Freeze-marking... does it deter thieves?

A

Always-Riding

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 March 2013
Messages
342
Location
Kew
Visit site
I am contemplating getting my (palomino) youngster freeze-marked but it seems that a lot of people don't anymore - or I don't really see horses with a freeze-mark.

Is it worth it?

If so, which company is best?
 
You would have to ask a thief ! For me, I've never had one marked and never would, but then I've never thought someone would steal one of my horses.....
 
I've never had it done or even contemplated getting one on any of my previous horses... but the yard I'm in now has a public footpath straight through the field - so I'm slightly uneasy knowing that they could easily get the horse in and out,
 
On a light horse it can be hardly seen unless in the summer, in winter it is covered by rugs or thick coats.If stolen they just need to add a few extra marks and then the stamp is totally different, or they rip the skin off and say it got hurt in a box accident. If they are going to take it, they are going to take it.
 
The big advantage of Freeze Marking is that the horse can be identified by anyone as they just have to read the Freezemark.
If as horse is stolen or strays then it is very easy for the horse top be identified by the Feezemark. Please take in to account that stolen horses may travel many hundreds of miles within a few hours of them being stolen and may also pass through several peoples hands. Therefore a visual Freezemark makes it easy to identify it even if you are some several hundred miles away.
A Freezemarked horse is very much more likely to be re-united with it's owner than a horse that is not Freezemarked.
Do not make the assumption that it is just lower end horses that are stolen all sorts of horses are stolen and those that are not Freezemarked are far less likely to be recovered.
There are two companies that do Freeze marking and they are Farmkey and Freezemark.
IMPORTANT! Take a photo of your horse from the front, rear and each side so that if you horse is stolen they can be circulated.
 
I would never not have a horse freeze marked. Far more of a deterrent than a microchip. My 3 greys had the iron held on for longer so instead of white hairs they are bald! I still have to clip the mark on the hairy little ones in the winter. Roberto has a personalised mark ROB with a horseshoe micromark underneath for not much extra.
Peace of mind really.
 
If you have a coat colour where they may freeze mark to leave a bald mark make sure you don't do it under the saddle. My old pony had bald parts to the mark under the saddle and they got sore when he got sweaty when he was ridden.
 
Nothing will stop a determined theif, as above they can be altered/ removed if someone really wants to.

Only you can judge the likelihood of your particular horse being stolen, it's a balance of risk and probability. How distinctive is he anyway?

If he is lost for any reason then it's very handy for someone to be able to trace you - much better than microchip.
 
My horse is microchipped and freezemarked.

I was hugely reluctant to place what I consider to be grafitti on her beautiful black velvet back, but she's incredibly precious and at the end of the day, losing her would be worse. What really angers me is that I shouldn't have had to do it.
 
yes. hubby and i had a pair stolen while staying away with them one night. they were dumped less than a mile away once they found some light to see the freezemarks. we are pretty sure they were dumped because of the freezemarks. i recommend the original marker company freezemark.biz
i have had no visibility problems on greys, you just need to clip the area in winter. i would also recommend having it on the shoulder, which is where greys are done. it can be seen whilst being ridden. i insist on freezemarking everything
 
Last edited:
If I remember correctly a number of cob types were stolen from a field near Peterborough a few years ago, the only one freezemarked was found dumped in a field, the rest never recovered. I do mine for the piece of mind and on the shoulder too so is always visable. To show my fell pony I touch it up with black make up so it's not an issue.
 
I recall a thread in the Stolen/Trace section a while ago where freeze marking was being discussed. One poster said that her and a friend had 3 horses stolen from their field. Her two were freeze marked, the friend's horse was not. The two freeze marked horses were found dumped in a field a few miles down the road - the un-marked horse was never recovered.

I would always freeze mark any horse of mine. It might not stop it being stolen but it gives a much better chance of recovery. It is so worth it for peace of mind Imo.
 
Spring Feather said:
On a palomino? I wouldn't bother tbh. On light coloured horses it barely shows up and fades totally over the years.
Click to expand...

rubbish palomino my horses is so obvious

Its down to the owner to clip the freezemark site in the winter.


