NYC Carriage Horse Collapses (TW Photos)

[jvanrens]

@quietann

If he had a clear racing freeze brand, undoubtedly.

BTW, the main Standardbred registry in the US is no longer requiring freeze branding. Many people think this is so the racehorse rejects can be “disappeared” into the Amish world with little likelihood of finding out where they came from. I think they’re doing microchipping instead, but most auctions don’t read microchips on consigned horses. So many STBs are plain bay with few or no white markings, they are nearly impossible to tell apart.

That’s right, USTA and Standardbred Canada are no longer requiring freezebrands since the introduction of microchips, but a lot of bigger farms and racing stables are doing it anyway. They’re only impossible to tell apart if you don’t know them, sort of like a red QH.