Freezemarking - what would you do?

[ihatework]

OK, not wanting a debate on freezemarking or not - personally I have never had a horse done and have no qualms about that at all.

However I have a horse that is now fully retired and is just about to be moved to his retirement home, lovely big field with shelters and a couple of other knackered nags to keep him company.

Now this field isn't part of a yard and is boardered on both sides by roads so I have decided for the first time in my life it might be sensible to get this horse freezemarked as a deterrant (although I'm sure any theif would give him back the next day after realising they had stolen a crip

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I've heard that it would be fairly easy to alter a standard freezemark if so desired? Don't know how true this is? So I was thinking it might be a better idea to just have him marked with a loss of use stamp instead - idea being that hopefully a theif would be more likely to avoid as more difficult to sell on?

Thoughts - standard freeze mark or an L ?

 

[the watcher]

Freezemark.

In many years of dealing with stolen horses I have never actually seen a permanently altered freezemark - although I am aware that in theory it could be done.

 

[Theresa_F]

I would have the freezemark done and maybe a L as well would be a good idea. I also have mine microchipped - that way I have both a visible and tamper proof protection.

I would also have the mark done on the neck or shoulder to make it as obvious as possible. I have mine done under the saddle, purely as I show and whilst no judge should mark down the freezemark, under the saddle is a little more discrete.

However, had I a horse that could not be marked under the saddle, I would have it done on the shoulder - a mark is far more important than a show prize.

 

[rubyrumba]

I'm sure i've seen somewhere an 'L' in a circle freezemark for loss of use. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[rubyrumba]

http://www.farmkey.co.uk/farmkey/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=80

 

[Annagain]

Just a thought - are you supposed to let farmkey know when a horse dies. My freezemarked boy died 4 years ago and I've never done anything about it!

 

[Donkeymad]

YES

OP. I would Freezemark. It is difficult to alter a Freezemark and I do not think is done very often, especially on the lower end horses (no offence meant to your horse there

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