Pin firing?

[Janet & Tim Costidell]

Pin firing is a very old fashioned, and somewhat barbaric, method of
treating damaged tendons. They pass a red hot pin through the skin at small
intervals up and down the tendon. This was thought to promote healing, and
left interesting polka dot scars. Other methods were bar or line firing.
This only from my memory, so not completely reliable. Feel free to prove me
wrong anyone!

Laura Newberry wrote in message <94ojia$48r$1...@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>...
>Hello. A friend of mine has just bought a lovely new 'orse. Old boy, used
to
>event, now going to do the rest of his days being her daughters first horse
>for pony clubbing. Anyway, she said he'd been pin fired when he was racing
>in France as a three year old and had been eventing ever since without a
>problem, but what exactly was pin firing?
>So I said I'd ask you guys and tell her later!
>Thank you! :o)
>
>
>
>

[Laura Newberry]

[blackspruce]

Pin Firing is exactly as described by Janet - The resultant deep scar damage
was supposed to strenthen the tendons somehow - blistering (using a caustic
substance around the tendon area) was supposed to acheive the same results.
I have a set of old horse books pre-1900 - gives all the gory details and
wonderful remedies containing Spanish Fly and Epsom Salts.

I had an ex-racehorse in France about 20 yrs ago that had been pin-fired -
apart from the fancy spots (if they have dark legs) - it caused him no
problems - in fact he was never ever lame on that leg.

I think probably laser therapy has taken over from this now, although I have
seen bar firing marks on horses coming from Ireland and driving horses.

Cowgirl c):-)

[Francis Burton]

In article <94om84$qon$1...@news5.svr.pol.co.uk>,

Janet & Tim Costidell <ja...@costidell.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>Pin firing is a very old fashioned,

It is still done occasionally to TBs, even in this supposedly
enlightened age.

> and somewhat barbaric, method of

Extremely barbaric imho.

Francis

[Kate Morgan]

> Pin Firing is exactly as described by Janet - The resultant deep scar damage
> was supposed to strenthen the tendons somehow - blistering (using a caustic
> substance around the tendon area) was supposed to acheive the same results.
>

Pin firing and blistering were a common thing when I was a girl - many
moons ago ;-) - It was a messy business and I would not dream of doing it
now.
kate

[Fiona Dingle]

I have heard it put forward that the only benefit in firing a horse's leg
swas the enforced long lay-off that followed - a year off work in the field
might have an equally beneficial effect to damaged tendons?

Fiona