I am getting ready to have my mules branded and am not sure what size. I am thinking 2 inches. Anyone have branded equines and what size would anyone suggest.
Oue horse brand is one letter and is 2 3/4" x 3 1/4".
That is about standard size for branding symbols in horses, a little smaller may make it harder to read, bigger would look gaudy.
Where/who is doing the branding? I think a brand is a good distinguishing identifier for “plain bay” type horse.
I have had 2 horses hot branded when I bought them and think a freeze brand might be more visible.
I now want to freeze brand another horse and cannot find anyone to do it.
Our veterinarians do the freeze branding, since they also do much reproduction work, they can use the same coolant.
Branding has been a free service to their clients for decades, not sure if there is a cost if you are not a client.
The regional cattlemen’s association, that also runs their own livestock inspectors, has regular branding seminars.
When they have some here, they have them at a veterinary clinic and there horses get a file in their records and microchipped and/or branded if some want to.
Before DNA testing, we had ours freeze branded. Letter size was a couple of inches under the mane so it doesn’t show.
I think, which means I don’t know for sure, that there are standards for brands and you need to register them. You may find information with your local Farm Bureau as to requirements and resources.
Here, brands are registered in the county courthouse once every so many years.
Some states have only one place to register and it serves the whole state.
Some of those states also demand brand inspections when you move livestock or sell it.
Generally veterinarians are familiar with those regulations where you live.
Ask your vet about this.
I think that a 2" shoulder or hip brand may be too small.
That is the size used for under the mane with angle symbols, not for a brand you can see without needing to be right by it.
Many of the big breeders of western horses have “reputation brands”.
Many buyers will pay more for one of their horses if it was branded.
These brands are a size you can read and recognize easily in pictures and across a road, while performing in a video and such, about 3" to 4".
Since brands were originally to deter theft, they needed to be where they could be seen easily, not hidden or too little.
Neat brands with pretty designs and that can be recognized are nice looking.
Freeze branding doesn’t really hurt a horse.
Thanks for all the replies. I think I am going with a 2&1/2. When I hold it up to my mule it looks pretty big. Solely for id. I have already registered with the state and got a brand certificate back.
Please make sure you follow you state’s brand laws. Check with your state Dept. of Agriculture.
States for which no brand laws or applications can be found include: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
But note that a state adjoining DE and MD (with no brand laws), Pennsylvania, does require brand registration. It is illegal to mark an animal in PA if that mark is not registered with the PA Dept. of Agriculture.
If you have any standardbred farms/ tracks close by, they would know who does the branding. Or maybe emailing/ calling the harness racing association , the probably have a few people who travel around.
P.
Now standardbred freeze brands are big and ugly and overly visible!
I have my own personal brand and it’s 4 inches tall, but it’s not a complicated design so it’s not overwhelming on my horses. That was the recommended size from the foundry making mine.
