Help please - buying a pony that was pin fired

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travelmad

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Tried amazing pony that I love but she has been pin fired. Is this likely to make her more liable to lameness? 14 year old ex polo pony. Don't have background info, bought by a dealer last week and now for sale. She's not been ridden in 3 months, rode yesterday, today her fetlocks were slightly swollen, but she is sound- no idea if this would be because of pin firing or just due to being ridden after a while out of work. Anyone got any insights please?

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I remember riding many horses in the 70's that had been pin-fired (usually ex racehorses). However, I can't seem to find out when this was banned, but I thought it was more than the age of your ex polo pony! Time plays tricks on memory, so certain someone will come up with some hard facts on dates etc. As suggested...speak to your vet!
 
I don't think it was officially banned - they just stopped teaching it in vet training so there are not many who still do it. Will certainly have my vet look, just wanted to hear opinions/ experience on soundness. Thanks :)
 
I thought it was now banned here but not in Ireland? May be wrong though. I would definately get a vet to check her though. Also makes you wonder why she is an ex polo pony? The lack of background history would worry me, perhaps soundness issues hence why she has been moved on? Then again might be totally fine!!
 
Hi, she has obv had an injury whilst she was a polo pony, is it her left fore ? Pin firing is legal, this is used normally for a tendon injury and is quite common in polo. I have had and known many polO ponies with this, it would prob be fine as a hack/ light work, what are u wanting to do with it? It's has no doubt gone lame again in polo so has been put for sale-all depends what u want it for. Hope this helps :) :) ps I love x polo ponies they are such good ponies to have good luck xx
 
I have an ex polo pony. If you were to purchase have a vetting done however you might need to check the small print with your insurance company as if you had any issues with the legs they could go down the 'pre existing injury' route.
 
thanks all, had it vetted. not good!!! poor little thing, i would love to give her a home as she had obviously been beaten and gets so scared but cant draw big vet bills on myself!
 
A vetting will nearly always be very negative about fired tendons.

The fact is that MANY polo ponies have had this done (a while ago, as it's rarely carried out now - tendon treatment has moved on) and the vast majority come sound. I agree with other poster that some don't stand up to polo again, but many do, and ALL the ones I know are sound for hacking. (I bought my mare at 15, played for for three years, bred a foal, and am still hacking her and doing long distance riders aged 22. She has a fired tendon and a HUGE amount of scar tissue on the same fetlock).

Your insurer will certainly exclude that leg, and possibly all front leg tendons, but why would you insure a pony that's worth peanuts for vets fee anyway!

I'd say get her for nothing/ £500, hack her about, and if she goes seriously lame, PTS and don't go down the route of very expensive vet bills. They're tough as old boots and I bet she'd suprise you with how long she went on.
 
i had a wonderful tb that was pin and bar fired on his fronts ,i did all sorts with him -low level xc ,dressage to medium, 10 years of hacking ,never had any probs not 1 day of lameness ,if you like the horse go for it. :)
 
I have had 2 horses who were fired one bar one pin both hunters who hunted for years after firing. Like someone else said treatment has moved on ( well got more technical & expensive now insurers are involved). I was told by a vet recently that due to litigation she fails 90% of horses to cover her backside & leave it up to client to decide.
 
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