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Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

1579.0. "Freeze Marking" by QETOO::ZBROWN () Mon Jan 13 1992 14:21

    
    
    	This may be a silly question but when I was reading the note
    	regarding the saughter house's, someone mentioned Freeze Marking.
    	My horse has a freeze mark but he is also a gray and as each year
    	passes it's harder too see.  My question is do I need to have this
    	done again because it's fading or is this method a one time deal?
    
    	I feel so silly for asking but I just had to...
    
    	Thanks so much
    
    	Zina 
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1579.1Other ways to MarkBRAT::FULTZMon Jan 13 1992 14:398
    
    
    	Are there other way to mark a horse..?
    
    	Our dogs are tattooed.. I know that they do it to race horses
    	I was just wondering if they could do it like they do dogs..?
    
    
1579.2Basics on freeze marking and possible answersDECWET::JDADDAMIOAdmire spirit in horses & women!Mon Jan 13 1992 15:5629
    Freeze marking is done with "branding irons" chilled by liquid
    nitrogen. The hair of the area to be branded is clipped as close to the 
    skin as a vet would do before performing surgery. This is so that the iron 
    has direct contact with the skin. The chilled iron is held against the
    skin for a varying number of seconds according to the color of the horse.
    
    For gray horses or horses which have white hair in the area to be
    marked, the iron is left in place long enough to cause bald spots in
    the shape of the iron. For other color horses, the iron is in contact
    with the skin only long enough to kill the pigmentation cells in the
    hair root. This causes the hair to grow back as white where the iron
    touched the skin.
    
    This method of marking is painless. We had several horses marked this
    way about 10 years ago. One objected to the clipping(on the neck in our
    case) because she was not used to clippers on the neck. They did NOT
    object to the cold iron AT ALL. The branded skin was injured only
    slightly and recovered in a week or two. During that time, the injured
    skin would attract flies so it's best to do this when flies are out of
    season.
    
    Re the gray horse with the fading freeze brand. Are the bald spots
    re-growing hair or is the surrounding hair just masking the mark? 
    
    Was the horse perhaps young enough to still have color when marked? If
    it was still a bay, chestnut or whatever when marked, the person who 
    marked it may not have realized that it was a gray and marked it as a
    bay or whatever. That would result in the white of the mark blending in 
    with the white/gray hairs of the gray coat as the horse grays with age.
1579.3Try clipping the areaMR4DEC::GCOOKSave the SkeetsMon Jan 13 1992 16:277
    If you have a gray horse, try clipping the area where the mark is...
    if it was done correctly, clipping will reveal the number right on
    the skin almost like scar tissue.  Even on a dark horse I would
    think clipping would help you read the number.  It's hard to see
    what you're looking at when the white hairs get too long.
    
    Gwen
1579.4Thank you for all the replies so far!QETOO::ZBROWNMon Jan 13 1992 17:2311
    RE: 2
    
    	The hair has grown in on the freeze mark all white but he is 
    	turning white so...  I'll wait until spring and see how much 
    	has faded this time.  You can't see it all right now with his 
    	winter coat.  He was much darker when I got him but, like most 
    	grays, they lighten up with age.
    
    	Thank you-
    
    	Zina
1579.5All InternationalASABET::NICKERSONKATHIE NICKERSON 223-2025Tue Jan 14 1992 10:207
    Zina...
    Check with International.  He was done young but even then he was grey.
    If you feel he should be done again, International may have someone in
    the area or we could get a group together for the area.
    Let us know what happens.
    Kathie
    
1579.6QETOO::ZBROWNTue Jan 14 1992 13:366
    
    	Thank you Kathie, I'll let you know what happens.
    
    
    	Zina