Microchip vs. Freeze brand

scalawag · 03-19-2007, 03:52 PM

I have been considering microchipping or freeze branding my horses, and I'm not sure which would be best. I've heard that brands are bad because the hair can be dyed, making it useless. I've heard that microchips are bad because they won't be checked for. I've also heard that I'm a raving idiot who's overly paranoid.

I can't decide. Which of these methods do you use/prefer? Are either of them proven to be more effective? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Whitehorse · 03-19-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scalawag

I have been considering microchipping or freeze branding my horses, and I'm not sure which would be best. I've heard that brands are bad because the hair can be dyed, making it useless. I've heard that microchips are bad because they won't be checked for. I've also heard that I'm a raving idiot who's overly paranoid.

I can't decide. Which of these methods do you use/prefer? Are either of them proven to be more effective? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Just tell them that if they aren't paranoid, they aren't paying attention. j/k
freeze branding will be the most obvious if you need to have quick identification

Orchid · 03-19-2007, 04:08 PM

Why not do both?

gypsy · 03-19-2007, 04:09 PM

Mine are freeze branded. It is noticeable quickly unlike a microchip which has to be scanned for. A microchip is good also.

scalawag · 03-19-2007, 04:21 PM

At the moment, I only have money to do one (heck, what am I talking about? don't have any money at all

), although I would like to eventually have both done. My biggest issue with freeze branding is that I don't know how to go about it; I don't think my vet does it. Most commonly, I've heard that freeze branding is done on the neck; is that not common pratice anymore?

Rocking Horse · 03-19-2007, 04:59 PM

A brand can be done anywhere on the horse (rump, hindquarter, neck etc..)

A brand is more visible and may deter a thief because they and anyone else can see it. A microchip is great, but no one knows it's there but you...

Mule Fool · 03-19-2007, 05:23 PM

I've been wanting to freeze brand ours, but haven't got around to it yet. I like the idea of the freeze brand since it is so visible. maybe on a really expensive horse a thief might be motivated to dye it, but for the average one I think it would be a detterent. Kind of like locking your car door. they can still get in if they really want to but most likely will move along and try to find one that isn't locked.

joustinggirl · 03-19-2007, 05:53 PM

I do both. I know that there is another thread on this somewhere.

StefanieLeann14 · 03-19-2007, 06:25 PM

I would hate to put a horse through a branding but right now I think it would probably be more effective than a microchip. My grulla mare has a beautiful freeze brand and I dont see how anyone can dye the hair to make it look like it hadnt been tampered with. But that might just be her color too. If your vet does AIing he/she should be able to do freeze branding. Usually they just use liquid nitrogen like what is in the AI tanks.

Linebacker55 · 03-19-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StefanieLeann14

I would hate to put a horse through a branding but right now I think it would probably be more effective than a microchip. My grulla mare has a beautiful freeze brand and I dont see how anyone can dye the hair to make it look like it hadnt been tampered with. But that might just be her color too. If your vet does AIing he/she should be able to do freeze branding. Usually they just use liquid nitrogen like what is in the AI tanks.

To Clarify, if your vet does AI with FROZEN Semen, many do not...

almost_mozart · 03-19-2007, 08:32 PM

http://www.neigh.com/photos/a30/b6/p30684228.jpg

Only one of my horses is freeze branded, and she came that way. I have no idea what her brand means and haven't been able to track down its origins, so in that regard its useless. But, it is good for quick identification if it was my brand and the mare was stolen. On the other hand, it could be dyed and altered. So I'll go with the general consensus and say both.

I really want to get my horses branded and chipped, but I just haven't gotten around to it and probably won't...

early_bp · 03-20-2007, 04:46 PM

Does Freeze-branding hurt?

almost_mozart · 03-21-2007, 11:31 AM

Much less than hot branding.

sswtness75 · 03-21-2007, 11:53 AM

I don't know about your region, but unfortunately, around here they haven't started checking for microchips yet. I like freeze branding because it is an identifying mark for horses that might not have one or even horses that do. I have never heard of anyone taking the time to dye the hair over the brand.

aguestnga · 03-21-2007, 01:02 PM

I met a woman at the Parelli conference here in Perry last month who had her mare stolen. Apparently in Georgia a coggins is pulled at auction. She had paid money to be in some kind of database that tracked microchips and when "they" went to pull the coggins at auction, an alarm (or some type of notification) flashed that the horse was stolen. She got her mare back but she said the poor thing is fried in the head and my never be sane again. Very scary stuff.

