Stop Horse Branding

There is no place for branding of horses or any other animal.

This process is painful and involves burning and scarring sensitive tissue which can clearly cause animals unnecessary stress and pain.

A study in Denmark in 2009 found that hot-iron branding was more painful than inserting a microchip. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen compared the behavioural and physiological responses of seven horses that were subjected to both hot-iron branding and microchip insertion, and concluded that hot-iron branding should be abandoned wherever possible.

Scotland also banned hot branding last year, with a government official saying: "There is no place for hot branding in a country which prides itself on its high animal welfare credentials."

The British Equine Veterinary Association and the British Veterinary Association both said at the time that a ban was necessary on welfare grounds.

HORSE BRANDING has not been permitted in Denmark from 1/3/2010. 

We don't need to burn a mark into a animals flesh just for the sake of identification or marketing (ie stud brand). All types of animals get lost or stolen, for example dogs, but we don't burn them to make sure others can identify them.

Please help put a stop to horse branding. We now have much kinder alternatives in horse identification, burning our youngsters is just barbaric! I was very pleased last year to find that the Oldenburg Verband no longer insists on branding and are happy for us to microchip. This is not the case for all breed societies where branding is compulsory. If we can get enough support, then I will personally take this to all breed societies to progress to a kinder and better future.

Paulette