Freeze mark or Micro-chip?

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peanut

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I'd like to get my youngster done. It would be the end of the world if I lost her.

Can anyone advise on which is the most effective/best please?
 
Definitely go for freezemarking. Not everywhere has the scanners to check for chips, plus have heard some really horrible stories of thieves using potato peelers and the like to gouge chips out.

The recovery percentage of stolen freezemarked horses is just about 100%, the figures speak for themselves.
 
I would go for freezemark to, better deterrent on the day, should someone be eye-ing your horse up, they just wouldn't know if it was microchipped, but may avoid it if its obviously marked.
 
I'm leaning towards freeze marking just worried as I've heard stories of horses being off for weeks because of problems.

I'd prefer to have it done under the saddle (even though I don't show) but then it wouldn't be visible in the winter when she wears a rug.
 
I would have it done under the saddle, and am going for it for the next horse. They have to have about two weeks off I think, aah I had a friend (still do I hope!) bless her and she had her grey done, he was off for about ten days, just about to come under saddle again, when she put him out in the sun and his scar got sunburn, so he had to have another week!
 
Its a personal choice, they both have different means of identification. Freezemarking obviously stands out.

Horses sales/markets, slaughter houses and vets should all have scanners to search for microchips especially if horses are passing hands. Whether or not they use them is another matter.

I got my yearling microchipped as I did my previous horse.

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I would go freezemark as you can see it. Also my mare hada microchip, but we think it was one of the first as she was owned by a vet and when I had her vetted it was dead. No sign of it anywhere so would have had to have another
 
Mine are chipped but I'm getting them freeze marked as well - they are visable and you get a reduction in your insurance premium if you have one.
 
I've got one that's freeze marked and the other is microchipped. The microchip was done free when his passport was issued. Unfortunately, it was also when I first got him and didn't know about his needle phobia, so he ended up with a gouge down his neck after he pulled back.
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I had my bay mare freezemarked under the saddle area and had no trouble with it at all. I don't think she was off for that long either. I think I prefer the freezemarking, as it's a more obvious deterrent.
 
I've just had our 6 month old foal chipped, but the others are all freezemarked, and when she is old enough (have to wait until she is a year old) she will be freeze marked too. Unfortunately she will have to be done on the shoulder as she will need the marking to be bald, due to her colour.
 
I have mine microchipped, but wondering about freezemarking too, but I think if you are going to have it done it needs to show (so not under the saddle).
I heard a scary story the other day, horse theives see a nice horse ridden and follow it to find out where it is kept, they can't see it is freezemarked if the mark is under the saddle.
 
Mine are freezemarked down the shoulder--easy to see but the grey not 100% successful needs very regular clipping and if coat grew invisible
Microchipping is likely to become law
Friend has her coloured cobs chipped and freezemarked as they are type popular for theft and has notices up saying so!!
 
I had George freezemarked and I was riding him again within 4 days. Bad news is the mark didn't form properly and instead of saying S61D it looks like it says sold
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so he's being redone next month.
 
Freezemark every time. When wearing a rug, regardless of where the freezemark is, it can't be seen, but if stolen, once the rug is removed, the horse is usually 'dumped' close by.We paint the freezemark on the rug, and display a sign informing they are freezemarked. I have had 6 done now, including a light grey, and not had a problem with any. I also recommed Freezemark.biz over anyone else.
 
my girl has been microchipped for about 5yrs not that anyone would know unless i said, i am going to get her freezemarked soon as i think this is much better, much more of an obvious deterrant to theives
 
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