Equine welfare groups call for a ban on hot branding
- Thread starter Fii
- Start date
Jackson
Well-Known Member
I have to agree, it just doesn't seem necisary to do it when the horse could be freezemarked or microchipped with minimal pain...
Wouldn't like it if someone burned me with a red hot iron, and I know that it means nothing, but the only three horses that I know that have brands are also the three horses that are the most wary of people, and touchy/sensitive.
Wouldn't like it if someone burned me with a red hot iron, and I know that it means nothing, but the only three horses that I know that have brands are also the three horses that are the most wary of people, and touchy/sensitive.
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
But farmers and moorland pony owners have long argued microchipping is impractical for them as they need a visible form of identification for their free-roaming ponies.
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A microchip isn't much use when you are out on the moor in the rain/fog trying to identify a pony! Exmoor ponies have a diamond to identify that they were born on the moor, a symbol (ie anchor) to denote their herd plus their number - not sure a freezeband would be practical for this either!
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A microchip isn't much use when you are out on the moor in the rain/fog trying to identify a pony! Exmoor ponies have a diamond to identify that they were born on the moor, a symbol (ie anchor) to denote their herd plus their number - not sure a freezeband would be practical for this either!
Fii
Well-Known Member
While microchiping can help identify a horse, it isnt a deterant.
And as RW has said, wild ponies need to be seen and identified at a distance, you cant just walk up and halter one.
So.. who knows for sure wether freeze branding is less painfull than hot? And significantly how much less painfull?
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
Whilst I am very uneasy about hot-branding (and really can't see why freeze-branding can't be in the shape of an anchor, or whatever), I have a branded Westphalian, who is one of the most people-oriented horses I have ever met. Her brand is enormous and I have to say the thought of it being applied to a foal is really quite horrendous.
I should also add that it not easy to see (I'd had her 5 months before I found it!) and I cannot imagine trying to distinguish her from others in a herd on a wet windy moor would have any chance of success.
Ravenwood
Well-Known Member
"Moorland ponies - The RSPCA believe that moorland ponies should not be hot branded. Instead, they should be fitted with a microchip as this provides a guarantee of identity which is more reliable than hot branding. Freeze marking is often not suitable for moorland ponies that cannot be held still for long enough."
Taken from this site http://www.equinetourismcommunity.com/index.php?/topic/647-hot-branding-of-exmoor-ponies/
PennyJ
Well-Known Member
Dear Old RSPCA.
They should send their senior policy wonks who come up with this stuff off to practice what they preach and try getting up close enough to a feral pony with a microchip scanner so they can identify it. There is a very easy answer to this - THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO!!! Hence the hot brand which takes seconds to do (assuming it is done by someone competent) and does not bother them. Trust me, I've seen it done hundreds of times now, including to my own. About the time they register what is going on, the brand is done and taken off them. I gave my filly an apple whilst she was being hot branded and she couldn't have cared less about the brand being done. I would say that my foal jumped more when his microchip was inserted than he will do when he is hot branded. It is plain rubbish to state that microchipping or freeze branding are less painful methods of identification.
To the poster above about huge brands - the brand mark grows as the horse grows, they aren't that big when they're originally done.
And to another poster, it has been known for humans round here to be hot branded, it seems to be particularly "popular" amongst some of the Young Farmers...
They should send their senior policy wonks who come up with this stuff off to practice what they preach and try getting up close enough to a feral pony with a microchip scanner so they can identify it. There is a very easy answer to this - THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO!!! Hence the hot brand which takes seconds to do (assuming it is done by someone competent) and does not bother them. Trust me, I've seen it done hundreds of times now, including to my own. About the time they register what is going on, the brand is done and taken off them. I gave my filly an apple whilst she was being hot branded and she couldn't have cared less about the brand being done. I would say that my foal jumped more when his microchip was inserted than he will do when he is hot branded. It is plain rubbish to state that microchipping or freeze branding are less painful methods of identification.
To the poster above about huge brands - the brand mark grows as the horse grows, they aren't that big when they're originally done.
And to another poster, it has been known for humans round here to be hot branded, it seems to be particularly "popular" amongst some of the Young Farmers...
Tharg
Well-Known Member
A burn is a burn regardless of whether it is hot or cold.
Using badly fitting tack or not tending to the hooves is a worse crime IMO.
Using badly fitting tack or not tending to the hooves is a worse crime IMO.
