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| Branding...what's it all about? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 7 2007, 07:33 PM (229 Views) | |
| snaffle | Jun 7 2007, 07:33 PM Post #1 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Upon looking at a horse's brand the other day, I found myself thinking 'that looks so cool'. But upon further thought, maybe not so cool. I started thinking about a little foal getting poked with this searing hot branding iron. Not such a good image. So then I realized, I know absolutely nothing about branding. Educate me, folks. How does it work? Is it hot or do they freeze brand? Is there pain involved for the horses? At what age is it done? Is it only done in Europe? Is it common in the States? What is the point of it? If it's to identify the horse, wouldn't a micro-chip be (a) less painful and (b) a better identifier? What do you think about it from an ethics point of view? |
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| DairyQueen2049 | Jun 8 2007, 04:54 AM Post #2 |
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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I really don't have anything to add - other thn I need the education too - but if it were me I'd micro chip instead of brand. I haven't done either (except help chip some emus years ago - THAT was fun - NOT) |
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| Robin | Jun 8 2007, 06:02 AM Post #3 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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I went to a kuering of the American Warmblood folks with a friend and her yearling colt. The colt was approved and so could be branded. These folks hot brand. While the process looked quite alarming, it did not seem to bother the colt. While the flames and smoke rolled up quite alarmingly from his hip, he just stood quietly while it happened. Since I was boarding this colt, I also got to see him for the next several weeks afterwards. His hip did swell a bit, but he did not act like it was painful. No rubbing or licking or guarding that area. Colt was far more hostile to the vet who gelded him (turned his butt toward the vet the next time vet came into our barn, several weeks after the gelding!). This brand only marks the colt as approved by this breed association, it does not identify him personally. We have several Russian Warmblood mares at our farm, also boarders, who were freeze branded before they left Russia. The standard there is to brand under the saddle area with two numbers; the upper one indicates year of birth and the lower is birth order at that stud. With that information, any animal can be identified with no special reading equipment (if you have access to the national studbooks). Since there horses are always black or very dark bay, the white numbers stand out very well. The top number means I can tell anyone who asks the age of one of these mares at a glance. |
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| headlesshorseman | Jun 8 2007, 06:53 AM Post #4 |
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You're BANNED!
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I have a 2 year old Oldenburg gelding..he was inspected and HOT branded on his left rear area at age 6 months...It was RED hot and it did burn him..he didn't know it was coming and so the man really pushed it in hard..anyway..you can hardly see it now.. I have a QH gelding and a few years back I got him Freeze Branded..we are/were in an area where horses were being stolen and sent to the slaughter house..Freeze or hot branding will make your horse "stand out" and hopefully the inspector will "run the brand"..any healthly horse will look bad after being in a feedlot for a day or so without food and water..so you can't go on their coats to help them..anyway..with a freeze brand..you design it...meaning, you pick out the letters or numbers you want on your horse.. You clip the area which you want the brand to go...and they freeze the iron with liquid nitrogen..REALLY cold...it makes the hair loose it's pigment so it comes in WHITE.. Either brand that takes place...DO NOT DOCTOR it...if you put meds on it...the scaring will be less...thus the brand will not stand out.. Mean or not..it only hurts for a little while..I kept telling myself..and anything to make them stand out in a stealing situation was worth it... If you own a Registered horse and get them branded...you have to send in your papers and have the association change them...I do know that..I would also check with that registry to make sure it's OK to brand them..they might have some rules against it..and you have to think about showing them as well.. Micro chips are Awesome..but I didn't want to take the chance of the "brand inspector" not having the ability to scan the horses that were coming thru the shoot.. P.S....if you are scared about your horse being stolen and taken to slaughter..the Southwest Cattle Association told me to keep your horses trimmed up..muzzle, ears, fetlocks, etc...that is another way a horse can stand out.. Have a great day..HH
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| One Star | Jun 11 2007, 06:48 AM Post #5 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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My OTTB, who raced lightly and then ended up with cowboys in Texas, was hot branded on his jaw! ![]() You can see the "T" on his jaw if you look closely. My vet speculated that it was either a "T" for the ranch in Texas, or a "T" to indicate he was Tuberculosis-free, as that would be important for cattle ranchers to identify their horses as safe to herd cattle. I believe it is a farm brand, especially after reading this website: http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/brands.htm In any event, he is understandably head-shy because of it. |
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