# Horse Branding Overview
Horse brands allow owners to identify and prove ownership of their horses. Branding uses an iron tool to permanently mark horses with an identifying symbol. Brands can register with livestock registries so owners can track horses.
## Types of Branding
Branding is not required but recommended. There are two primary types of branding:
- Freeze branding
- Hot branding
Freeze branding causes less pain and inflammation. However, some argue any branding hurts horses. Research found increased heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones during branding, suggesting pain. The pain depends on factors like temperature and duration.
## Identification and Care for Standardbreds
Standardbreds have freeze brands with state code, birth year, and registration number. An USTA free search identifies Standardbreds. Provide all details like:
- Freeze brand
- Microchip
- Color
- Markings
Black horse coat colors fade with sun exposure and sweat. Care practices such as:
- Blanketing
- Limiting sunlight
- Washing sweat
help preserve black coats. Non-fading blacks remain consistent in color, and white markings can also appear on black coats.
### Branding Process
Branding irons heat to 400-540° C. This blisters/burns skin, leaving a permanent mark.
### Brand Maintenance
Brands fade over time but don't disappear. Re-branding maintains visibility. Hair and skin permanently change. Brand distortion happens if branded young, as skin stretches during growth.
## The Controversy of Branding
Do horses feel when they get branded? Some argue that horse branding can help prevent theft and identify lost or stolen horses. However, the practice is controversial and has been criticized for the pain it can cause the horse.
In the past few years, freeze branding has become extremely popular because it:
- Is safe
- Economical
- Simple to do
It appears to be relatively painless and does not scar or damage the horse’s hide.
### The Legality of Branding
Branding involves burning the skin with hot or cold instruments to produce a permanent design. While visually comparable to a tattoo, producing a brand is a legal grey area.
## Cow Branding: Questions of Pain
Does cow branding hurt? Hot-iron branding causes more inflammation than freeze branding. When iron is removed, an indentation appears that swells within minutes. The swelling goes down and the brand seems to disappear in days. Skin sloughs off and hair regrows in weeks. Branding irons are only on the skin for seconds so pain should be minimal. Prolonged branding causes severe burns and pain.
## The Effects of Selling a Horse
Selling a horse takes it away from familiar stable, paddock, and people it knows, creating distress. New environments cause:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Sadness due to loss of owner bonds
Horses thrive on habit. Losing what they know creates great upset.
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