Freezemarking etc.

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GreyConnemara

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With all of the recent thefts etc, I'm thinking of having my pony freezemarked. He is a grey, and is also quite sensitive (especially skin), so I'm worried that the freezemarking might not be too good for his skin.
I have also looked into getting hoof brands for him as an alternative, does anyone have any experience of either?

Thanks
 
Hey. I've have my wee roan done and to be honest you just can't see it for 7 months of the year until his darker winter coat is through. He absolutely hated having it done and I can have it re-done but held longer to kill the hair and leave the mark bald, but I would have him sedated for that for sure. Wouldn't put him through it again. Although my mare didn't bother one bit and munched a bucket of feed the whole time.

If your worried about the sensitivity bit how about having your horse micro-chipped instead and have the small C freezemarked bald instead to show the microchipping has been done. I can't think it would take long to have one small mark done and would limit the sensitivity issue.

The hoof branding sound great but i think would be easy to disguise if they were stolen and sold 'out of the ring' so to speak - over reach boots would probably cover it.
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PS - the small brand is done by farmkey and called a micromark
 
I would think from now on microshipping is going to be a good bet - vets as a matter of course check for a microchip when they vet and as of this summer all foals have to be mircrochipped for a passport to be issued. So I can see a lot more checking for microchip will happen than has doen in the past.
 
Thanks for your replies, Minxie, your suggestion may be the best compromise. I was reluctant to do down the microchipping route as its not a visual deterrant, and (correct me if I'm wrong) not currently a matter of procedure to scan for a microchip (cases of stolen horses being sold to meat at auction which have been microchipped but were never scanned prior to the auction), though as you suggested Dubsie, hopefully it will become a matter of course sooner rather than later.
 
Hey GC. I could be totally off the mark with this but I'm not sure the biggest percentage of horses stolen are for the meat market, but rather to be sold on the black market as riding horses. This was why i'd put my freezemarks on their shoulders as its can still be seen even if there is a saddle on. If I have mine micromarked it will also be on the shoulder cause unless there is a rug on its harder to hide.

Again this may not be totally accurate but I'm pretty sure many of the ports are much stricter when transporting horses and if there is a microchip (shown by the micromark) they will scan to make sure the number matches the passport etc.

Sadly nothing is full proof and I guess you can only do what you think is best.
 
Hi

I've got my grey Shetland freezemarked. The first time it was done on his back, but it didn't show up against his then, blue roan coat.

So Farmkey came out and marked him again, this time on his shoulder.

They marked him so that the mark is bald.

He grows an extremely long coat in the winter, so I just keep the little square patch clipped so you can see the mark clearly.

He got upset both times having his mark, but my Welsh Cob who was nervy in her younger days, was fine. So they do surprise you !
 
My share horse is grey (see siggie) and he is freezmarked on his back but you can hardly see it so is also freezemarked on his shoulder which is bald.

He has suncream applied to it in the summer mind as it does get a bit burnt otherwise
grin.gif
 
there are and pros and cons to each but i prefer to go for both microchipping and freezemarking.

with hoof branding they need to done over and over as the feet grow.

with all foals now having to be microchipped i think scanning will become more routine but to have freezemarked as well gives the visible deterrant.
 
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