Shin Scrape

Bid · Postby **Bid** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:48 am

I was just wondering if anyone else has had the procedure done on their horses. I had it done a few years ago on a horse who was developing shins and he didn't have any issues after that. I just opted to have the procedure done on our filly who was just starting to have sensitive shins. The recovery time is much less than pin firing. We went the pin firing route with our first horse 10 years ago on a trainer's advice and she got sore again anyway. I'm not sure the pin firing was too kind to the horse and I won't go that way again. Appreciate any input.

billl · Postby **billl** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:10 am

This practice is getting very common. So far, I tried one and worked wonders for my case.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:27 am

Shin scraping is a new one for me. Exactly what occurs? How much time is given from the procedure to the next breeze?

I've fired and blistered mine but now just give them recovery time. If they are real sore I turn out for 60 to 90 days. Less if it's not too severe. I had one last month develop a tender spot on his right shin the size of a BB. We jogged for 30 days painted with Dr. Harthill's leg paint, galloped for a week then breezed him 3/8s in 37 and change. Came out of the breeze fine. Usually soreness will occur as soon as they are pressured again. Hopefully he'll be ok from this point forward..

Bid · Postby **Bid** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:45 am

Our first one got a couple of days off, 7days walking the shed, 7days jogging, then back to gallop. This current filly was jogging in a week. I watched the procedure on the first one. They dope the horse of course. Then they insert a needle at various spots along the shins and scratch up and down, for lack of a better description. The sound of the scraping was really weird. The shins were a little bloody. They hosed him off and he went back in the stall and ate lunch. He was solid as a rock after that.
The trainer said the filly acted like nothing happened. A week later she was touching the shins without the filly flinching. First one cost $300. I haven't gotten this bill yet.

Bid · Postby **Bid** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:58 am

Bill,
Not sure how much info you had on the procedure. I was just wondering if it might be something to do as a preventive measure right after a horse gets broke. I don't know if that's too young, but you'd really avoid any down time. All the shin problems we've had on all ours occurred about 4 weeks before their projected first start. Just a thought.

billl · Postby **billl** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:33 pm

It's tough for me to answer that question since I am not a vet. However, I do not think anything for sure can prevent bucked shins. This is just a response of the body remodeling the periosteum, so I don't think scraping will work as preventative measure. This is just a matter of time, maturity of the bone, and stress. If you can wisely guess the perfect combination for your horse, then you will likely prevent it, otherwise you will have to deal with it at some time.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:36 pm

Billl, preventing bucked shins is part science and part art. You need to stress the bone to the point it will remodel but not to the point of periosteum trauma or bone microfracture. Speedwork is the stress trigger required to strengthen the cannon bone. The amount of speed; the duration; the time between speedwork is the dance the trainer must execute to avoid shin buck. With that said bucked shins are sometimes unavoidable.

billl · Postby **billl** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:54 am

I agree 100%, Zinn.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:15 am

Bid wrote:Bill,
Not sure how much info you had on the procedure. I was just wondering if it might be something to do as a preventive measure right after a horse gets broke. I don't know if that's too young, but you'd really avoid any down time. All the shin problems we've had on all ours occurred about 4 weeks before their projected first start. Just a thought.

I'm no vet, but the answer here is NO. Scraping is only effective when the shins are already inflamed.

Bid · Postby **Bid** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:07 pm

Thanks Madelyn. :wink:

Any clue as to why they have to be fired up though?
Hey Zinn- I just got the bill from Waller Equine $102. I asked them to double check to be sure they weren't cheating themselves. Hardly seems like they could have made any money.

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:48 pm

Shockwave is supposed to be the end all for bucked shins.