Freeze Branding
January 1, 2009
An AAEP vet explains this permanent identification for your horse.
After the area has been shaved and cleaned and the freeze-branding iron placed into liquid nitrogen, the iron is pressed firmly onto the horse for about 10 seconds.
A horse owner posed the following question to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, an AQHA alliance partner.
Question:
I am interested in freeze branding my horses. What is involved in the process? Can I do this myself, or do I need help?
Answer:
Freeze branding is a method of permanently identifying your horse. It is aesthetically appealing and is less painful than hot-iron branding. Horses generally tolerate it with minimal restraint. We recommend you contact someone who frequently does this procedure to ensure good results. Inexperience can lead to an inadequate amount of white hair in an indistinct pattern or an unsightly hairless scar.
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The most important piece of equipment is a quality branding iron. It is recommended that the iron be made of brass, as the steel iron used in hot branding does not hold the cold temperature adequately. Contact a metal fabricating company to have the brand made in your design. There are commercial manufacturers that will do this.
Freeze branding is usually done in one of three places: The hip, the shoulder or the crest of the neck. The area is clipped with a #40 blade, cleaned and degreased with alcohol. The iron is submerged in liquid nitrogen to reach the temperature of minus -320ยบ F; usually this takes about five minutes in the nitrogen. The iron is placed on the skin for approximately 45 to 60 seconds, depending on hair color (chestnuts generally require less time). Initially, the frozen skin is indented, then thaws to leave a welt. The welt lasts 15 to 30 minutes. Over the next few weeks, the branded skin will dry and scurf up. White hair will replace the original color as the new coat grows in. A good brand is bright white and crisp against the coat background.
Some states have branding laws, and it is advisable to check with your state’s branding board to make sure you are not using someone else’s registered brand.
– Eric Peterson, DVM
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What’s Right for My Horse?
Should your horse be permanently identified? Our friends at Thehorse.com offer compelling reasons to consider the different methods, including branding, tattoos and microchips. Check out the story.
Comments
18 Comments on “Freeze Branding”
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January 6th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I think freeze branding takes more like 10-15 seconds and NOT 45-60 seconds !!!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:18 am
We had our horses done last spring and our vet left the brand on for 8 to 10 seconds.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:56 am
We had all our horses done 3 yrs. ago and are glad we did. They healed in no time, no pain, most did not have any reaction at all. They are easier to identify now, it stands out in a crowd of horses.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:33 am
The first time we freeze branded our horses we did only leave the iron on 10 seconds and we had to redu them. Also we sedated the horses so that they were quiet during the process and unless you are cabable of handling that process I would highly recommend that you have someone assist you who can. I would recommend also that the iron be left on a minimum of 20 seconds and longer if possible to 30 seconds this is to avoid any question of it taking. It does seem a long time when you are holding in on the horse and if they move you may smudge the brand so a timer and someone to stand behind to support the horse from rocking or moving away from you is also recommended. Note also a very small brand is not very legible and so numbers for an example should be a minimum of 3″height (in my opinion anyway) I believe freeze branding is an excellent method of identifcation. I live in Colorado where the brand identification is your only true ownership document so it has proven to be a quick and valuble tool for us when transporting or selling our horses.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
You can also use dry ice and 100% alcohol or acetone instead of liquid nitrogen but you have to hold it on a little longer. It is just as effective as the liquid nitrogen just cheaper.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Branding may save a horse’s life. Many horses have been rescued from the killer pens, stockyard sales, auctions, etc. when someone recognized a ranch or breed brand & knew the horse must have had some value &/or pedigree behind it.
When I worked for the Hanoverian Society, people would call in saying they rescued a horse with a brand showing it had been imported from Germany or had been through a U.S. foal inspection.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:33 am
I am thinking of branding my horses. I have a symbol in mind. How do I find out if it is already in use or can it be registered.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Kristine,
Check with your local brand board it will have to be approved within your state before it is legal. Many symbols are already reserved so to detrmine if yours is availble you will need to check with them first.
January 12th, 2009 at 11:23 am
In the early 80’s I had an AQHA gelding done by Kyrokenetics. The brand had the breed, birth year and last 7 digits of the reg. number done under his mane (my choice). I think that is the most effective as you really know the horse’s identity. At that time dark horses took 20 seconds and light horses took 40 seconds to bald the area so you could see brand.
February 1st, 2009 at 6:14 am
In the mid- 80’s the ApHC required freeze branding of solid color babies if you wanted to show. The freeze brand was made up of symbols that represented the breed , year of birth, and registration number. You were issued a certificate from the company that did the branding that showed what each of the symbols meant and the brand was recorded on the horses papers. My horse was branded under his mane. The brand took some time to heal but did not appear to be too sensitive while healing. I took some comfort knowing that if he was ever lost or stolen he could be positively identified as mine. The only problem with freeze brands is they don’t show up well on very light horses and those Apps – they do tend to roan!
July 14th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
My horse has a freeze brand and I was wondering how I could find out what it stands for. Any suggestions?
June 18th, 2010 at 1:54 am
I recently bought a horse that has a freeze brand on his neck and would like to find out what it means.And where he came from.Any suggestions where I could look?
July 20th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Kelly and Sonya: When you register your horses with groups such as AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) or NFQHA (National Foundation Quarter Horse Association) or APHA (American Paint Horse Association) you are required to state whether the horse has a brand or tattoo. I would recommend you pull your registration paperwork and trace back through the owner records to identify who branded the animal. They would be the one who could tell you the meaning of the brand. If the horse is not registered or you are unable to locate the brander, I would recommend you contact the state brand inspector for the state in which the animal came out of. The brand inspector will be able to tell you who owns the brand and their contact information. Good Luck!
September 12th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
I’m thinking about freezing branding my mare and registered arabian stud colt (whom I might geld),for idenity. Although I might be moving out west with them not sure it will be at least three to four years. How do I go about getting them branded. Not sure who to call and find out. Thanks Angie.
September 29th, 2010 at 9:46 am
my boss just got a rescue arabian and it has a freeze brand on her neck i was wondering how do i identify her marking or how do i resource them if u can help me PLEASE!!!!
November 24th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I did a dark buckskin colt last Febuary. Held the iron on for 30 seconds, way to long. Brand turned out but killed hair follicle, so no hair grows on brand site. Got good information from L&H branding irons under operating instructions for freeze brands. Gives whole process needed and also charts with times for horses and cattle, and also what type of coolant is used.
October 3rd, 2011 at 3:07 pm
I’ve had my vet freeze brand all my horses with light sedation, using dry ice and 99% alcohol holding the brand on for 25 seconds at his recomendation, came out beautiful on my bay mares, came out spotty and incomplete on my 20 y/o chestnut mare and a partial mix of gold and white hairs brand on my 2 y/o gold buckskin. I’m going to redo the buckskin now a 3 y/o hoping for a bald brand. Not sure how long we should hold it but Im guessing 60 seconds, he is a clear gold and the white doesn’t show up well enough on his light coat. I registered my brand with the Oregon State Brand inspectors and have lifetime ID inspectoin photo cards on my horses.
any suggestions for time on the buckskin?
December 21st, 2011 at 11:49 pm
I am freeze branding my 5 year old paint gelding, he is currently sorrel with white hairs all thru his coat so he is roaning out. When I purchased him, I had the previous owner deliver him and he was stolen that night. (no I am not kidding) it took a little over a week to get him back and that only happened due to him having his halter on and the thief being smart enough to leave it on and his unusual markings. How long should I leave the iron on? I will be using dry ice and 99% alcohol with the iron being ordered thru L & H. Thank you!