Freeze marking etc

[cider loving mare]

I have two ponies one is freeze marked, the other I have had for just over a year and she's 3 years old. I'm not sure if I should have her freeze marked, micro chipped or something different. I would be very grateful to hear of your experiances and suggestions, also does anyone know the success rates of of any of them. Thanks

 

[Echo Bravo]

I have 3 mico-chipped and 1 mico-chipped and freeze marked (she's a plain bay no white on her). I'd have either done, but get some sedalin as the one freeze-marked did the wall of death and the other 2 one is very bad with vets but a couple of carrots and a swift jab did the job, the other nearly broke the vet's leg, he was that swift with the kick, but I think the needle was blunt and the chip didn't go in and we had to start again, this time with a sedative and that had to into the muscle as he wasn't standing still for nobody.

 

[Donkeymad]

Freezemark every time, a much better theft deterrent and, should the worst happen, a very high chance of a quick return (about 99% of freezemarked horses are found within 24 hours).. microchipping is a good back-up.

 

[scally]

Freezemark every time, a microchip needs to be read, a freezemark is there for everyone to see, also the recovery rate I believe is 99% for stolen freezemarked horses. Standing at one auction, the meat man was talking about a horse coming into the ring, he said he would buy anything that wasnt freezemarked as microchips are never checked at ports etc.

Also for joe public a freezemark is easy to identify a horse a bay horse with x amount of markings but microchipped does not stand out in a field of horses its like looking for a dog, jack russel type black and white with microchip they all look the same.