Freezemark booked for Sunday, 12th July - what to expect ...

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zeuscleoharmony

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Archie's freezemark is booked for Sunday. I am nervous because he is a big boy and I am recovering from collar bone surgery. I am out of my sling and am now able to drive but the shoulder is still weak. I am not sure there will be anyone to help me at the yard so wondered if a great big bucket of food and a hay net will in all likelihood keep him occupied. I am able to hold him to some degree but if he starts really playing up then thats another matter. Can you tell me what to expect, step by step. Also, he has never been clipped but the FM company know this.
 
Lots of people say their horses are fine with freezemarking but when I had my 2 TB's done (7 years ago) they both hated it. Maybe TB's skin is thin! Both are fine with clippers, vets, dentists but not this. It bothered me so much that my other two are not freezemarked.
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George is big (16.3 part shire) so I was a bit concerned too, but he was fine. Farmkey asked me to hold him in his stable but with the door open and to have a bucket of titbits that could be fed to him bit by bit - polos, treats, carrots etc. (he was in 7th heaven). They clipped him, but as I didn't know what he was like with clippers they turned them on, held them against his neck etc. first and he was fine and they were just trimmer type clippers. When they put the first 'iron' on George fidgeted a bit so she let him walk round whilst she held it on, but for the next 3 he was fine and enjoyed munching his goodies. The technician was really kind and patient.

It swelled almost straight away, but he went straight out in the field, had a roll and didn't seem bothered by it. They said not to ride for 7 days (he was done under the saddle) or until it wasn't sore when you pressed it, but to be honest he wasn't bothered about it from day 1! I did give him the 7 days off riding and just lunged him instead.

The mark took about 16 weeks before it showed properly and in fact I had to have 1 number redone, he is S61D but the 6 came out as a 0 and it looked like it said sold! They redid the 6 free of charge and the number is now quite clear.

If you are a BHS member don't forget to tell them as you get a discount!
 
My horse didn't like it and as he even hates injections I rang my vet who told me to give him a dose of ACP sedatives half hour before he was marked. He wasn't impressed and it was done on his left hip on a black patch. It came through fine and it didn't bother him afterwards. I keep that area clipped so it's obvious and it has given me a real piece of mind.
 
I had my two year old NF pony freezemarked two weeks ago, he's also called Archie.

If your nervous about it I would see if there is someone else who can hold him for you as he'll pick up on your nerves, also you don't want to injure your collar bone again. Definitely have a bucket of feed, he won't be able to have a haynet as they are not tied up whilst it's happening. My boy had never encounterd clippers so I spook busted him with an electric toothbrush and a bikini trimmer
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the week before to get him used to the noise and sensation. He stood stock still for the clippers. It's a pretty quick process, Archie wriggled a little but didn't play up, he wasn't in any pain, and to be honest being a baby he was complately bored by the third letter and much more interested in the bucket! The lady who did it was very nice and professional and the whole thing took no longer than 20mins.

It's not half as bad as what you think it might be
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Both my 2 TBs and WB were 100% to do. Just stood there with some treats.

Cairo clydesdale with the offering of slices of bread was fine.

Farra - given half tube of sedaline - young clyde mare who I had not had too long - also put my chain on the collar - she was fine.

Chancer - first time he was done - 18 months and ok for first 2 and then other 2 were done but took a bit of holding and we went round and round the stable with him. Not a happy baby.

Farra needed redoing - no sedation this time, chain on, and she was given big feed - dribbled a lot down me and wiggled a little but was ok.

Chancer - had two marks retouched - chain on, big feed, bit of wriggling but ok.

They clip the patch, rub with cleaner and then apply the freeze brands which are held on for a period of time depending on the skin type/colour of coat.

They swell, then scab over. Hair grows back white or not at all if a bald mark.

I have mine done under saddle and always give 7 - 10 days off riding just in case they are sore. For me, not end of the world as I just do ground work instead and prefer to be 100% sure they are not sore, so do leave longer than the recommended time.

Funny thing is that the thin skinned types were fine, but the thick skinned ones seemed to find it more uncomfortable.

That said, 10 mins discomfort is worth it to have them as secure as possible.

My last two were redone as Farra's was not as clear as it could be - probably as she has a lot of grey in her coat despite being chesnut so they were left on a bit longer this time and Chancer had grown, plus they were the two where he wriggled a lot. Farmkey came out with no arguement and redid them for me.
 
My grey was done on the 30th May - I think I posted on your threads at the time.

I had 3 buckets with chaff, pony nuts and treats in and she munched her way through her freezemarking - and almost all the food.

I would get plenty of food in buckets ready and put your horse where he is happiest and you are most confident to hold him, ie in the stable / outside the stable
 
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