Oliver12
Well-Known Member
I agree with the above post.
Some of these equine welfare groups make my blood boil. I've repeatedly reported cases of neglect over the years and while "some" of these equine charities admitted some of these cases are bad, unfortunately they are not "bad" enough. The most recent one I've reported was a Shire mare with the most shocking, overgrown feet which had repeatedly been reported to the YO who turned a blind eye. I reported it to the BHS who came out and didn't seem unduly concerned even though the mare "eventually" had her hooves seen to. BHS never even bothered getting back to me and I narrowly escaped being chucked off the yard. And as for these pitiful equines who go through the auctions, lets not even get started on that one.
Persephone
Well-Known Member
I agree that visible marking holds an important place in horse security/identification.
I am not convinced that hot branding is any morre painful than cold marking tbh. Having a Microchip punched into a ligament probably stings a bit too.
I see no problem as long as procedures are done as humanely as possible.
I am not convinced that hot branding is any morre painful than cold marking tbh. Having a Microchip punched into a ligament probably stings a bit too.
I see no problem as long as procedures are done as humanely as possible.
crabbymare
Well-Known Member
I have seen a lot of foals hot branded, some were done just standing in the field next to their mothers and none did more than stamp a foot and move a couple of steps forwards. They found the microchipping a lot more of a problem though.
I don't think the actual branding is the problem with moorland ponies, its the stress they go through with the whole atmosphere when they are suddenly all pushed together and have humans close to them. Those ponies are not handled quietly and gently and to be honest I think freezebranding them would be a lot worse as they need to keep the iron on longer than for a hot brand which is press and off again. The moorland ponies who are morst likely to be used in the "look how terrified the horse is" adverts would they be less or more scared if they were made to keep still long enough to get a chip in or their hair trimmed for freezebranding??
A friend was totally against hot branding and had never seen it done, but when she saw the reality compared to when her horse was freezemarked she changed her mind totally and is now for it!
I don't think the actual branding is the problem with moorland ponies, its the stress they go through with the whole atmosphere when they are suddenly all pushed together and have humans close to them. Those ponies are not handled quietly and gently and to be honest I think freezebranding them would be a lot worse as they need to keep the iron on longer than for a hot brand which is press and off again. The moorland ponies who are morst likely to be used in the "look how terrified the horse is" adverts would they be less or more scared if they were made to keep still long enough to get a chip in or their hair trimmed for freezebranding??
A friend was totally against hot branding and had never seen it done, but when she saw the reality compared to when her horse was freezemarked she changed her mind totally and is now for it!
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Matisse
Member
This is an interesting thread. Hot branding is considered to cause unnecessary suffering and is disapproved of by the BVA, BEVA, RSPCA, BHS, Blue Cross, etc as well as being banned in Scotland.
The problem with Exmoor ponies is the fact that multiple brands are currently carried out, in succession, without pain relief. The Exmoor Pony Star does not signify a pony 'born on the moor'. It is a cosmetic, generic brand that says 'this is an Exmoor pony' regardless of where it's born. It is completely unnecessary for individual ID. An Exmoor pony foal has to endure up to four separate, large hot brands, while being restrained, and is given no pain relief - and is often weaned at the same time. This has an understandable effect on the pony's perception of life and ongoing disposition. Has anyone heard that Exmoor ponies can be contrary and tricky?
There is a discussion at this link that sets out a lot of facts and has footage and pictures, for anyone interested in understanding more. Horse & Hound have also published two letters about this in this weeks issue.
http://www.equinetourismcommunity.com/index.php?/topic/647-hot-branding-of-exmoor-ponies/
The problem with Exmoor ponies is the fact that multiple brands are currently carried out, in succession, without pain relief. The Exmoor Pony Star does not signify a pony 'born on the moor'. It is a cosmetic, generic brand that says 'this is an Exmoor pony' regardless of where it's born. It is completely unnecessary for individual ID. An Exmoor pony foal has to endure up to four separate, large hot brands, while being restrained, and is given no pain relief - and is often weaned at the same time. This has an understandable effect on the pony's perception of life and ongoing disposition. Has anyone heard that Exmoor ponies can be contrary and tricky?
There is a discussion at this link that sets out a lot of facts and has footage and pictures, for anyone interested in understanding more. Horse & Hound have also published two letters about this in this weeks issue.
http://www.equinetourismcommunity.com/index.php?/topic/647-hot-branding-of-exmoor-ponies/