Are your horses microchipped?

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_jetset_

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There have been some thefts in the area where I live making everyone quite twitchy, and I have started thinking about my own horses. All three of mine do not have any form of identification on them other than their passports and I have been considering having them all microchipped.

I was wondering how many people had their horses chipped, or whether freeze marking was preferable.
 
I have both. Freezemarking is a good deterrent, and you get the support in helping to find them. As I see it, Microchipping is then the back up so that you can PROVE they are your horse once they've been found. I don't think Microchipping alone is very useful, because you're relying on the horse actually being scanned, which may well not happen...
 
I agree with Bex1984. I personally think a visible deterrent is much more worthwhile. I have my girl Microchipped but then you have to have them done here and am currently contemplating freezemarking. All my old boys were freezemarked and I prefer to get them done on the shoulder as its more visible. Again, this is a personal thing and each to their own (of course, there is the added advantage that you can still ride when its done there).
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I got twitchy about this when the horses were rescued from Amersham. The idea of my girl in those circumstances, made me realise that even if whatever I did didn't prevent her from being stolen, it would help in her being returned to me more quickly, should she be found.

I looked into both very thoroughly. What I found was that, 99% of the Police and even officials at auctions and ports, don't carry the equipment to check for microchips
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Virtually no-one ever tests for them
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So I went with Freeze marking. I had my mare done on her shoulder a few weeks ago. It looks fine, but is also very obvious, which to me is the whole point!
 
Pk is freezemarked and woody is freezemarked and micro chipped, Frankie is microchipped cant risk freezemarking his xtra sensitive skin. Nico (the foal) was microchipped at a month old.
 
Hi Becky - all 4 of mine are freezemarked - some visual deterrent. However 3 of them are also microchipped - Willow & Chantin were done as foals and Ebony was done as she was going so grey you could hardly see her freezemark.
 
Mine's microchipped, do agree that freezemarking is far better both in terms of deterrence and in rate of success in reclaiming after theft though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Chipped up! Its a number for life unlike freezemarking!

[/ QUOTE ] I don't understand that
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How is freezemarking not a number for life? It doesn't wear off!
 
my older horses are freezemarked mainly 'cos you didn't micro chip horses way back then! Whisky has his Hanoverian brand but I am having them all micro chipped next time their jabs are due.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Chipped up! Its a number for life unlike freezemarking!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not much point if you or anyone else can't see it
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But as we are all going to be forced to microchip soon guess I'll have to fork out for both.
 
Both of mine are microchipped, I just couldn't face having them freeze marked. Although Mac is now freezemarked as he had to be in order for the loss of use claim to pay out.

The Microchip readers are becoming more common now a days as the prices are dropping so hopefully they will end up being in enough places to make having the chips worth while.

As others have said they don't really help to find your horse but are good for prooving it's your horse once found.
 
I have all my horses micro-chipped. I don't have anyone in my area that does the freeze marking so just get new arrivals done when the vet is out.
 
This was the poll for the week in horse and hound. A surprising amount of people it seems dont have their horses microchipped.

although saying that i dont have my mare microchipped!
 
Two of mine are microchipped because they were done before we bought them. I have always preferred to freezemark though, and have had those with chips done for my own peace of mind because of the visible deterrent aspect.
There is a down side with Freezemarks in that an animal cannot be done before 12 months of age, wheras chipping can be done at a very young age. Will always prefer Freezemarking though.
 
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