How did the micro chipping go?

Went very well! Inky was as good as gold - hardly noticed it! He is such a sweet little lad, everyone just loves him to bits! Even mad Min was pretty good (we'd spent an hour doing head-friendly work with her the day before, which has paid off very well.)

Roo, of course, pretended she was dying of pain, but then she's half TB and a bit of a drama queen! I do love her loads, and she's a real sweetie, but if something upsets her she goes all quivery and weak at the knees - literally!

None of them was really silly about it, and the vet remained totally undamaged! We did all 10 of them in half an hour, which was good going. Freezing cold, though! The wind just whips up that hill on our land, and even though our pound and chute are in a relatively sheltered section, we were all blue and shivering by the end of it.

It really does give you an added feeling of security knowing that they're chipped and trace-able.

Hi
Do you really think its worth micro chipping them? i have thought about having my boy done, he has been freeze marked but do think that thieves will get round that if they really wanted to so im thinking about micro chipping him too just to be on the safe side and give me some peace of mind.

I'm sure microchipping is worth while. We have a notice by the gate informing people that they're all microchipped with full photo ID and DNA samples held on file - just to deter anyone who might even be thinking about it!

The microchip is just about as trace-able as you can get; I know I feel much more secure now they've been done!

Both of mine were done within days of getting them, they were both very good and didn't mind in the slightest, i'd rather be safe than sorry. I haven't got a sign though as I worry that if someone did steal them that they would try and cut it out, I know I'm a bit paranoid, but I would hate to think that this had happened due to my actions.

hey did you see we were snapped at the point to point! lol it's on others,

as for microchipping i'm a fan everything i have pet wize is done ( was thinking of doin the son too 19yrs old and rebelling againgst everything - only he knows why!lol!) but not so much in my 2 short coat jacks! i can not only feel where it is i can lift it up in my fingers - meny people have said those rotters can gouge it out, but untill now i wasn't overly sure,

i still prefer a vivid tattoo or brand make especially if they coinside with a micro chip,
monty will be done this spring and then i will book the micro mark people to do the lot!

I'd like to get my two freeze marked as well, just to make sure. God I am paranoid lol.

Glad it went well,I know we shall eventually have to have all ours done but it will be expensive and a difficult job. All ours are of course hot branded, and in the past this has helped when people we have sold a pony to have lost the paperwork. We brand even the foals that we sell for this reason. The foal we kept is also very good,she walks down into the yard for her feed each morning and then goes back out. She is eating Holly very well.I will try and get some pictures of her on here,she has the same sire as Inky.

im seriously thinking of getting ours done next time the vet is out. how much did yours cost?

Our vet did a 'discount for quantity' as we were having 10 done at once, so it was just £20 each, which wasn't too bad. Not sure what his call-out fee is, but I don't think it's too much.

With regards to people gouging out microchips, they're much less findable on horses than on small pets - particularly thin-skinned, short-coated pets - and having any notice say you also hold full photo ID and DNA samples is a big deterrent! For the DNA samples, all you need is some mane or tail hairs with the roots still on. Keep them in those little poly-bags with the seal on, and a label with the horse's name, and keep it in their passport.

(I have a supply of suitable bags, offered free of charge to anyone on the forums for keeping DNA samples for their animals. Just let me know how many you need and where to post them. No, Steve, this is NOT an advert!)

Micro chipping is a good idea but you have to remember that horses arent always checked for micro chips.

i have been to many sales both licensed and traveller fayres and horses are never checked. Freeze branding is the best way to deter theives they wont stop stealing a horse because there is a sign outside the stables. a horse with a microchip is just as easily passed on or sold as one with no brand

i hope this helps personally i wouldnt spend the money on micro chipping.

But there is no market for horses at the moment, so they really aren't likely to be stolen.



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I believe that micro chipping becomes law next year and all equines will have to be done. I know that all foals born next year that do not have a passport by July will have to be micro chipped. Check with the Pony Breeders or Defra.

What's actually happening about the Forest-born, Forest-run ponies? Is it still going to be OK just to have them on the Verderers' lists till they come off the Forest?

Did you see P12, H&H today?

Might be a good idea to get anything you have on the verderers list passported before July othwise if it comes off the forest after that date to be sold it'll need a microchip before it can have its passport.

All of ours are chipped now. Possibly got one foal due next year, but certainly no more than that (I hope!) I don't get H&H (no time to read it!) but might see if I can find the article online somewhere.

See my other post for Janemopleyoldie.

mmm keeping DNA samples is a good idea never thought of that. Do all horses have to be microchipped or is it just new born foals?

Not entirely sure of the new rules. I know all Forest-bred foals registered after June will have to be chipped, and I think all equines not running semi-feral will have to be done anyways.

All equines passported after July 2009 will need to be microchipped to enable them to get their passport - be it foals or older ponies that haven't already got a passport for whatever reason (unless in the case of NFs they are on the verderers list).

ah right so if they are already passported we dont HAVE to get them done