Freezemark or Microchip??

[Jeni]

Does anyone have some advice to offer about freezemarking versus microchipping. Have you had a horse freezemarked and if so what was your experience of it?

[stormhorse]

Freezemark its visable!!!

[clarea]

Hi Jeni, there is a thread here ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=fame&action=display&thread=104371 that might help you with this.

My boy has both but if you were to have only one done then a freezemark is better as it is a visible deterrant. When I had my boy freezemarked I had him sedated first as he reacted very strongly to having it done. Not all horses do but I personally would sedate first. Just my opinion

[Deleted]

Agree with the others, a freezemark is a deterrent to theft, a microchip will only come into play after the horse is stolen. Talin can be a drama queen at times but didn't bother about being freezemarked, he twitched his shoulder once as if it tickled but barely looked up from his bucket of nuts.

[KimT]

Lady now has both. She was micro chipped when I got her but I opted to get her freezemarked too. Firstly because it is a more visable deterrent and secondly because not many vets in my area have a scanner in their cars as standard and you have to request them to bring it so they obviously dont scan horses very often.

[Jeni]

Thanks for the replies... I was leaning towards freezemarking but just wanted a bit of feedback from those who had experienced it first hand. Tarr doesn't have any issues with the clippers at all so hopefully she would be fine getting it done. Would you go for the shoulder?

[mags]

Both. IMO, the chip is good for record keeping - a 10 digit number is inherently more unique than a 3-4 letter mark. Also, legislation seems to move in the direction of requiring chipping anyway (i.e. to get a passport issued).
But a freezemark is much more visible. I'd go for the shoulder for that reason. You won't have to worry about potential discomfort under the saddle after the marking procedure, nor about having to clip out a patch on the back to keep the number visible with a winter coat. Also, any member of the public (or police force) can read a freezemark without having to handle the horse or having a chip reader.

Mine was chipped as a foal, and I had him freezemarked last fall. He was definitely bothered by the process and I'd probably choose sedation if I had to do it again. That said, he settled very quickly after the procedure and was perfectly fine after it was over.

[rj]

ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=fame&action=display&thread=104371
Welcome to the DG.
We've been talking about this issue for years so do check out the link which has all the info you are asking for,
When you have decided and if it's to have FM please give feedback on that thread to help others too.

[sazjayp]

Do both if you can - but if only one is an option then freezemark...all of mine are done on their shoulders and are chipped too.

[snc]

I had Cassie freezemarked 11 years ago now, two year ago even the vet commented on what a good freezemark it was.

She was fine to freezemark, although a little bothered when the old bars were put on her back, but she never bothered about the clippers at all.

The only thing I wish I had done would have been to have it more visible, its on her back.

I do think microchip is a good alternative, however my concern was that it isn't visible.

O I tied a haynet up for Cassie while they did it, she had a little nibble, but the lady from farmkey was excellent.

[happysnail]

My foal was chipped with her first jab. She had a cuddle with the vet after . Freezemarking will be a dilemma we will address when she's a bit bigger. We're very remote so it can take up to 9 months to even get a freezemark company up.

[june]

You can opt for a personalised freezemark for about £20 extra. Most of the obvious ones have gone but it can be quite fun and creative coming up with them. We've got G4NY for Gany, Bel1 for Bel, D1DA for Dida, CA1P for Caipherini, ALC5 for Alcon, JUL4 for Julianna - JUL1 and JUL5 had gone - TYT0 for Tito, FLC4 for Flecha, OXY1 for Oxyriana, TAP4 for Tapa, P1CA for Picara, LUN4 for Luna and a few others that escape me off the top of my head!

[tl]

Belt and braces, both.

If you are only considering one, then freezemark, its visible.

[K8]

Ours all have both. Every time we have brought a horse... first thing on the list to organise is freezemark!

Lea needs hers redoing, as the hair seems to have grown back. (shes a grey, so it needs to be bald!)

[amber]

Elvis has his own 'private reg'!!.... "L V I S",..it was one of the things i had done as a priority when i found him and consequently become his Mum...

Now i won't particular say he enjoyed the session with Farmkey,..but the lady who came to mark him was wonderful, had all the patience in the world and was very tolerant of a fiesty 4 year old, letting her who DARED to come into his space and perform this procedure without asking him beforehand!!! LOL...

He was in fairness very very good,..but as the third and fourth mark went onto his back, we were both walking round the stable while the farmkey lady held the mark in place (which she was happy to do and just 'go with him' rather than getting all hoity toity with him).. his lips started to really curl and ooooo if looks could kill the farmkey lady, she'd have been on the floor, lifeless, Ha Ha..,...but because his mum was with him,..he was a good'un on the whole.. he did get pretty handy with the 'cow kicks' on and off though as i remember, he wasn't half letting you know that it was stinging a bit!!!..... that'll have been the Typical Welshy stamping of the foot coming out in him!!

Was worth it though and it's a good mark and very visible as it's White on Black!