Freezemarking and teeth

[Debbie]

That's very interesting to read, Heather. With Blossom, we didn't actually do her first filing until Spring this year. I'd been keeping an extremely close eye on her teeth and eating habits, and she didn't alter throughout youth until this Spring. She has an enormous needle and vet phobia, though, so I ensure that she really needs it done before we phone the poor vets out for combat.

You know, if I ever get around to freezemarking Blossom, I think I'll do the sedative, but then I think I'll ask for a local at the freeze site as well. Thanks to sharing your experiences, you've validated what'd I'd thought about it hurting. Especially as it does need to be left on long enough to do the scarring needed. At least now your lot should safe against thefts.

Bless, Merlin will come into his own in his own time. He's a lucky lad to have you sympathic, instead of just assuming he's large, so backing him too soon.

Grand news about Legs!! I do hope she's right and that he won't become the Jolly Green Giant on you ;D

[harleydales]

I love their private numberplates!!! Glad their MOTs all went smoothly. I've seen cows freeze-branded and can vouch for the fact that it DOES hurt.

I must book the vet for a mass teeth session soon.

[JoM]

I had dancer freezemarked when he was 4 - just after i bought him. He wasnt sedated, and he didnt appear to feel a thing. Didnt move a muscle or flinch at all. He did have his head in a HUGE 'take your mind off it' bowl of food mind!! ;D They were on there for a long time though - my lady also said that marking dales was a nightmare and more often that not they had to come back!!!

Its the best thing i ever had done i think - gives me that little extra piece of mind as its so visable.

He is ET07 - a cross between 'ET Go Home' and James Bond, but a zero short!!! LOL

His teeth - again i have always had done since i got him although i dont think he had been done before that - he grows in quite severe waves so we are visited every 6 months! The 1st time he was fine - Now its a vile job - he hates it - it was a sedation paste and twitch job last time x 3 people holding on! My poor dentist compares him to alton towers! LOL But he is really good with him! Dancer just doesnt like it - and knows he can get rid of us! He just plants his feed and sways that huge neck from side to side - we are all deposited around the stable like pingpong balls!

[sck1]

I had Blue freezemarked soon after I got him, being grey though they freeze rather than burn I think and the iron is on AGES. Poor boy, well I felt bad but he didn't notice a thing! It shows up OK but we have to keep the area clipped because when he goes shaggy pony it does obscure the mark.

[cadeby]

I have never seen a horse being freezemarked, but have seen some Percherons and Quarter Horses being hot-branded in Canada without any sedation or pain relief. I hated it

Pagan (blue roan) has a freezemark but it is very indistinct. Maybe the marker didn't realise that "damage" on roans grows back darker? I don't intend to have it re-done as horse theft thankfully isn't such a big problem in our part of France as it is in the UK

I will be interested to see your photos Heather - great choice of letters & numbers ;D

[jap]

we had alot of ours done years ago including our racehorses.all were done without sedation as it wasnt ever offered these were before you could choose your letters and marks but one poor T.B.ended up with B0O8,after it was done the operated was horrified as they usually check for odd names.

[cadeby]

easy to remember though!

[SuzieP]

ROFL Julie! Poor horse!

Bea is freeze marked and chipped - but all done before I got him. I had Alf freeze marked though and he didn't appear to feel it - no flinching at all.

Not had much success with vets doing teeth - we get an equine dentist out to do the whole yard.

[greydales]

Poor horse, Dan's number is something BO LOL!!