In THIS case, microchipping did its job.

BarrelraKARA · 03-21-2007, 01:07 PM

I freeze brand but i going to have the m.c. put in because horses around here are getting stolen :shock:

Remona · 03-24-2007, 07:57 AM

I recommend both. Freeze branding is much less painful than hot branding. It's pretty much just a sting. I do suggest sedation to do this. Some vets will freeze brand for you. We freeze branded our own with dry ice and 99% alchohol because you have to have a vessel to transport nitroglyicerin and the vessel is about 600 bucks. Ours are also microchipped. All the identification you can slap on your horse, the better.

Remona
netposse volunteer

NHIceGSD · 03-24-2007, 08:40 AM

What about a tatoo? We have an animal tattoo artist in the area that specializes in doing dogs and horses.

Remona · 03-24-2007, 01:21 PM

A tattoo could work. Thoroughbred race horses are generally tattooed. They do it on the inside of the bottom lip...or is it the top... However most people don't look for tattoo's if the horse is stolen or lost unless it's stated in a flyer if you were searching for the horse. Funny thing though, I worked thoroughbreds for years and the last thing that comes to my mind is to check for a tattoo. Duh me. I'm really quick to look for a brand.
Remona

Linebacker55 · 03-24-2007, 01:57 PM

Most of the TB tattoo's we have seen, and on the horses we have/have had it is hard to read the tattoo.

We have one broodmare with a freezebrand. It is a number, I think it was from the broodmare band she was in previously on Terry Bradshaws ranch.

If we were to mark any of our current horses it would have to be a microchip due to the showing of our horses.

03-19-2007, 03:52 PM
scalawag Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 721	Microchip vs. Freeze brand I have been considering microchipping or freeze branding my horses, and I'm not sure which would be best. I've heard that brands are bad because the hair can be dyed, making it useless. I've heard that microchips are bad because they won't be checked for. I've also heard that I'm a raving idiot who's overly paranoid. I can't decide. Which of these methods do you use/prefer? Are either of them proven to be more effective? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

03-19-2007, 04:08 PM
Orchid Bombproof Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11,048	Why not do both? __________________ Careful what you wish; Careful what you say; Careful what you wish; You may regret it; Careful what you wish; You just might get it. ~ Metallica, King Nothing

03-19-2007, 04:09 PM
gypsy Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Central AR Posts: 1,729	Mine are freeze branded. It is noticeable quickly unlike a microchip which has to be scanned for. A microchip is good also.

03-19-2007, 04:21 PM
scalawag Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 721	At the moment, I only have money to do one (heck, what am I talking about? don't have any money at all ), although I would like to eventually have both done. My biggest issue with freeze branding is that I don't know how to go about it; I don't think my vet does it. Most commonly, I've heard that freeze branding is done on the neck; is that not common pratice anymore?

03-19-2007, 04:59 PM
Rocking Horse Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,388	A brand can be done anywhere on the horse (rump, hindquarter, neck etc..) A brand is more visible and may deter a thief because they and anyone else can see it. A microchip is great, but no one knows it's there but you... __________________ http://www.horsetopia.com/2year.gif ~ Too many freaks, not enough circuses ~

03-19-2007, 05:23 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	I've been wanting to freeze brand ours, but haven't got around to it yet. I like the idea of the freeze brand since it is so visible. maybe on a really expensive horse a thief might be motivated to dye it, but for the average one I think it would be a detterent. Kind of like locking your car door. they can still get in if they really want to but most likely will move along and try to find one that isn't locked.

