Freezemark - on shoulder or under saddle?

[MrsMozart]

The posts about freeze marking has got me thinking (well sat on a sofa, lost my voice and have the sore throat from hell, so have to do something

).

The aim of freezemarking is to identify a horse and to ensure that if a ned goes missing, whatever the circ.s, then you get him or her back.

Therefore, surely it is better to have the marking on the shoulder where it can be seen?

I'm thinking, the Dizzy one is a chestnut mare with a white flash - she's not exactly unique in that respect! Therefore, if she were to be freezemarked, to ensure I and those that know me, were able to easily identify her in a crowd (I know I think I could, but put a load of chestnut mares with flashes together and could I really?).

Just my musings. I'll be getting them all done this summer and they'll all have the marks on their shoulders

.

 

[MrsElle]

I also think that freeze marking on the shoulder is a better deterrant (sp) than under saddle.

I shall certainly be getting Daisy done when she comes home, and it will be done on her shoulder.

 

[nuffield]

Shoulder, definately.

 

[MrsMozart]

MrsE - I concur wholeheartedly (it could be the pills talking, but I think not

).

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

Hi - glad I got you thinking on this one. I keep meaning to do it but haven't got round to it but am def going to do it within the next week or so (book the appt anyway). I was also thinking about shoulder/back scenario. Whilst shoulder looks to me more unsightly, I personally feel this would be more of a deterrent , even when being ridden if a horse was stolen all it would take would be an eagle eyed passer by in the know to see the mark to have their memory jolted. So for me, I think it will be shoulder but will read your posts with interest cos am open to others opinions/experiences. xx

 

[Ashgrove]

I keep meaning to get my horse done. And have often thought about having it done on the shoulder for the same reasons.

This post has made up my mind, I'll book the appointment.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

I dunno, I feel micro chipping is better and does not disrupt the coat. but Though I am in a worse predicament, bay gelding, four white socks and a blaze, how many of those exist in the world. Maybe I should get him done too (twig is already branded on her back and any way the robbers would have to catch her first, lol). I feel your illness pain, though if is any consalation, last weekend both horses trod on my right foot, and twiggy broke it, or so we now think after it being swollen and mega blue with bruising, but I troopered on through the pain regardless (some may say I am an idiot). oh no I am waffling again.

 

[shellonabeach]

I posted below my grey mare is being done on the shoulder in a couple of hours time. I'm currently debating with my parents why I'm not paying extra for a personalised number plate! My mare is being done on the shoulder because she is grey.

My dark bay gelding was done when I bought him and his is on his back. If I had a dark coloured horse being done now I would choose have it done on the back but that is because I do a bit of showing.

I paint my horses freezemark no's on their rugs so thieves know they are marked even when it can't be seen.

 

[PeterNatt]

Having been involved in the identification and recovery of a number of stolen horses I can confirm that freezemarking a horse is the best way of identifying a stolen/missing horse.

Anyone can read a freezemark.

Best to have it on the shoulder so that the mark can be seen when the horse is ridden out. Also the saddle does not come in contact with it so that one can start riding the horse earlier after the freezemarking.

 

[MrsMozart]

Oh it's all intereseting stuff

.

As I have personalized numbers plates, then I guess we'll have to have peronsalized neddies as well

. Ours will be on the shoulders.

B_B your wofflings are always welcomes

. M'neds are microchipped as well

. Paranoid? Who? Me?!

 

[shellonabeach]

MM - my mare is chipped.

I toyed with the idea of the micromark as it is smaller but then wondered if that may mean if she was stolen they would simply remove the chip from her...

I'm of course now paranoid she's going to be awfully upset about the freezemarking process as she's a sensitive soul.

 

[PeterNatt]

I am afraid that there are about 7 different micro-chipping systems on the market and the scanner of one system may not read all the other systems. This is complicated even more by horses that have been micro-chipped outside the U.K. as some of their micro-chipping systems can not be read by U.K. systems at all.

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

Oh, who is doing the freezemarking and do they cover south Hants, near Porsmouth? PO8 postcode. Recommendations, please.

 

[quirky]

I had mine freezemarked a couple of months ago. When I asked about having it on the shoulder, she just said no, put it under saddle, like it wasn't an option as she isn't grey.
Under the saddle it is.

 

[3Beasties]

Both mine have personalised freezemarks on their shoulder.

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
I had mine freezemarked a couple of months ago. When I asked about having it on the shoulder, she just said no, put it under saddle, like it wasn't an option as she isn't grey.
Under the saddle it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Who did yours? I want mine on the shoulders, I'll not be happy if I wait for them to come out and then won't do what I want.

