Cold feet about freezemarking

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igglepiggle

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Booked my horse in for freezemarking but very worried that he won't like it at all as he is a real sensitive type. I have had him nearly five years and have him chipped but feel there are more and more thefts locally. However, they tend to steal ponies or coloureds and he isn't either. He is stabled at night and the yard is fairly secure with big gates and a code to enter.

Also, I specifically asked for the latest appointment they could do and they gave me 0830.

So, to gauge opinion, please complete the poll if you had your horse marked or have witnessed others being marked.

Any other comments/advice welcome, including telling me to get on with it and stop being a muppet!
 
Can't do poll as not seen or had one done. But if done properly, by a good freezemarker (I don't no who does it?) it shouldn't hurt the horse at all.
 
I had Spring freeze-marked at the beginning of Dec. Now she is a big stroppy madam about lots of things so I put she was upset. Although realistically all she did was have amini strop, we fed her lots of sweeties and just kept going and she was fine - she just didn't really like it. The first number was fine, she lept about a bit for the 2nd one, then was fine for the remaining 2. 3 others were done on our yard on the same day and none of them batted an eyelid.
I would say go for it, the Farmkey people are very professional so I wouldn't worry.
 
Stop being a muppet and get on with it! Tom was done at 11 months. Hes 7/8ths TB with thin skin and to be honest, he didnt bat an eyelid. It is def pain free and will make him more unstealable. Mairi.
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My horse is a complete wimp about having anything done to her. Any minor scratches you want to treat, routine injections, worming, etc.....cue much barging and jumping about.

I was incredibly nervous of the freezemarking process as I knew just how she could react to being "messed with". I clipped her on her shoulder myself before the technician arrived as we'd only just gotten over her clipper phobia. Didn't want the technician to upset her before she started.

Thy spray alcohol on to the area that's going to be marked and wipe it with a cloth before they start. The only thing that Patches did was wander about a bit and occasionally strike out with her front foot. The technician said that was normal as the horse can feel the alcohol running down their shoulder/leg and it was a reaction to that, not the marking.

Patches pleasantly surprised me. She was done on her shoulder as she's a blue and white (more grey looking) cob so obviously couldn't be done under her saddle as she needed a bald mark.

They have seen it all before, so don't be too worried. If the technician feels your horse is dangerous to mark, they'll re-book a time when a vet can sedate for you. Don't worry, she said to me that it was very uncommon to have a horse they couldn't mark.

Feed tub works wonders too, make sure your horse is hungry and stick some treats in it, like carrots etc.

Within an hour or so of marking the mark swells, this is totally common and last a few days. The swelling subsides and the mark forms a crust or scab which drops off. You can rug straight after marking and ride within a couple of days for a shoulder mark and after about a week, with a thick numnah, if done under the saddle.
 
Have had 2 done the 1st my cob usually really well behaved in the stable was a nightmare dragging us both round trying to kick bite etc things he wouldn't usually think about doing
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, and the 2nd horse when he was 3 and still unbroken so I thought he would be really upset as well but just stood there as if nothing was happening so there is no telling what he will do to be honest as both mine reacted differently than I expected
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My horse just walked round and round in circles whilst they held the freezemark on. Get it done, you would never forgive yourself if he did go missing and you couldn't trace him
 
me and my friend had our done about 6 yrs ago, perry was fine and stood like an agel and the only thing my friends horse did was strike his foot forward (does it all the time when hes bored) dont worry about it, as long as its done propely it will be fine
 
I have read this with interest as i also would like to have my mare freezemarked...but she is really nervy about things, runs round backwards for injections and worming, so wouldnt be the best patient, also she is grey, and i am worried as to how well it will show up. would it be worth having done!

Lebt i think that you should go through with it as everyone seems to thing that it will go well, please keep us all informed.
 
ive just had linx done a week before xmas, i wasnt there but my friend & dad were, they said he was really good but he did get a bit fidgety when they got to the last 2 letters but he only moved about a little have lots of food handy Linx got through 1/2 bucket of carrots!!
 
I had my last pony done, wasn't there to watch (Mum was) but apparently she was fine. My grey's mark isn't very good, it looks to me like she didn't like it as the first mark is very visible, and the next few less and less so! It's not much use really! I can just about make out what it is though.
I think generally you should be fine.
 
I had mine done recently, the man was brillant *west sussex way from Farmkey... just starting to show *grey* My horse had to be kept in for morning so i think thats what upset him most! So if again i would stick to normal and t/o.... A moment of stress *if there is any* is alot better then the stress he'd go through if he was kicked in to some old ramberly box, with others etc and beat or what not... spooked for some sales ring.... Ok my mind runs away with me on these sorts of things!
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Every horse/pony I have ever owned has been freezemarked since marking was in its infancy and I am passionate about it because of the 100% recovery rate. I have never had a bad experience and even the fussiest of horses have coped.
Farmkey usually do 4 figures, Freezemark usually use 3, if you want to cut down the experience to a minimum..I have used both companies.

Mine are all marked on the shoulder, to minimise any risk of pain from the saddle. They can be rugged straight away and ridden within a couple of days. I have never needed a revisit as every mark has been clear and infection free.

The really touchy ones have been distracted with food and coped.
 
go for it and dont worry , the lady i had last year was the same lady i have always had, i had my first ponies done 18 years ago. i must admit i was worried last year but the farmkey lady was really nice and calmed me down , they have done it so many times and have seen every type of reaction. it was no worse than injections by vet or a farrier visit. it is such an important thing to do and it means your horse will stay with you and not be stolen, so do it for your horses future, stay calm and put his head in a big bucket of feed, my pony last year just wanted to walk while it was being done and the lady was quite happy with this she just followed me jack and the bucket around in a circle
 
I had my mare freezemarked by Framkey about 8 weeks ago (I had several sleepless nights beforehand wondering if I was doing the right thing).

There were 3 horses done at the same time, all were held in headcollars and freezemarked out on the yard.

1) Unhandled 2yo - Walked circles while he was freeze marked. The guy just walked with him.

2) A point to pointer - He fidgeted for the 1st couple and walked one circle, but wasn't distressed or worried. Then his owner remembered the feed she had for him, so he ate for the last couple.

3) My cob mare (who has very sensitive skin) - Head in feed bucket and not lifted for whole procedure, shuffled her feet a couple of times.

Having seen it done, I would have no qualms about having another horse freezemarked (wouldn't have the sleepless nights either). Would definately have a feed for them to eat while its done, as although it doesn't seem to hurt them (they were all held in headcollars) it must feel funny and the ones that were eating never lifted their heads. Please try not to worry, it really is O.K. and your imagination really is much much worst than reality (well mine was).
 
I had one of ours done and it was awful. He was quite a quiet one as well and he went nuts. He went so crazy that the woman who did it couldnt hold them on long enough so his mark ended up only half visible - bloody useless!! WOULDN'T do it again. Personally, Id get him microchipped and then put up lots of signs round your yard warning would-be-robbers that your horses are chipped.

Plus, I think it looks horrid anyway!
 
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