03-19-2007, 05:53 PM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,799	I do both. I know that there is another thread on this somewhere. __________________ Pink Tiger says \'Grrrrrr\'

03-19-2007, 06:25 PM
StefanieLeann14 Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,420	I would hate to put a horse through a branding but right now I think it would probably be more effective than a microchip. My grulla mare has a beautiful freeze brand and I dont see how anyone can dye the hair to make it look like it hadnt been tampered with. But that might just be her color too. If your vet does AIing he/she should be able to do freeze branding. Usually they just use liquid nitrogen like what is in the AI tanks.

03-19-2007, 08:32 PM
almost_mozart Started Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: .....transitioning..... Posts: 2,423	http://www.neigh.com/photos/a30/b6/p30684228.jpg Only one of my horses is freeze branded, and she came that way. I have no idea what her brand means and haven't been able to track down its origins, so in that regard its useless. But, it is good for quick identification if it was my brand and the mare was stolen. On the other hand, it could be dyed and altered. So I'll go with the general consensus and say both. I really want to get my horses branded and chipped, but I just haven't gotten around to it and probably won't...

03-20-2007, 04:46 PM
early_bp Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 89	Does Freeze-branding hurt?

03-21-2007, 11:31 AM
almost_mozart Started Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: .....transitioning..... Posts: 2,423	Much less than hot branding.

03-21-2007, 11:53 AM
sswtness75 Started Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,347	I don't know about your region, but unfortunately, around here they haven't started checking for microchips yet. I like freeze branding because it is an identifying mark for horses that might not have one or even horses that do. I have never heard of anyone taking the time to dye the hair over the brand. __________________ Proud parent of two beautiful girls, four horses, four dogs, two cats, two goats

03-21-2007, 01:02 PM
aguestnga Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 448	I met a woman at the Parelli conference here in Perry last month who had her mare stolen. Apparently in Georgia a coggins is pulled at auction. She had paid money to be in some kind of database that tracked microchips and when "they" went to pull the coggins at auction, an alarm (or some type of notification) flashed that the horse was stolen. She got her mare back but she said the poor thing is fried in the head and my never be sane again. Very scary stuff. In THIS case, microchipping did its job. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, '...holy smokes...what a ride!'" Author Unknown

03-21-2007, 01:07 PM
BarrelraKARA Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: texas Posts: 46	I freeze brand but i going to have the m.c. put in because horses around here are getting stolen :shock:

03-24-2007, 07:57 AM
Remona Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 6	I recommend both. Freeze branding is much less painful than hot branding. It's pretty much just a sting. I do suggest sedation to do this. Some vets will freeze brand for you. We freeze branded our own with dry ice and 99% alchohol because you have to have a vessel to transport nitroglyicerin and the vessel is about 600 bucks. Ours are also microchipped. All the identification you can slap on your horse, the better. Remona netposse volunteer __________________ netposse.com Horse Theft Education Begins Here!

03-24-2007, 08:40 AM
NHIceGSD Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 819	What about a tatoo? We have an animal tattoo artist in the area that specializes in doing dogs and horses. __________________ Be Something You Love and Understand~ Lynard Skynard

03-24-2007, 01:21 PM
Remona Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 6	A tattoo could work. Thoroughbred race horses are generally tattooed. They do it on the inside of the bottom lip...or is it the top... However most people don't look for tattoo's if the horse is stolen or lost unless it's stated in a flyer if you were searching for the horse. Funny thing though, I worked thoroughbreds for years and the last thing that comes to my mind is to check for a tattoo. Duh me. I'm really quick to look for a brand. Remona __________________ netposse.com Horse Theft Education Begins Here!

03-24-2007, 01:57 PM
Linebacker55 Started Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,262	Most of the TB tattoo's we have seen, and on the horses we have/have had it is hard to read the tattoo. We have one broodmare with a freezebrand. It is a number, I think it was from the broodmare band she was in previously on Terry Bradshaws ranch. If we were to mark any of our current horses it would have to be a microchip due to the showing of our horses. __________________ www.risingwaterqh.com RISING WATER QUARTER HORSES Home of World and Reserve World Champions AQHA/ABRA/IBHA