Freeze Marking and Hoof Branding

A horse is just like any other pet you may own; after a while they become part of the family and you will want to be able to positively ID them if they are lost or stolen. If you don t have positive identification for your horse your chances of finding them if they are missing are slim.

As a UK equine insurance company we would recommend that you have your horse security marked to help deter thieves. There are two methods used today that are humane and won t cause any harm to the animal. They are freeze marking (also called freeze branding) and hoof branding.

Freeze Marking

This is one of the most popular methods used for identification and proof of ownership. There is a national register where all horses that have been freeze marked are recorded. All of the information kept in the register is available to police forces across the country to aid them in tracing lost or stolen horses.

Freeze branding is a humane method to identify your animal from others. It uses a branding iron that has been chilled dry ice or liquid nitrogen. Instead of burning a scar into the animal the way traditional hot branding does, the freeze brand effects the pigment producing hair cells and the freezing process causes the horse s hair to grow white where the marking had been applied.

Freeze marking is much more humane than hot branding and it is also less painful and the markings are more visible than traditional hot brands.

Hoof Branding

Hoof branding is a form of hot iron branding and it is not a permanent mark. This is a painless process and does not harm the horse. Usually in Australia and Europe the postal code is used as the information that is branded onto the horse's hoof. This is used by horse traders for identification purposes when they don t want to leave a permanent mark.

You can purchase the branding irons and have your farrier apply the brand. This has to be done periodically, usually two or three times per year. It is a reliable theft deterrent and does no harm to the horse as it is completely painless. It is quick and easy for your farrier to apply and it is visible but discreet. Hoof branding is done by many different organisations including the Army Mounted Regiments, the Mounted Police forces, Donkey Sanctuary, and Polo clubs.

Do you work with horses or for an identification company? Have you ever had a horse stolen? Please comment here and share your experiences with other visitors - Animal Friends  Equine Insurance customers would love to hear what you have to say.