Episode 92 - Branding Our American Paint / Draft Horse Cross

Hey everyone! Today, we're taking you behind the scenes of our farm to watch our two horses, Scotch and Sangria, get freeze branded. This is a traditional method of marking livestock, and it's an important step in identifying and tracking our horses.   What is Freeze Branding? Freeze branding uses liquid nitrogen to create a permanent white mark in the horse's hair coat. The extreme cold destroys the pigment in the hair follicles, causing them to grow back white instead of their original color. This makes it easy to identify the horse, even from a distance.   The Process Preparation: We start by preparing the branding irons by dipping them in liquid nitrogen. This quickly freezes the metal to an extremely low temperature. Branding: We carefully place the branding iron on the horse's chosen location, usually on their hip or shoulder. The intense cold causes the hair to freeze and the pigment to be destroyed.   Cleaning: Once the brand has been applied for the appropriate amount of time, we remove the iron and clean the area to prevent infection. Healing: The branded area will initially appear red and swollen, but it will gradually heal over the next few weeks. The white hair will start to grow in, and the brand will become more visible over time. Why We Freeze Brand Freeze branding is a safe and effective way to identify our horses. It's a permanent mark that won't fade or wash away, and it doesn't cause any pain or harm to the animal. Meet Scotch and Sangria Scotch is our big, gentle mare. she's a calm and friendly horse, and she's always eager to please. Sangria is our feisty mare. She's full of energy and spirit, and she's always ready for a challenge. We're excited to watch them grow and mature, and we're proud to be their owners. We hope you enjoyed watching this video about our freeze branding day. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for watching!