Freeze Brands

[gbarmranch]

We are looking into getting a freeze brand to put on all of our foals next year (we are still "discussing" the size, design and area of application , but that is a different topic!). I have googled and found a lot of interesting information, but wonder who has had actual experinece with them. Comments, stories, warnings, etc. would be appreciated!

[skipsnightlady81]

I have always wanted to either freeze brand or hot brand my horses but I know nothing about it and can't do it myself. I would love to hear what other peoples experiences are

[cook1745]

We helped a friend about 2 years ago. The only real advise I have is to Make sure it stays in place long enough, and the horse is sedated well (so it won't move around). If the horse moves it will mess up the brand, because of course, once it's on there, ..it's ON there.
The brand will show up well on dark horses, but not as well on lighter horses (the brand will turn the hair white when it comes back in).

We're thinking about branding our horses in the future, but not sure how we'll do it. I guess both ways have advantages/disadvantages.

[gbarmranch]

I understand that the copper ones are the best - I would never use a hot brand... does the size of the brand make a difference?

[cook1745]

His was copper, and did a good job.
I don't think the size matters (don't quote me though )
I think it had to stay on the body for 30 Seconds minimum on a shaved area.
(the branding iron should come with instructions)

[gbarmranch]

Thanks - the other option I have heard about is to hire a company to come in and do the branding either with your brand or with ones they can put togeher for you...has anyone done this?

[ToveroMom]

On light horses the brand stays on longer so that the hair shafts underneath are destroyed and the brand is really showing the skin.
I have seen folks who do this advertise but never had it done. Let me know how it goes.

[gbarmranch]

If I ever find someone to do it, I will. I would rather hire someone the first time then mess it up by doing it ourselves Not a great way to advertise your horses - I can see it now - half a G - no bar - and an upside-down M...

[jules1962]

My horses were Freeze Branded many years ago. My now 27 year old Palomino was down as a weanling, they used a smaller copper iron so that it would not grow huge. My horses are done under their manes, which was the norm back then. My good friend worked for Kryo-Kinetics back then and she branded thousands of horses. I am not even sure of the status of the company anymore.
The branding did not seem to cause as much pain as hot-branding seems to. The healing process was fairly quick and uneventful.

[miss leanne]

I helped my cousin freeze brand about 12 horses. It's really easy, I don't think you can mess it up (well, technically you COULD, but if you just follow the simple common sense rules, you should be fine ).

We just shaved the spot really close with the clippers, had our friend who's husband was a doctor get us some dry ice, we'd stick the copper brand she had made into the dry ice for about 20 seconds or so, and then held the brand in place on the skin for about the same amount of time (20 seconds or so). From what I've seen, they still look good all these years later. Her brand, FYI, was a 3Y with the top of the Y forming the bottom part of the 3. It was pretty cool, since the ranch name was Triple Y Ranch.

To get the horse to hold still, we of course sedated them, but some we had to sedate and put in stocks. Either way, it kind of depends on the horse.

I've seen BIG brands right on the horse's cheek ( ), on shoulders and hips.

I think you contact the registrar of brands, but I'm not for certain.

Good luck, Gbar!

[gbarmranch]

Thanks, Miss Leanne, the way you put it we could do it - I will just have to get the sedative from the vet.. I want a small brand with the G, a bar coming off the G and connecting to the M - preferably for use on the thigh area and about three inces in size total...Pat wants a bigger brand, all seprate letters and symbols, on the shoulder...ULK!!!!

[bummbles99]

I have a Approx. 20 year old horse that has double branding: One large brand on her left hip, and the other probably a freeze brand on her upper lip. The upper lip branding is getting hard to read, but the other is still very clear. I have not witnessed a branding, but I sure I could feel the horses pain. OUCH

[joustinggirl]

Before you choose a brand, check with your state ag department and make sure no one else has your brand registered. They should be able to send you a list of registered brands and location of those brands. We used Naasco Company. They made our brand and it was copper. Copper works better for freeze branding. I have our vet come out and lay the horse down, we do it at 2 years so they can castrate or check for wolf teeth at the same time. Our brand came with times for the different colors and ages.

[muttduck]

I'm glad this came up (again) as I have been contemplating getting Berry done, strictly for id purposes. Lily has hers from the BLM.


GbarM, lemme know what you find out.

And if any central KY folks know of freeze branding companies that do it for you, PM me.

[gbarmranch]

I have someone who knows a company that brands - I am waiting to hear back from her. I will PM you the info when I get it... We have several to do, so I am hoping my vet will rpovide the tranqs to keep them motionless for the 20 seconds needed... Otherwise, this could get western

[greyhorse]

Years ago a friend of mine wanted to get into freeze branding and got all the supplies and started a small registry. She had a tank of liguid nitrogen (if I remember right) and numbers she could change on a holder. We just shaved the area and branded. None of the ones we ever did were sedated. All depends on the horse.

[morgansmom]

On a side note, how do you know if your horse is branded, or if he just has a spot? My black paint has a few small odd-shaped white spots, and one on his neck looks like it might be a WP, or W something. It's possibly just a spot, but is there a way to tell for sure, without shaving his neck?

[cascy]

Originally Posted by gbarmranch

Otherwise, this could get western

Now we have our own horsetopia version of John Wayne!

I love it!

Or in the words of Paris Hilton.... That's Hot! (well freeze branding might be considered cold )

[cascy]

I wanna go to Gbar's house and "get western" Who's coming with me? Gbar, You dont mind to adopt me do you?

[bettymo]

Originally Posted by bummbles99

I have a Approx. 20 year old horse that has double branding: One large brand on her left hip, and the other probably a freeze brand on her upper lip. The upper lip branding is getting hard to read, but the other is still very clear. I have not witnessed a branding, but I sure I could feel the horses pain. OUCH

how would they freeze brand a lip? there's no hair. i thought lip "brands" were tattoos
freeze branding is supposedly not painfull at all...just a cold sensation. and they are supposed to really last. no fading like tats or weird scar tissue changes like hot brands. that's just what i've read.