Freeze Branding

OTTB-LUVER · 04-28-2005, 01:35 PM

im interested in getting my horse freeze branded to deter theft. i tryed to ask my vet but he couldnt give me an answer. does anyone here know how i would go about getting him FB? can i do it myself, i found a website that said i could, or do i get it prof done. i would feel better about a pro doing it.
thanx in advance for the help!

muttduck · 04-29-2005, 06:55 AM

Ya know... I was thinking about freeze branding Strawberry. I would love to have a permanent way to ID her. Especially after the post about the stolen filly...

ThorArb · 04-29-2005, 11:18 AM

Freeze branding is virtually painless to the horse. After it has been done, the hair grows in permanently white. (which means, put it on a dark area,

) Anyways, you can go to specific websites where you can custom make your brand. FB isnt too hard to make. I believe it can be pretty costly. But worth it I suppose. Its especially useful if your horse has no specific marks that make him identifiably easily. i.e my paint filly Raine has very distinct markings (there wouldnt ever be a horse colored like her) and has a very noticeably white spot under her belly about the size of a silver dollar. Now what horse do you know that has something exactly like that, in the exact same place? But say your horse is a solid bay, no white markings at all, thats were freeze branding can help. I think a professional is best left to do this for you. It can be pretty tricky. The most common places are on the shoulders and hindquarters although I have seen it on the neck and cheek. The neck seems more for the Arabian and Mustang breeds. Im sure there are others, but those I see most often. I like the idea of putting it on my horses cheek (Togan is dun, Raine is buckskin, and Zippy is chestnut, cant do my paint mare, she is cremello tobiano, more white)

24cindy24 · 04-29-2005, 11:51 AM

My husbands $20,000 roping horse has a freeze brand and most of the time they put it on their shoulders. This is where his is. it looks pretty cool. There is no way anyone could match his brand and since the horse is worth so much. The hair feels the same it just is white.

OTTB-LUVER · 05-02-2005, 09:09 AM

ive researched it on the web, all i have really found were places where you could buy supplies and instructions on how to do it your self. i couldnt find anything about getting it done professionally, the sites all said it was easy to do, but also easy to mess up. i dont really want to make my bay ottb into a paint

because of my screw ups! other than the neck which i dont concider an option, ive seen it on the shoulder, rump and along the spine under the saddle.

24cindy24 · 05-02-2005, 10:40 AM

my husband said that any vet should be able to do the freeze brand for you. I know all the vets around here do and that is where he got his horses done at. Try your vet or even some others in the area... One should be able to do it for you.

EquineAlberta · 05-02-2005, 10:45 AM

Canada wants to start a nationwide freeze branding program, similar to having to license a car. I doubt they will be able to pull it off, but it is an intersting idea.

the freeze brand would by along their crest, so that the mane could hide it for the most part.

The problem with freezebranding vs. normal branding or tatooing, is that is it easy to hide. It will discourage theft sure, but if someone wants to steal your horse and send it to auction or slaughter right away, it is very easy to colour the white hair and effectively hide the freeze brand.

ToveroMom · 05-02-2005, 11:05 AM

If the freeze brand is left on the skin longer-like on white horses the hair shaft is destroyed- and the brand is left showing the dark skin
I like the idea of a brand-and a chip
both have their place in protecting the horse-but the chip may get the horse home quickly

OTTB-LUVER · 05-02-2005, 11:06 AM

i did try my vet but so far ive not had a call back. i know that the freeze marks are easy to cover, but if horse thiefs have to make a choice between a branded horse or a non-branded horse there not going to pick the branded one.
canada's i dea may work, england has a nationwide program, granted that's slightly smaller scale but most of the horses are branded. for id and tacking they actually have a passport that contains all markings including brands that has to be filled out by the vet.
i know that the us was talking about some sort of national horse id after the bse thing last yr, but i dont think that ever went anywhere.

DLR · 05-10-2005, 06:14 AM

Most sates requires you to register your brand. In Minnesota it is good for 10 yrs. When you register, you state where the brand willl be on the animal. L & H Branding Irons, Mandan ND 800-437-8068 sells the freeze branding irons for about $80. This is where I got my. You use dry ice and alcohol to get the iron cold enough for the brand. hold onto the animal a full 60 seconds for good results. We have been doing for years. If you do not hold on for the full 60 seconds, you won't like the results.

04-28-2005, 01:35 PM
OTTB-LUVER Newborn Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 35	Freeze Branding im interested in getting my horse freeze branded to deter theft. i tryed to ask my vet but he couldnt give me an answer. does anyone here know how i would go about getting him FB? can i do it myself, i found a website that said i could, or do i get it prof done. i would feel better about a pro doing it. thanx in advance for the help! __________________ falling off a horse is like shutting your hand in the car door....you know it can happen, you just dont plan on it!

