Some questions about firing horses legs, not the normal debate..

lialls

lialls

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 February 2008
Messages
1,443
Location
The Hills
Visit site
Google isn't being my friend at the mo so thought i'd ask here.

Dont want to start a debate on firing, i know what it is and how its done and all the ins and outs of it. I would like to know who banned it? and for what reason? and why the ban then got lifted?


Thanks
 
I didn't realise it had been banned per se, just that it was now not commonly used in equine practice. I have seen it done within the last 2 years certainly, and I know of several vets who still do it.

It has fallen out of favour because numerous research showed that it conveyed absolutely no benefit; can't remember where I read it recently (think it might have been Sue Dyson's lameness book) but the basic conclusion wasn't detrimental to the tendon, but nor was it of benefit, therefore because it is a painful procedure it could not be justified.
 
It was banned in the UK in the 90s but the ban was lifted about 10 years ago. Not sure why or who banned it which was what interested me. Its always been legal over in Ireland so a lot of people just went over there to get it done even when it was banned over here. Maybe they lifted the ban as it wasn't effective.

Anyone know anything else? Specifically - Who banned it? and why was the ban lifted?
 
hi, again i didn't think it was banned, i know vets and horses that have had this done in the last year or so, as the vets say they dont like doing it but sometimes it is the only thing that seems to get a result....
 
Pin firing still goes on, or blistering as an alternative. Some vets are more open to doing it than others, racing yards etc know who to call if that is what they want. I think it is bloody wicked tbh. I have seen some horses a couple of weeks after having it done and I just couldn't believe the terribly sore look of their legs. Why would we do this to such a trusting animal, that can feel pain?!!! The horses that undergo it are then on box or field rest for at least 6 months. Some come right, some don't. I strongly belive that those that do come right do so because they have been given a much needed break before a steady increase in work - nothing to do with the 'treatment' at all.
 
I agree that its barbaric but this wasn't what i wanted to know about. It was banned in the 90s in the UK, I would like to know for what reason this was? The ban was then lifted about 10 years ago. I would like to know why it was lifted?
 
I looked into this ages ago, and can't remember the exact details, but my vague recollection is that vets (BEVA?) decided that it was both useless and barbaric and so banned it, and then people who had been using firing for many years (the racing industry?) created such a fuss that it was 'un-banned'. I think (hope) that most vets would refuse a request to fire an animal. Sorry this is so vague, I have a memory like a sieve, which is very annoying.
 
I don't think it was legally banned, not as in Act of Parliament, but the vets said it wasn't good practice and so it wasn't recommended as a treatment. Presumably there were some "die hards" who wanted to continue to use it.
 
Off topic i know but do all vets HAVE to be part of BEVA? Im guessing not as it says about joining them but just wanted to check?

ORANGEHORSE, That was what i was trying to establish :) Thank you.

So its believed that it was BEVA who banned it, and im assuming that that ban only coverd the vets who were with them at the time the ban came in the place, so vets who wern't part of BEVA could of still practice firing if they wanted to?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top