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Post by iceberg on Oct 7, 2008 18:16:14 GMT 1
Thats a good point lindaandrascal - wasnt thinking of youngsters, but yes a good precaution for them.x
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Oranges
Grand Prix Poster
Moments of Perfection
Posts: 3,840
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Post by Oranges on Oct 7, 2008 20:54:53 GMT 1
I prefer Freezemarking.
Actually in theory i like the sound of microchipping, but mum once knew a dog that was microchipped and the chip moved and somehow got into its heart and killed it. Very much a one off but i've heard its not uncommon for them to move. I'm actually quite worried about this law next year that instead of passports just being swapped about there will be some scumbag gouging the chips out or somthing. Sorry tbh i'm just a bit nervous of microchipping any animal. I think tho, if microchips were checked more and actually meant horses were returned when stolen, i would be happier with them.
TBH i think the best way would just to shoot the bloody thieves. Might help.
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Post by donkeydude on Oct 7, 2008 21:21:56 GMT 1
I have always had mine Freezemarked, as microchips really are almost a waste of time and money. Currently there are about six microchip systems, which cannot be read by all scanners. Police, RSPCA etc rarely carry scanners, and more markets DON'T rather than do. Until it is a unified system, it cannot work very well. As from 1 June 2009 of course all foals born on or after must be microchipped.
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Post by confidentgal08 on Oct 7, 2008 21:30:40 GMT 1
mine are chipped. purley because of the fact they found my cat through micro chip process. i got a phone call saying that someone had handed him in and was being treated for poisning, i had to go nad get hin 10 miles from where we were living. he had been lost for 2 weeks and i was giving up on the idea that i would ever see him again. so scanners do work. yes the chip can move but was reassured it would go too far because of all the muscle matter but i think your mums aquaintance were really unlucky for it to go into the heart. I have had one pony scanned when he was with me and that too came up on a scanner. freeze marks can get altered visably. which ever way you look at getting sercuity measures for your horse it can beat installation of cctv, warning signs, good quality padlocks and heavy duty chains.
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Post by circusdancer on Oct 7, 2008 22:01:31 GMT 1
The ponies have both, but if it were a choice of one or the other, the visible deterrant of freezemarking would be my preference.
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Post by june on Oct 7, 2008 22:17:33 GMT 1
At a recent Horsewatch meeting they gave the following statistics.
80 horses are stolen each year. Of those stolen, between 0 and 5 are freezemarked. Of the stolen freezemarked horses 95%-100% are recovered. Of the non-freezemarked horses very few are ever recovered.
Freezemarking is by far the best deterrant. There are Horsewatch members out there who spend a lot of time looking for stolen horses. They can see a freezemark on a horse using binoculars, so don't have to put themselves at risk. None of them carry scanners and wouldn't go into a field to scan your horse!
Freezemarking is best done on the shoulder. Marks under the saddle can be covered with a saddle or a rug. A mark on the shoulder can be covered with a rug but will be visible when the horse is ridden.
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lucia
Grand Prix Poster
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Missing you always Sweetheart.x RIP Mai - 1996-2007
Posts: 2,120
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Post by lucia on Oct 7, 2008 22:24:23 GMT 1
Mine all have both.
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Post by sara on Oct 7, 2008 22:57:11 GMT 1
I'd go both. YOu can never be too safe
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Post by Susan on Oct 7, 2008 23:06:18 GMT 1
Thanks June could not have said better in fact horses being stolen is on the increase sadly..
Microchip as well as ! not instead of..
confidentgal08 not sure where you get this info that freezemarks can be altered in reality thats isnt that factual.. if you own a horse worth thousands and thousands one might go to that troible but your average horse thief will not and they do NOT want property that can be identified..hense why freezemarked horses get dumped and found and or recovered not marked rarely do! and as so many of the scanners do not read all the micro chips !!!!!!!! ...and remember this isnt your local vet looking after small animals this is Police services and some vets.. and if a horse gets out onto a road it is a police officer trying to identify it! no scanner soory lovey it aint going to happen but 1234 on the shoulder can be read.. easy peasy
also show judges are not marking down as once portrayed in fact saying good for you! the few who might!! well they need kick up bum and your horses safety is worth more then a rosette!
ALSO please anyone new booking farmkey or freezemark insist on shoulder or Bum..not under saddle as sadly a few of them are mis -mformed
forget hoof branding it grows out. it damages hoof wall. and it can be filled in and painted easy peasy.. not the best idea in the world..one freezemark is for life!
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Post by confidentgal08 on Oct 7, 2008 23:17:01 GMT 1
thought i would be shot down in flames then, thanks susan.
I have my reasons for saying that and not going to argue with you. only stating a point.
just to calrify a typing fault on pervious one i posted which should of read CANT beat ......
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Post by june on Oct 7, 2008 23:22:18 GMT 1
Yes, freezemarks can be dyed but the dye will grow out and the freezemark will appear again. The only way to alter it permanently is with another freezemark and if the thieves are willing to go to that much trouble they'd probably dig a microchip out. There have been reports of that happening too.
Nothing is infalible but the best deterrent is a freezemark on the shoulder.
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Post by Susan on Oct 7, 2008 23:23:26 GMT 1
no point shouting at anyone..
we involved with HW can only point out the facts.. and hope you all listen.
as they say you can take a horse to water..........................................
thanks for your nice reply as well! see we can differ
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Post by Just Me! on Oct 8, 2008 11:30:02 GMT 1
Lots of very interesting stuff thank you very much, I've decided I'll have her freezemarked first, on her shoulder, didn't know you could have it done on their bum? Might be quite cute, but then would it remind you of cattle branding?
I'll have her chipped aswell I think, but might look into that a bit more.
Do I just visit Farmkey? Are they the best people to contact to get it done?
Also - I know you can choose what to put as a freezemark, do you think it's a good idea to put their name, or just have the registered number? xx
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clarea
Olympic Poster
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Post by clarea on Oct 8, 2008 12:02:26 GMT 1
I had mine done on his bum! This was because he is a Friesian and although I know it has to be obvious I just couldn't bear to have it on his shoulder. I am really pleased with how it looks - I'll get a pic and post when i get chance. Doesn't remind me of cattle branding LOL! He is also microchipped as well as this is standard procedure in Holland. I used Freezemark (www.freezemark.biz) after Farmkey were not very helpful. Freezemark were excellent and I would use them again if I needed to. I had his name branded but to be honest no-one would know it is his name as it is a very strange Dutch name!! Hope that helps
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Suz
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Post by Suz on Oct 8, 2008 12:12:56 GMT 1
Mine has both as they are all chipped when exported from Iceland and I had him marked a few months ago. You do need to make sure with the winter coats that you keep the marked area clipped as it makes it clearer to read.( with an Icelandic the mark can soon be lost under a mountain of fluff!!)
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