Branding a Grey Horse

[leheath]

Not sure if this is the best place to post, but I have a question about branding. My mare is a rare breed and a grey with very few distinguishing marks. I have the opportunity to get her branded with her registration brand and have the choice of hot or freeze branding, but not sure of the best choice. Any comparisons for grey horses?

Freeze branding seems most popular but maybe not for greys? I hear you can just do the freeze branding longer so no hair grows back - is this effective?

Does it make a difference if any significant cuts/scrapes seem to grow back in with dark/black hair (is this common in greys)?

Is the healing time significantly different - I have a competition 1 week after the branding day?

TIA

[Highflyer]

I’ve only seen hot brands, and only on babies. They are no different than branding a dark bay originally, and then get more visible (black) as the horse grays out. They healed well and never seemed to bother the horses.

[ladyj79]

I prefer hot brands in general but on a grey it will definitely be and remain more noticeable.

[Daventry]

If it were me and I had a choice between cold branding and hot branding a grey, I would choose hot branding. The hot brand will remain distinguishable on a grey. A cold brand may not as they grey out. Branding is done on older animals. Many yearlings, two-year-olds and older horses are branding when presented later in life at warmblood inspections. Many Quarter Horse and Paint breeders also brand older stock.

[leheath]

Interesting, I didn’t expect primarily support for hot branding.

If it makes a difference, this mare is already pretty greyed out. She is getting more and more flea bitten with age, but she isn’t going any whiter.

What is the healing time on hot vs freeze branding on mature horses?

[Daventry]

@leheath

What is the healing time on hot vs freeze branding on mature horses?

I believe there are a few studies that have shown that freeze branding is worse. Basically, you are comparing a burn to frostbite. I only have one experience with freeze branding, and I will say the burn was more severe and took longer to heal than any of the horses we have had hot branded. That being said, I no longer brand anything and just microchip. I just found it to be too cruel for the horses. I believe branding is also now illegal in Europe.

[ladyj79]

It’s no longer allowed in some European countries. I am pro branding.

with hot brands there’s not really a “healing time” as it’s just over and done. We had to rebrand a four year old, because hot branding is now so innocuous that we have had foal brands disappear. The four year old was in work the next day, same as when our hanoverian mares received their book specific brands in the early 90s.

[tinah]

thanks for this, guys. I’m considering branding my herd, or at least the lifers, because sometimes bad stuff happens. Even though most of them have lip tattoos, someone would have to care enough to look. A brand is easy for law enforcement and sale barn workers to look for.

[Guilherme]

I’ve got two hot-branded gray horses (and have owned two others). The process was done by a vet.* who made it quick, correct, and there were no healing issues. After almost 20 years the brand is clear on one.

IMO most of the opposition to branding is based upon human prejudice and assumption not on actuality.

G.

*We have Mangalarga Marchador horses and branding is part of the inspection process, usually done at three years of age. Mine have ranged up to five at the time of inspection and branding. All the inspectors are either veterinarians or licensed inspectors with significant qualifications. It’s my understanding that micro-chipping is growing in popularity and many want to do away with branding. I’m not so sure that’s a good idea as a brand is obvious to the naked eye and a chip is only obvious if you have the correct reader. IMO it’s a good idea to do both.

[leheath]

Thanks to everyone who has shared their branding experience - super helpful and made me feel much better about the entire process. I’ve never owned a brandable breed so have little experience in this area. But bad things happen and I think the brand will be more likely to be seen, examined, and maybe followed up on compared to a microchip (I have had bad experienced with microchips in dogs, so not sold on them yet). As she is a rare breed, it will probably “stand out” more as “different.”

I will go with hot branding as the brander is most experienced in this method and the time of application is significantly shorter for grey horses using a hot brand compared to the freeze brand.

[Action42]

For those of you who branded, I have a GOV gelding that is now 3. He was a Premium foal at his inspection and is microchipped but not branded. I realize that the GOV isn’t branding any more, but is it still possible to have him branded? I feel like he would be safer someday in the future if I were to ever sell him, as a branded horse should he end up in the wrong hands. Is branding a 3yo inherantly cruel? Do you all agree that having him branded (if possible) would be another line of defense for him?

[ladyj79]

I said above we rebranded a four year old, no big deal. Forgotten in a moment, working the next day.