RC: BRAND INSPECTION IN CALIFORNIA (long)

[Linda Flemmer <bluwolf@earthlink.net>]

Dyane,

Here in the East, there are no brand inspections and to my knowledge
there never have been.  Brand inspections seem strange to me.

If I find a horse here on my property, I can:
1 - Ignore it
2 - Place an ad for a lost horse
3 - Take it in, and charge the owner board if he wants him back.

We kept a straay horse for about a week once...  People were out of town
& the temporary barn help didn't notice that he was gone.  Our "Horse
found" signs posted at road crossings did the trick.

If he is a danger, then can that be posed as a different situation to
your animal control officer or county sherrif?  He's no longer "just a
stray".  You said he was threatening you for feed.  Another option is to
carry a lounge whip.  If he gets pushy, pop him.  He'll eventually
decide that you are higher on the totem pole.

You may want to consider putting up a hot wire (electric) fence around
your unfenced pasture.  That would preserve it for your horses and maybe
encourage him to go elsewhere if the owner doesn't find him.  

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV

Dyane Smith wrote:
> 
> Thought I would pass this on for what it's worth.  The local brand inspector
> told me that they don't inspect brands on horses anymore in California.  My
> concern is that that poses a risk to horses who might wander off or be
> stolen.<SNIP>
> I love the rural nature of this area and I'm not interested in making rash
> changes--but I'm starting to think that there are pros and cons to a law
> that won't let me give him to other people who can and would care for him
> until we find the owner.  Furthermore, if the brand inspector won't help and
> animal control is really for dogs and cats, even here.  What then?