Comments on: What do you think of branding horses?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:44:59 +0000

I agree with branding horse. My two horses are Mustangs, so they both have freeze brands on their neck. If someone stole them it would be very easy to identify them. It detracts people from taking the horse since it is much easier to identify a branded horse than a non-branded one. If someone tried to cross the border (and some state borders) then they would have to have their brand checked by a BLM compliance officer. It’s a nice feeling of safety.

Freeze branding hurts, but not as bad as you might think. It’s over in a second and the pain goes away very quickly. I myself have had warts frozen off with the same chemicals and it quit hurting within a few hours (I had the entire sole of my foot done, so I’m not talking one or two tiny warts either).

I don’t know about the micro chipping causing skin cancer though… I would want to see the research on that. Us Mathematicians have a saying "correlation does not prove causation" meaning that just because a horse who was chipped got skin cancer does not mean that it was caused by the microchip. It is very hard to determine what causes cancer because there are so many different ways to get it.
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By: Taylor

Taylor — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:35:59 +0000

I don’t have a problem with it. A lot of breeds get branded with the breed logo once they been added into the stud books-so it’s a good way to know which horses are of good breeding. As far as branding for just numbers, it seems a bit silly (though branding to show good breeding can be seen as silly too). I can see the practical purposes-like for the mustangs and for managing large herds of horses. I don’t like freeze burning because it leaves really nasty white marks where the brand is. Burn branding leaves a raised portion of skin-but still allows the coat to grow through in the same color. It is more painful-but when the poker is that hot, it’s sensory overload and it sensory neurons for pain only account for so much of it before the pain gets blocked out. It’s only horrendously painful for the horse when the poker isn’t as hot as it should be.
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By: M.T.

M.T. — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:13:59 +0000

I think it is fine it would look cool if you are just riding and not showing. Or for people like me who just ride out in the country ( and live out in the country too). It is a good way to identify your horse. And looks country which alot of country people would like and it reminds me of history a lot of old timers and farmers branded their horses. And it is not an on going pain. You have to give horses shots that can hurt, do you don`t give them a shot just because it hurts them? No you try to give it to them because you know it will help them, branding helps you to indentify your horse if ever stolen or gets loose. But branding is not your only option you can of course do the others but branding would probably be cheapest.Do what ever suits you the best.We all have our own oppinions so do what you think is best.
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By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:50:59 +0000

Breathing air and using plastic water bottles causes cancer these days -.-

I would never in a million years hot-brand OR freeze-brand mine. I’d microchip them.

I wouldn’t hot-brand for obvious reasons. I wouldn’t freeze-brand because…come on, brands are not attractive. I’m not going to mark my horse up when I could get him chipped instead.
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By: QueenMargsDiva

QueenMargsDiva — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:16:59 +0000

I don’t like the idea of burn branding.
I like freeze branding and I would definitely recommend it!
All the horses at my barn are freeze branded and so is my besties horse.
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By: Emma=)

Emma=) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:32:59 +0000

I’ve never had any of my horses branded, tattooed, or micro-chipped, but I’ve thought about it. I’ve read a few articles about branding and it sounds like an interesting process lol! If I were to brand my horses, I think I’d use freeze branding. Here are some sites I’ve found that have some good information about freeze branding, hot iron branding, chipping, and tattooing horses:
http://www.manyponies.com/articles/freezebranding.htm (freeze branding)
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=8a97bc86-0ab6-4a72-97d9-156eab30881b (hot iron branding; some more information about freeze branding)
http://www.equine-world.co.uk/horses_care/horse_identification.htm (there’s some information about micro-chipping horses and also some other identification techniques)
http://www.trpb.com/tatobrnd.htm (this ones about tattooing horses)

There are other options (that one site that I listed includes some more). For example, I just take pictures of my horses from both sides, rear, and head on (and of any markings and of their front and back hooves). I know, it might not be the best way for identifcation but it’s something and it’s better than nothing. At least I have something to show the police or other people if one of my horses gets loose or is stolen

Hope this helps!
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By: iloveminiaturehorses

iloveminiaturehorses — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:07:59 +0000

Freeze branding not burn branding. Burn branding just seems cruel to me and I’m guessing you’ve never seen jackass number 2?(it’s a movie) they branded one of their friends and if it’s half as painful for horses as it was for him then I wouldn’t put my horses through that
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By: Badger

Badger — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:46:59 +0000

I believe they put the horse under when inserting a microchip in their neck.

I would suggest freeze branding, all it is is carbon dioxide and the horse doesn’t feel a thing and the hair turns white.
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By: YoungShyCareerGirl

YoungShyCareerGirl — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:16:59 +0000

Burn branding, I don’t like. Freeze branding I don’t have a problem with.
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By: partly cloudy

partly cloudy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:41:59 +0000

i could never have a foal that i raised branded.
i know that it can indicate being accepted into one of the european stud books and is highly regarded.
i just couldnt fo it.
i have videod inspections and always try to high tail it out of there before they strat the branding. it just seems kind of crual to me that after these horses have been shipped and shown all day and have been completely strteessed out that the coup de grax at the end of the day is a painful iron being pressed into their flesh. not much of a reward to them for a job well done.
i would need to learn more about freeze branding. the ones i have seen were hot brand. they say that freeze brands are not as clear, and that they can fade.
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