Horse that has beed fired...

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taraj

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I think I already know the answer to this but its nice to get other opinions! Would anyone consider taking on a horse that previously has had a suspensory injury and has been fired? Had 18 months chucked out and recently come back into work?.
 
No. Both bar and pin firing are illegal practices in the UK and no vet should be carrying them out. If done "on the quiet" you have no idea if they have been done correctly or have caused extra damage themselves.
 
You can still use firing in the UK. The Royal College recommended it be banned as a practice in the 1990s. But since then have re-allowed it - but only when all other means of treatment have failed. There is also some suggestion that its use might be questionable under the Animal Welfare Act given the mixed evidence as to efficacy.

And no OP I wouldn't buy a horse that has been fired. Assuming it was done by a vet in the UK then it can only have been when all other methods of treatment failed. If it was not done by a vet you don't know what other damage was done. And either way there is very limited evidence that it is effective so you would be buying a time bomb waiting to breakdown I'm afraid.
 
I have had several ex racers (not in UK) aged 10 years plus that had been pin fired, we did lots of hacking (daily, up to 6 hours at a time, lots of hills but mostly walk and trot the odd canter or gallop) and they never gave me a days trouble in the 4 years or so I had them. I didn't pay for any of these horses mind. I wouldn't pay much for a horse like this or expect one to compete, for reasons as stated above, but if I was looking for a hack and horse was otherwise perfect and v cheap I would consider.
 
No. Three problems. One is the original injury. Two is that it has been fired either because all else had failed or because someone who has no idea that the burning can cause problems all of its own just thought it was a good idea. Three is that if you ever need to sell the horse it would be extremely difficult to sell.
 
Most of these reply's agree with what I am thinking sadly. It is an ex-racer, who is super in every way (apart from her fore legs bless her). I was thinking maybe she would show as in ROR classes, the scarring is minimal, but I would have to make sure the ground was 100%. I already have a youngster that is broken with an uncertain future so I really don't need another field ornament!.
 
Shay said:
You can still use firing in the UK. The Royal College recommended it be banned as a practice in the 1990s. But since then have re-allowed it - but only when all other means of treatment have failed. There is also some suggestion that its use might be questionable under the Animal Welfare Act given the mixed evidence as to efficacy.

And no OP I wouldn't buy a horse that has been fired. Assuming it was done by a vet in the UK then it can only have been when all other methods of treatment failed. If it was not done by a vet you don't know what other damage was done. And either way there is very limited evidence that it is effective so you would be buying a time bomb waiting to breakdown I'm afraid.
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There are still some trainers and vets who routinely fire horses with tendon problems without trying the other methods first, I have one here who was with a very well known trainer, he went wrong in the July, was box rested, fired and came here in Sept to recover/ rehab, he had no other treatment and there are many others in the same yard that will be fired before being turned away for a break.
 
be positive said:
There are still some trainers and vets who routinely fire horses with tendon problems without trying the other methods first, I have one here who was with a very well known trainer, he went wrong in the July, was box rested, fired and came here in Sept to recover/ rehab, he had no other treatment and there are many others in the same yard that will be fired before being turned away for a break.
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Was the firing done in the UK Popsdosh?

I remember a few years ago the the BEVA said that it was unethical to fire horses because there was evidence of potential harm and no evidence of benefit. In the same statement they said that they would not outright ban its use, but that if a vet was prosecuted they could not count on any support and that they might testify against them. That's my best recollection, anyway.

I will try and find it.
 
My memory is that they started it again because it was felt that welfare was being compromised by very damaged horses taking trips to Ireland .
 
ycbm said:
Was the firing done in the UK Popsdosh?

I remember a few years ago the the BEVA said that it was unethical to fire horses because there was evidence of potential harm and no evidence of benefit. In the same statement they said that they would not outright ban its use, but that if a vet was prosecuted they could not count on any support and that they might testify against them. That's my best recollection, anyway.

I will try and find it.
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Yes in Somerset, there is a vet based in Wales who offers a mobile service, he is semi retired so probably feels he is at no risk of being banned, the RCVS has not banned it just suggests there are better methods of treating horses, the usual sitting on the fence rather than upsetting a few old timers and high profile trainers who would just send them abroad for the treatment if they couldn't do it here.
 
Goldenstar said:
My memory is that they started it again because it was felt that welfare was being compromised by very damaged horses taking trips to Ireland .
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What a terrible reason! How about making it illegal to transport a horse not fit to travel instead? oh, that's already illegal, isn't it?
 
ycbm said:
What a terrible reason! How about making it illegal to transport a horse not fit to travel instead? oh, that's already illegal, isn't it?
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But badly injured horses travel all the time for life saving treatments so where would you draw the line .
I have traveled a very badly injured horse this year once to our vets horsepital then onwards to a specialist centre it certainly caused suffering but it saved his life .
A broken down horse in a Robert Jones type bandage can travel and they do all the time .
From memory it was thought there was no point in maintaining the ban as it was not stopping the practise .
 
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