Brand, Microchip, or Tattoo?

[PonyGirl]

Daisy does not have any. I want something to ID her in a herd. (Besides I know every hair on her bum) We are going to move to Wyoming. A branding state.

wlsb.state.wy.us/Brands.htm

How do ya'll feel about them?

[Debbie]

I've grown up around them, so I don't have any problems with the brands. Actually being in a state that was prone to the snatches for the slaughter houses, I always thought the brand was a good safety measure. In theory at least the slaughter houses are supposed to check the brands for stolen horses.

Between hot brand and freezebrand, if Daisy were mine, I'd go with the freezebrand. I think the freezebrand would show up better.

Microchip makes a nice marker, but there's no visible way to deter a thief with a microchip. Also, unless the authorities have the right scanner, I don't think it can be read. I don't think they've created a 'universal' scanner for the chips.

Tattoos are fine, but unless its a racing tb or standardbred, very few people will think to look for the tattoo.

I think you and Daisy are going to adore the wide open spaces of Wyoming!!!

[olivia]

I don't know anything about brands, but I agree with Debbie that the most visable and hardest to get rid of/change quickly is a freezemark.

I've actually given Tilly both a freezemark and a microchip - but I did the freezemark first and only got her microchip when I got her passport.

The way I looked at it was the microchip is there if she gets lost/goes wandering and the police/RSPCA find her. The freezemark is there if she gets stolen and I have to launch a full scale man hunt for her (and believe me if she gets nicked I would be paying for someone to go to EVERY market in the UK until I find her!!!).

I was also told by the lady who runs Equine Market Watch that some horse thieves are bunging scrap yards a couple of hundred to go in and stick the lorry under the large magnet. The effectively wipes the microchip rendering it useless

Tilly didn't even bat an eyelid with her freezemark - she reacted more to the microchip jab. Kahn did have a funny few minutes running around the stable, but the lovely lady just walked around the stable with him while he did and he soon settled down. I don't think it was painful, but uncomfortable.

I certainly think that it's a good idea to have some form of ID on them.

Olivia

[baroquefarm]

I like freeze branding as well. We are going to do all of ours with our farm brand. From now on, foals will leave with freeze brands on their hip. We should have done it for the foals last year, but did not know how some people would take marking the ponies, but I rather deter theft, and actually like the way it looks

There is a microchip reader that is universal. My vet has one, it reads the chips from all countries, but there is only one like this. I can't remember the name, but will find out.

[valerie n scout]

my old Dales Acorn was freeze marked but there wasnt the microchipping in those days and he was whole black not a white bit any where but my new two are microchipped i suppose things change but i agree with Debbie the freeze mark shows up across the field nicely obvious x sounds lovely your new move enjoy it x

[SuzieP]

I much prefer freeze branding to hot branding. Bea's stands out well unless his coat grows very long in winter when it's sort of blurry. He's also microchipped. I think freeze branding gives a cleaner, sharper result.

[PonyGirl]

Thank you so much for your imput.

Another question.....Where do I brand ? Neck under the mane? Where the saddle would go? Left rear? Right rear?

Can anyone post pics where the brands are so I can reference?

[SuzieP]

Bea's freezemark is on his shoulder, but other horses on the yard have them in the saddle area. If you brand the saddle area you shouldn't ride for a while (not sure how long) until the area has healed.

My coloured cob, Alfie, has his on his neck because he was mostly white and I wanted the brand on a dark area. The brand followed the line of the coloured patch and looked quite smart.

Sorry, can't post pics because they're on my other laptop which is in hospital at the mo....

[JoM]

Dancer is freezemarked under the saddle area



He just chomped away on some pony nuts whilst it was been done - not affected at all!

[harleydales]

Mine are microshipped, but I might get Harley branded too. THey all hated the chip going in and then the vet showed me it - it was the same size as a grain of rice! No wonder they jumped!

[Debbie]

Daisy is headed for a cowboy state, I think its best to put it on the left hip. That way anyone swinging a saddle can easily see the mark.

Between the hip and the shoulder, I far, far prefer the hip. My secondary place is the neck. Its a bit of tradition, but where she's headed, the left hip and neck are the most often branded, and most visible (traditional) places for a brand to be seen and noted. Keep in mind BLM mustangs and Arabians, and half Arabians are freezemarked on the left neck, so again, it'll be the next place automatically glanced at for a freezemark.

[PonyGirl]

I can't thank ya'll enough for the information.

On a funny thought. Been thinking what to brand. One thought is to do the first letter for both our surnames. But do I really want [glow=red,2,300]S[/glow]&[glow=red,2,300]M[/glow] as a brand? (bit evil as I do like this idea)

Or just an [glow=red,2,300]S[/glow] or just an [glow=red,2,300]M[/glow]. (Sullivan Marshall)

Or even DPS with her registration number.

[Debbie]

"S & M" ...

Hmmm...not really sure at this point with the brands. Can your sister living out there help at all? A lot of ranches will have their brands registered with the USDA if I remember correctly.

If you talk to a freezebranding company, maybe they can give you some ideas? Her DPS number might work as a brand.