Pin firing is a treatment used for decades until the 1980s when vet schools deemed it abusive and it rapidly lost favor. Yet some vets today still pin fire cannon bones, hocks and other limb areas. These older vets believe the results are worth the temporary pain that is no more harmful than the treated lesion (bucked shins, hock pain).

In essence, pin firing is applying heat through inflammation. Humans apply heat to sore muscles and joints with good results. Unfortunately, there are few good studies comparing pin firing with other thermal-inducing therapies, nor studies to prove the effectiveness of heat in any form. The controversy widens between ice and heat therapies.

Yet again, there are no studies to prove that chronic protein deficiency may play a role in the breakdown of these tissues that, if prevented, would eliminate the need for heat therapy. Also, there are data correlating poor training (overwork) with these injuries. Training horses more effectively would preclude the use of pin firing too.

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