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  Discussion on Factors influencing performance
Author Message
Member:
Beydao

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 6:20 am:

I am working on a project about the physical factors that influence performance. I wondered if anyone out there had a horse, who having been injured or broken down with tendonitis has successfully brought it back into work, of the same or different kind. I would love to know how you did it and what YOU think contributed to the injury, illness in the first place. I have an ex-race horse who has been fired twice . He has beautifully flamboyant movement which I believe contributed to his injury. Having spent 20 months slowly recovering , he is doing novice eventing and a fair dressage. Any info would be very gratefully received.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 8:21 am:

I have been and am currently involved in the management of many horses with tendinitis Alison and careful monitoring of the tendons for worsening of the lesions is paramount. What form this takes depends on the severity of the lesions, your experience, and your resources. I have some clients that have the tendon ultrasounded regularly (we use a certified ultrasonographer with a lot of experience with equines) while others self-monitor for an increase in heat and swelling.
DrO
Member:
Beydao

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 11:17 am:

Thankyou for your reply so quickly. Just out of interest could you explain to me what firing actually consists of and why people think it works. My horses has been fired twice while racing. He was sent to Ireland to have it done as i think it was illegal here at the time. Have you any evidence that it works. I bought him for 5 pounds in the end and only thought he would be a pet but he has turned out to be a real success just through rest and religiously palpitating the legs every morning and exercising accordingly. Vets here seem to be against firing but many older jockeys believe it works. From the little I have heard it seems barbaric and cruel. However people are very reticent to talk about it. Alison
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 8:22 am:

There are as many ways to fire a horse Alison as there are people doing it. Most folks are referring to what is called pin-firing which was still practiced on the Florida tracks that I interned there as a senior student. It was most often used for bucked shins but also occasionally flexor tendinitis.

Horses were heavily sedated and the area to be fired prepped and blocked with local anesthetic. A hot iron with a pointed tip is used to burn holes into the skin and the pattern and depth are considered very important as to the efficacy of the procedure. In one case I saw the leg then had a blister applied and the horse was then maintained in cross ties to keep him from chewing on his legs. The blister was continued until the hair started to fall off the legs and at this time treatment discontinued and the area allowed to heal.

The folks doing the firing believe that horses fired have a greater rate of returning to work than horses with similar injuries that are not fired. I have never seen anything close to a published scientific survey of cases to suggest this. Some say the terrible appearance of the legs following the procedure and the remarkable yet transient lameness that results from such a procedure insures the horse has adequate rest to recover from their injuries, something that is hard to get from trainers sometimes. But I knew of one very prominent, very intelligent, very experienced veterinarian who after carefully following dozens (hundreds?) of cases over several years where he quit firing horses believed firing returned twice as many horses with bucked shins to work than horses simply rested a similar time. But that was almost 30 years ago I don't know if he still feels that way today. As practiced in the way I have seen, it is a barbaric practice.
DrO
Member:
Beydao

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 6:00 am:

Considering the fact that my horse was fired what do you think about the wearing of boots and bandages. Over the past 8 years I have always protected his legs even while hacking. Nowadays I tend to leave his bandages and boots off, in order to keep his legs cool and prevent build up of lactic acid. Am I right or just scientifically confused. I would like to know as I have another younger horse as well. I always protect their legs when jumping etc. but wonder whether I should break the bank in order to buy boots that let air pass through them or leave them off altogether with perhaps less support. I should add that my older horses firing lines do not lose their hair when boots are worn..(they used to years ago) I also wonder whether the wearing of boots is a very English thing as when I rode in the states I noticed very little use of them. Alison
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 7:22 am:

Lactic acid build up is not a consideration in the lower legs Alison: there is no muscle tissue down here to build up lactic acid. Boots provide minimal support for athletic endeavor and there use should be looked upon as protection from bruising and lacerations.
DrO
Member:
Beydao

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 8:01 am:

Please excuse my ignorance and thakyou for your reply. I shall carry on only using boots when there is an increased risk of injury. Alison
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 9:24 am:

Excused and you are welcome.
DrO
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