in the late 90's early 00's and they still pinfire on a regular basis. Sometimes for tendons, but over there, mostly bucked shins (when it looks like the front of the shin bone is swollen) and usually 2yr olds that have only been in training and not yet raced. Never a white hair to be seen. I'd say your mare has been fired for sure.

[quilmore]

yes thats defiantly firing, the yard I just left had two in that had been fired. one a 3yr old her legs where swollen but all the hairs had grown back (not white but black as a bay).
The other a chestnut gelding he only just came in when i left but he had been fired on the front and also behind the knee all his hair had come off and he was very sore but its meant to help the lower legs by strengthening them.

its very common in TB's even if they are never raced, after being prepared for backing to become a race horse, they may only go into training for a few weeks and then it decided they maybe need fireing. if the firings successfull they will be raced, if not then they will be broodmares if good bloodlines or good siblings or sold as a normal riding horse if they can be.

if you let me know her full name and bloodlines and where shes from I will see if I can find out some history for you as I know where I worked they have quite a few contacts with yards in newmarket.

jo