Loss of use freezemark?

Montyforever

Montyforever

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Been pondering this, the riding school i was at a few years back had a thoroughbred with a 'L' on a circle under his freezemark, didnt think anything of it at the time!

Looked the same as this ..

http://imagebank.ipcmedia.com/imageBank/atk/C0F0395D-3DB3-4F0E-9339-10D05955A082.jpg

I reacently found out its a loss of use mark. So why would they put this on the horse?

Would a vet have to confirm the horse isnt "use-able" and that its permenant as the freezemark is?

Why would you use it? To prevent future owners riding the horse?? To prevent them showing the horse??

:confused: please shed some light on this for me!
 
Found this for you :)


If you saw a horse which was freezemarket with a single 'L' would you know what it signified?

The "L" freezemark was introduced in 1995 after it became clear that some individuals were selling "loss of use" horses as sound prospects to unsuspecting buyers.

The L warns potential buyers that the horse has been the subject of a "loss of use" insurance payout. It is placed on any horse where a loss of use claim has been agreed and the horse remains with the owner.


Although the individual definitions vary from company to company, a 'loss of use' claim is given when a horse is believed to be permanently incapable of fulfilling the use for which it is insured and used.


Since the introduction of the freezemarking scheme, which is carried out by Farmkey in association with the insurance company involved, the sale of this type of horse has been simplified with potential buyers being protected from unscrupulous sellers.


On all horses except greys, the freezemark is placed just behind the wither, or underneath any existing security freezemark. With a grey, the freezemark is placed on the shoulder.


A horse which has been the subject of a permanent loss of use claim will loses much of its value and if it is offered for sale its purchase price should reflect the limitations of its injury.


Guy Prest, managing director of KBIS says: "The L freezemark ensures that someone buying a horse which has been subject to a loss of use claim knows what they are getting."


Someone who is considering buying horse with the L freezemark can telephone Farmkey to find out which insurer has paid the claim on the horse. They can then contact that insurance company to findout more.


"The majority of horses which have been subject to a loss of use claim can go on to enjoy a useful working life as a hack or companion," explains Guy. "Occasionally following a long period of rest and careful management a "loss of use" horse will even return to competition, although probably at a lower level than previously."


Some companies will insure horses that have had a "permanent loss of use" claim but limit policies to death, theft, straying and restricted vets' fee cover,excluding the area which was subject to the loss of use claim.
 
Sanolly said:
Depends what it was insured for. For example it may have been a Grade A showjumper but can no longer jump that high although it would be fine on the flat and over small fences. I think MrsM is stamping Dizzy with LOU?
Click to expand...

We're considering it :). I bought her to BS, but due to her pelvis issue she may well not be able to do it. Her breeding says she 'should' and she definately enjoys jumping at the level we've been doing, but there is a chance that the 1.05 plus tracks will be too much for her pelvis. If we do go for LOU, she will have an L in a circle freezemarked on her back; this will mean she is Loss of Use for jumping and I couldn't sell her as a showjumper.
 
I really dont see the "point" of them.

Seen several animals for sale at markets with them on..and the "vendors" hadn't a clue what it meant, so whoever bought that animal, could go off and attempt to do exactly what it is unable to do....according to the insurers.

It's just an insurance pay-out clause..handy if you've paid for it i suppose....but i think criteria should be very strict to receive these payouts...as its open to abuse.
 
the thing i don't understand about the LOU freezemark is that it's just an L and that could mean it just can't event/sj/hack or whatever.
when you insure a horse you have levels of insurance such as hack/youngster/endurance/etc etc

so why can't they put a number with the L to say what it's been put on for, such as L1 saying it can't jump above "X" height, L2 can't jump at all (just hack) or L3 for companion only???
 
My boy has the L freezemark on him. It was for a navicular claim. At that point I claimed some 12 years ago, he was 4, and we were not sure what use he would be. In the end, with correct management, he has, and continues to do everything, including county level showing.He was insured for sj,hacking, showing etc and we would have been unable to of any of it had we not found a way to manage it.
He is still unlevel if I do not have him shod regularly.
I wouldn't ever sell him as I bred him, but I do believe it would deter people from buying him if I had wanted to pass him on.
I have never been asked at county level, or even local shows, what the L stands for, and assume most people don't know unless like me they have made a claim.I doubt any numbers beyond the mark would make any difference.
 
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