Should I have my gypsy cob freeze-branded? Wdyt?

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Olderrider

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Talking to a riding companion the other day, who owns a coloured cob, has made me start thinking about having my mare branded, as hers is, on one of her dark patches as a visual deterrent. I do worry about her being stolen, and although nothing is foolproof, I feel that it would at least make it easier for her to be identified. I'd rather like some feedback first before taking the plunge.
 
Absolutely Yes!
A freezemark can be read by anyone so it is easy to be able to identify a freezemarked horse.
Skewbald mare cobs are more likely to be stolen as they can be used for breeding.
99% of stolen freezemarked horses have been recovered where for non freezemarked horses the figure is about 46%.
 
just to add, mine is a plain bay and he was done on his shoulder, he ended up having more than the recommended time off due to other circumstances but i dont regret it at all, i dont even notice it now if im honest! best money ive ever spent :)
 
Have it done if it gives you peace of mind but maybe bear in mind that there are 1000's of unwanted horses in this country and a good number of them are coloured cobs. We regularly get threads on here about what should be done with them and the general consensus seems to be that they should be culled/eaten or both.....it is highly unlikely anyone would go to the trouble of stealing yours to add to the problem by breeding more worthless youngstock !
 
bonny said:
Have it done if it gives you peace of mind but maybe bear in mind that there are 1000's of unwanted horses in this country and a good number of them are coloured cobs. We regularly get threads on here about what should be done with them and the general consensus seems to be that they should be culled/eaten or both.....it is highly unlikely anyone would go to the trouble of stealing yours to add to the problem by breeding more worthless youngstock !
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Sorry - but , illogical though it may seem, they do seem to be a popular target
 
Have a look at the stolen horse register, quite a lot are cobs and coloured. And, regardless of opinions of type, colour and value - she WILL be freeze-marked.
 
Well, actually, I was looking for constructive comments before making my final decision. Not just to read derogatory observations about coloured cobs.
 
Olderrider said:
Well, actually, I was looking for constructive comments before making my final decision. Not just to read derogatory observations about coloured cobs.
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You have stated that you have already made a decision and my comments about the number of unwanted coloured cobs was not derogatory, it was factual. If you are worried then go ahead and mark her but believing there is anyone out there who wishes to steal her for breeding is delusional in my opinion,
 
any horse/pony can be stolen and freezemarking is a good deterrant....also anyone can read a freezemark so your horse ,if stolen, can be identified easily.....I would always freezemark any horse that I have....
 
YES YES YES DO IT. It is far better than microchips and a real deterrent, and great for finding should the dreadful happen.

Have personal experience of the good effects, after having two stolen in the back of beyond.
 
Olderrider said:
Talking to a riding companion the other day, who owns a coloured cob, has made me start thinking about having my mare branded, as hers is, on one of her dark patches as a visual deterrent. I do worry about her being stolen, and although nothing is foolproof, I feel that it would at least make it easier for her to be identified. I'd rather like some feedback first before taking the plunge.
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I would as a deterrent and also a user here has had her coloured stolen and he was not branded - no matter how hard they try they cannot find him :(

also can I suggest you hoof brand her too http://www.equibrand.co.uk/ with your yard or home post code
 
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bonny said:
Have it done if it gives you peace of mind but maybe bear in mind that there are 1000's of unwanted horses in this country and a good number of them are coloured cobs. We regularly get threads on here about what should be done with them and the general consensus seems to be that they should be culled/eaten or both.....it is highly unlikely anyone would go to the trouble of stealing yours to add to the problem by breeding more worthless youngstock !
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I wonder if Tinseltoes
would agree with you and hers was https://forums-secure.horseandhound.co.uk/showthread.php?533604-MISSING-STOLEN-PIEBALD-GYPSY-COB
 
How does this I pact on showing, I wonder? I am planning on inhand just to get mine out and about again this year, I wonder what judges think of freeze marking?

HGA-12 said:
I would as a deterrent and also a user here has had her coloured stolen and he was not branded - no matter how hard they try they cannot find him :(

also can I suggest you hoof brand her too http://www.equibrand.co.uk/ with your yard or home post code
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Wow! Does the owner do this him/herself? Clearly the hoof would grow out, do you just re-do it when necessary? Buy the branding tool, heat it up and get the farrier to do it every once in a while?
 
Bonny you seem to have an issue with colours cobs. They're very commonly stolen because yes people do just want a horse to breed/sell and to hell if they are going to put the work into it themselves. Better just take someone else's and if it doesn't sell/breed throw it in the field (or ditch) with the rest. No one will be able to tel them apart.

Show judges are not allowed to mark down for freeze marking - but some showers feel it makes their horse not look as smart.

My mares colour wouldn't show up a freeze mark and in winter wouldn't see it anyway which is the only reason I haven't got her done. She is chipped though and photographed from every angle
 
splashgirl45 said:
any horse/pony can be stolen and freezemarking is a good deterrant....also anyone can read a freezemark so your horse ,if stolen, can be identified easily.....I would always freezemark any horse that I have....
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Or indeed if she escapes or is let out of her field and gets lost. I'm intending freezemarking mine.
 
cinnamontoast said:
How does this I pact on showing, I wonder? I am planning on inhand just to get mine out and about again this year, I wonder what judges think of freeze marking?



Wow! Does the owner do this him/herself? Clearly the hoof would grow out, do you just re-do it when necessary? Buy the branding tool, heat it up and get the farrier to do it every once in a while?
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For my yard I brought the yard post code - clearly all the livery owners that want to use them can and just give them to the farrier when he visits and he puts them on. Depending how quickly they grow out they last about 6 months! you can alternate between the front and back feet, but mine just does the front and puts 3 digits on one and 3 on the other. They were around £ 100 when I brought them, some people buy them themselves with their house post code, but I think it something a yard can offer to protect their livery and personal horses. After all it is just a once off as they last years and years (unless you lose one like I did :() and had to replace half.

They show up really well and definitely an obvious deterrent. I have shown mine in the past with no comment what so ever.
 
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HGA-12 said:
For my yard I brought the yard post code - clearly all the livery owners that want to use them can and just give them to the farrier when he visits and he puts them on. Depending how quickly they grow out they last about 6 months! you can alternate between the front and back feet, but mine just does the front and puts 3 digits on one and 3 on the other. They were around £ 100 when I brought them, some people buy them themselves with their house post code, but I think it something a yard can offer to protect their livery and personal horses. After all it is just a once off as they last years and years (unless you lose one like I did :() and had to replace half.

They show up really well and definitely an obvious deterrent. I have shown mine in the past with no comment what so ever.
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That is a brilliant idea! What a lovely YO you are.
 
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