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Which is best Microchipping or Freezemarking2007-11-24 21:22:26

Which is best Microchipping or Freezemarking, i want to have both my horses either microchipped or freezemarked. I simply can not afford to do both so please give me sensible related answers as to which is best are they both done by a vet or not, and basically which is the most effective. Non Related answers WILL BE DELETED!!

Answers:

If your main worry is not having them stolen then freezemarking every time. Theives will always take an unmarked horse in preference to a marked one and have to show ownership by papers if they sell a freezemarked horse through a sale. As yet there is no requirement for sales staff to check for microchips, also chips can migrate through the fatty layers and get lost in the horses body, harmless to the horse but them they can't be read anymore.However if you're showing, judges don't like freezemarks, they are officially instructed not to mark down for them but lots of judges do. Personally I prefer to have a second place horse still in my field to a first place horse that has disappeared. If you have your horse freezemarked under the saddle he shoudl only be out of work for 3 - 5 days. Microchipping or freezemarking on the neck or quarters they don't need a break. Freezemarking is not done by a vet but by a trained operative from Farmkey, they are always horsepeople so often better with horses than the vet anyway. Another point if your horse goes missing, to the police all horses are the same and are either brown or white. If you can tell them there is a number tattooed on it they are more likely to be able to help.

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i would go for freezemarking any day as a would be theif can see that and it would put them off but not a microchip.

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good question, I am in the same boat, wondering which would be best for my horse. My dilemma is...that my horse is young and still changing colour, has no colour markings, like a white sock or star...nothing...just the cowlicks, and swirls. It would be very difficult to prove that "it was my horse" at a glance if that scenario ever took place. I am thinking that the freeze branding would be better, because you could see it at a glance, say in an open field, or along the road if they had gotten loose while I was travelling. I will probably go with the branding, although I am going to have this question earmarked to watch...thanks for asking.

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I would microchip, freezbrands can be altered.

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Shame we have come to this. Freezbranded horses here in Mo. cant be sold at auctions is what I understand, wich is where alot of stolen horses wind up. Seemed to slow down the horse theieves anyway. At least a thief can see a brand. I guess soon were gonna have to start chipping and branding soon! Especially if the horse meat market goes up again. I say lets shoot, or go back to hanging horse thieves!

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I would go with some form of branding, honestly. I don't think a lot of vets have microchip readers quite yet, and it's not like every lost horse gets scanned for one like lost cats & dogs. A brand is visible and obvious and a good way to help identify your horse in case it gets lost (aka stolen).