Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

FWIW, I've never been freeze branded but I have had liquid nitrogen applied to keratoses on my face courtesy of a childhood spent on beaches prior to the development of sunscreens. If I were to brand a horse (and in Egypt you can only brand pure Arabians with the identifiers) I would use a freeze brand. The dermatologist's freezing killed the top layer of skin. It didn't hurt at the time and sort of itched later. On the other hand, I've grabbed the handle of a cast iron skillet when it was hot (pure stupidity) and did a pretty good job of branding myself. It didn't last, so it wasn't as effective as a hot brand, but it did hurt like hell. The freezing, however, did leave a permanent mark on my skin, which probably doesn't show up because I don't have that much hair on it. Think of the colour change in the coat that occurs with a saddle sore.

Maryanne

On 7/17/07, Patty P <desertridingal@xxxxxxx> wrote:

 

In one of my Physiology classes (my BA is in animal behavior which includes pain _expression_) they had cuttings of cow hide for us to look at under microscope, as well as in drawings. The nerve endings went through the skin just like ours. Yes, the skin is thicker, but the nerve endings still reach the outside layers as to warn them of pending danger. When the cattle rush through the barbed wire, they do not yell ouch like we do, true, they project pain differently, but that does not mean they are not experiencing the pain. We expect animals to show pain the same as we would show it, but not all animals show pain in the same way. Many animals will hide pain and illness so they are not the one that gets attacked by the lion(or human) who will go after the weak. 

 

Since people see cows not showing pain as other animals might, they think there is no pain. But there is, they just hide it as to not appear weak to the animals preying on the herd. It is instinctual to hide it from the lions (or humans) about to attack because lions prefer to attack the weak, ill, or otherwise easiest catch.

 

Someone also asked what alternatives do I have, barking that I am just complaining with no answers...and you are right, I don't have all the answers. Dogs and cats are being injected with a little identifier. I am hoping this will continue to evolve. Someone else also told me they are doing electronic buttons now. Maybe this will get easier as our technology improves and gets less expensive.

 

In the mean time Freeze branding may be better...I really don't know about freeze branding either.

 

 

Patty

 

 

-------Original Message-------

 

From: CTH

Date: 7/16/2007 10:12:48 PM

To: ridecamp

Subject: [RC] branding

 

Freeze branding does not bother them at all.

My mare leaned into the freeze brand when applied

Did not even faze her at all.

I witnessed some nasty hot branding years ago .

The owner was charged and found guilty in court.

To big of irons left on to long.

All my horses are branded. Keeps them safe from theft

Paddi Sprecher
www.CanadianTrailHouse.com

 

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Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
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