04-29-2005, 06:55 AM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 7,062	Ya know... I was thinking about freeze branding Strawberry. I would love to have a permanent way to ID her. Especially after the post about the stolen filly... __________________ sigh

04-29-2005, 11:18 AM
ThorArb Kid Safe Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Conyers, GA Posts: 6,018	Freeze branding is virtually painless to the horse. After it has been done, the hair grows in permanently white. (which means, put it on a dark area, ) Anyways, you can go to specific websites where you can custom make your brand. FB isnt too hard to make. I believe it can be pretty costly. But worth it I suppose. Its especially useful if your horse has no specific marks that make him identifiably easily. i.e my paint filly Raine has very distinct markings (there wouldnt ever be a horse colored like her) and has a very noticeably white spot under her belly about the size of a silver dollar. Now what horse do you know that has something exactly like that, in the exact same place? But say your horse is a solid bay, no white markings at all, thats were freeze branding can help. I think a professional is best left to do this for you. It can be pretty tricky. The most common places are on the shoulders and hindquarters although I have seen it on the neck and cheek. The neck seems more for the Arabian and Mustang breeds. Im sure there are others, but those I see most often. I like the idea of putting it on my horses cheek (Togan is dun, Raine is buckskin, and Zippy is chestnut, cant do my paint mare, she is cremello tobiano, more white) __________________ Proud owner of Gracie (98 App mare), Dezi (06 App filly), Togan (88 QH gelding)

04-29-2005, 11:51 AM
24cindy24 Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hill Country in Texas Posts: 266	My husbands $20,000 roping horse has a freeze brand and most of the time they put it on their shoulders. This is where his is. it looks pretty cool. There is no way anyone could match his brand and since the horse is worth so much. The hair feels the same it just is white.

05-02-2005, 09:09 AM
OTTB-LUVER Newborn Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 35	ive researched it on the web, all i have really found were places where you could buy supplies and instructions on how to do it your self. i couldnt find anything about getting it done professionally, the sites all said it was easy to do, but also easy to mess up. i dont really want to make my bay ottb into a paint because of my screw ups! other than the neck which i dont concider an option, ive seen it on the shoulder, rump and along the spine under the saddle. __________________ falling off a horse is like shutting your hand in the car door....you know it can happen, you just dont plan on it!

05-02-2005, 10:40 AM
24cindy24 Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hill Country in Texas Posts: 266	my husband said that any vet should be able to do the freeze brand for you. I know all the vets around here do and that is where he got his horses done at. Try your vet or even some others in the area... One should be able to do it for you.

05-02-2005, 10:45 AM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,417	Canada wants to start a nationwide freeze branding program, similar to having to license a car. I doubt they will be able to pull it off, but it is an intersting idea. the freeze brand would by along their crest, so that the mane could hide it for the most part. The problem with freezebranding vs. normal branding or tatooing, is that is it easy to hide. It will discourage theft sure, but if someone wants to steal your horse and send it to auction or slaughter right away, it is very easy to colour the white hair and effectively hide the freeze brand.

05-02-2005, 11:05 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	If the freeze brand is left on the skin longer-like on white horses the hair shaft is destroyed- and the brand is left showing the dark skin I like the idea of a brand-and a chip both have their place in protecting the horse-but the chip may get the horse home quickly __________________

05-02-2005, 11:06 AM
OTTB-LUVER Newborn Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 35	i did try my vet but so far ive not had a call back. i know that the freeze marks are easy to cover, but if horse thiefs have to make a choice between a branded horse or a non-branded horse there not going to pick the branded one. canada's i dea may work, england has a nationwide program, granted that's slightly smaller scale but most of the horses are branded. for id and tacking they actually have a passport that contains all markings including brands that has to be filled out by the vet. i know that the us was talking about some sort of national horse id after the bse thing last yr, but i dont think that ever went anywhere. __________________ falling off a horse is like shutting your hand in the car door....you know it can happen, you just dont plan on it!

05-10-2005, 06:14 AM
DLR Newborn Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1	Most sates requires you to register your brand. In Minnesota it is good for 10 yrs. When you register, you state where the brand willl be on the animal. L & H Branding Irons, Mandan ND 800-437-8068 sells the freeze branding irons for about $80. This is where I got my. You use dry ice and alcohol to get the iron cold enough for the brand. hold onto the animal a full 60 seconds for good results. We have been doing for years. If you do not hold on for the full 60 seconds, you won't like the results.