Harrumph. Off to look at websites

 

[shellonabeach]

Well my mare has been done and is the proud owner of 9VE1

She was done on the shoulder as grey by a lovely lady from Farmkey. The authorisation form did have an option for darker horses of choosing under saddle or on the shoulder.

Just to throw a giant spanner in the works - MM this one may send you a bit "Dizzy" - I was offered another option - behind the saddle! The lady offered to freezemark my mare where it would not be under the saddle but would be covered by a saddlecloth when tacked up.

 

[MrsMozart]

Lol, Dizzy I am (though that could be the pills

).

Pleased yours was done

. Is ned okay? Did she mind it at all?

Nah, will have Shoulder. Shoulder it is and Shoulder it will be

.

Out of nosiness

, does 9VE1 stand for anything?

 

[Donkeymad]

[ QUOTE ]
Having been involved in the identification and recovery of a number of stolen horses I can confirm that freezemarking a horse is the best way of identifying a stolen/missing horse.

Anyone can read a freezemark.

Best to have it on the shoulder so that the mark can be seen when the horse is ridden out. Also the saddle does not come in contact with it so that one can start riding the horse earlier after the freezemarking.

[/ QUOTE ]

very much agree with this. As many of you will have read, I had two equines stolen earlier this month. We are in little doubt they were recovered, and quickly, due to their Freezemarks.
personally, I can't see the point either of it being hidden under a saddle. if your horse is stolen, someone else can happily ride it out knowing nobody will see that all -important Freezemark.

Don't delay, Freezemark today

(Do I sound passionate?)

 

[Donkeymad]

[ QUOTE ]
I had mine freezemarked a couple of months ago. When I asked about having it on the shoulder, she just said no, put it under saddle, like it wasn't an option as she isn't grey.
Under the saddle it is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can I ask who did yours ?(best PM) that is ridiculous, you should have the choice, and the shoulder is best, and you should have been advised that.

Got to say, I always use - and prefer freezemark.biz for freezemarking.

 

[hairycob]

At a Horsewatch meeting we were advised that shoulder is best. If a horse is stolen & people have been alerted via the horsewatch system it canbe "hidden" in a field simply by putting a rug on - even in summer a fly rug will hide the mark. If the mark is on the shoulder it is going to be extremely hard to hide when the horse is ridden.

 

[shellonabeach]

[ QUOTE ]


Pleased yours was done

. Is ned okay? Did she mind it at all?

Out of nosiness

, does 9VE1 stand for anything?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was meaning to say in my post my mare was fine. The irons were on for a lot longer than I expected (again due to her being grey and getting a "bald mark"). She was done held outside her stable and simply leaned into the side of the stable to try to get away from the irons. She got a bit fed up and moved back and forward a few steps a couple of times but the lady just moved with her. I did bury her head in a bucket of food throughout and think I was more upset about the whole thing than the horse was! The lady said greys often don't like it due to the length of time the irons are on and that my girl was very good

9VE1 is just what she was given, the next number available I was told. I just didn't want anything that was *666!

I have got some piccies of straight away after and will get some throughout the healing process. Initially the swelling showed the figures but 2 hours later they were just swollen lumps.

 

[MrsMozart]

Lol re the *666

.

Ta for the update. Look forward to the piccies

.

 

[xena_wales]

Shoulder for me. Incidentally, not all horses take well to it - my normally placid TB went nuts and his freezemarking had to be abandoned - was probably the only horse in the country with a "W" on his back!

I'm hoping that one day Jess's freezemark will lead me to someone who knew her in her past life. And I need to get my guys done too. Would love a personalised mark, but not sure if I can afford it for the 3 of them. Will prob want them sedated after my last experience, and will get them done on shoulders.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Inca was done on a black patch under her saddle (is piebald) at the time she was very distressed by it all

and now nearly 8 years later it has practically disappeared

- the couple of little white marks that are left bear no relation to any letter at all. All in all for my girl it was not a good experience and I wouldn't have her done again.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

I booked my boy in for freezemarking straight after reading Little_Donkeys post a few weeks back! Should I give him some sedalin before he is done or hope that he behaves?!

 

[fatpiggy]

Mine was done on the shoulder at my request - no rest period required while it heals, and you can't hide it under the saddle in the auction ring. I cannot believe people who think they would rather not "ruin" their horse's coat or their chance in the showring. I'd rather be last in the line-up with my horse than know someone else is winning with my stolen animal. By the time someone has spotted what "might" be your animal and found someone with a microchip reader, the animal could have been moved on again. One pair of binoculars and a home photo to show the police and you've got your ned back safely.