In the United States, branding of horses is not generally mandated by the government; however, there are a few exceptions: captured Mustangs made available for adoption by the BLM are freeze branded on the neck, usually with the AABS or Read more…
Its natural predators are large animals such as cougars, wolves, or bears, so its ability to outrun these predators is critical. As humans, we need to understand their natural flightiness in order to fully understand horses. What kills a horse Read more…
To be legal and official, you need to register your brand with your state’s department of agriculture. To make a brand, you can use any combination of capital letters, numbers and symbols (like circles and hash marks). Where can I Read more…
A farrier is a skilled craftsperson with a sound knowledge of both theory and practice of the craft, capable of shoeing all types of equine feet, whether normal or defective, of making shoes to suit all types of work and Read more…
A dental float files down the teeth with a manual or power-operated file. Horses chew in a circular motion. The upper jaw is also wider than the lower jaw, so horses commonly develop sharp points on the outside of their Read more…
Hot branding involves the use of an iron stamp heated to around 500 ºC (930 ºF), a temperature sufficient to destroy all three layers of an animal’s skin and leave a permanent scar. This process is extremely painful and can Read more…
Table 1. Branding times based on age and color of horse and type of branding iron used. Color (age) Stainless steel Copper/brass Dark* horses (8 months and younger) 8 seconds 7 seconds Dark horses (older) 8 seconds 10 seconds Light* Read more…
As soon as possible, have a veterinarian examine the horse. Continued movement can worsen the fracture or cause additional injury to the horse, so it must be kept as still as possible. 2 If the veterinarian determines the fracture can Read more…
It is illegal in most states and considered bad manners in all states to place a new brand over an existing brand. You can, however, brand your horse with your brand on the opposite hip or shoulder from an existing Read more…
In addition, branding can be a form of marketing for ranches and pedigrees. While cattle owners often choose hot-branding, most horse owners prefer freeze-branding to permanently identify their horses. Freeze-branding is a safe, economical, and simple method that can be Read more…