The amount of stories where thieves have take a group of horses to some remote place , sorted through them and then goneon leaving the freezemark ones behind to be found by the police.

I think Yard owners should invest in hoof brands and have them as the yard post code and offer that facility to their liveries. It does not cost much one time investment.
 
Last edited:
OWLIE185 said:
The big advantage of Freeze Marking is that the horse can be identified by anyone as they just have to read the Freezemark.
If as horse is stolen or strays then it is very easy for the horse top be identified by the Feezemark. Please take in to account that stolen horses may travel many hundreds of miles within a few hours of them being stolen and may also pass through several peoples hands. Therefore a visual Freezemark makes it easy to identify it even if you are some several hundred miles away.
A Freezemarked horse is very much more likely to be re-united with it's owner than a horse that is not Freezemarked.
Do not make the assumption that it is just lower end horses that are stolen all sorts of horses are stolen and those that are not Freezemarked are far less likely to be recovered.
There are two companies that do Freeze marking and they are Farmkey and Freezemark.
IMPORTANT! Take a photo of your horse from the front, rear and each side so that if you horse is stolen they can be circulated.
Click to expand...


Agree and well said, I would never not freeze mark my horses. Thieves are less likely6 to take freeze marking horses I also do equibrand too post code their feet
 
DebbieCG said:
Just for info, here is the link posted this week in the H&H stolen section, as Pet Theft Awareness were highlighting horse theft prevention on Day 4 of their Awareness Week during this March

www.pettheft.co.uk

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...-Prevention-Day-4-of-Pet-Theft-Awareness-Week

Here is also very useful information from Equestrian Needs on horse theft deterrent

http://www.equestrianneeds.com/horsetheft.php
Click to expand...

and here
http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/preventing-horse-theft.html
 
I freeze marked my cob when there was all that scaremongering about platts in horses manes and one of the horses in the field appeared to have been platted.
In fact I sort of wondered if the fuss was stirred up by freezemarking companies as a good way to increase business ( meant as a joke).
Then I had a good chuckle out hacking one day when a dog walker asked me if all horses were born with letters and numbers on them!
 
I'd consider it for loss (e.g. from field/if you come off hacking) as well as theft. It is something even a non-horsey person can see (without needing to approach closely as for one of the tack-labels/hoof brands) and may consider relevant if your horse is found or sighted. If you pop the mark on shoulder/somewhere else not hidden by mane (as in US mustang freeze branding)/tack and on all rugs too then it can work in pretty much all circs.
 
so many horses look alike, a non horsey person sees one bay or chestnut looking like another. Unless your horse has very distinctive markings I would think freezemarking is the only way to go.Microchipping is a waste of time IMO .
 
In February this year Pet Theft Awareness' petition for stronger pet theft laws to deter received over 13,600 signatures and a Government response. Their cause continues.

You can visit the PTA horse theft blog post (link below) as it has lots of useful info and contacts:
There is also advice on loaning and photos of stolen horses.

http://pettheftaware.blogspot.co.uk/...rse-theft.html
 
DebbieCG said:
In February this year Pet Theft Awareness' petition for stronger pet theft laws to deter received over 13,600 signatures and a Government response. Their cause continues.

You can visit the PTA horse theft blog post (link below) as it has lots of useful info and contacts:
There is also advice on loaning and photos of stolen horses.

http://pettheftaware.blogspot.co.uk/...rse-theft.html
Click to expand...

This link should work:

http://pettheftaware.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/horse-theft.html
 
l've always had my horses or ponies freezemarked by Farmkey. My palomino youngster will be done this summer but she is very light grey in the winter so they will probably leave the brand on longer to kill the pigmentation. Thats what they did when freezemarking my old palomino pony. Everyone views freezemarking differently but its something that l've always done. Photos are taken of them from different views & different times of the year so that colour changes are noted.
 
Freeze marking on the shoulder would be better as a lot more visible? Also, how do judges take to the marks when showing?

Please can someone post photos of their light/grey/palomino horse's freeze mark?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top