Agree absolutely Claire. 99.9% of brandings I've been involved with (holding/helping/observing - not actually applying, I'm not that brave!) the pony barely seems to notice, and with the semi-feral stock they are more distressed at being restrained IMO. Freezemarking is much slower, and requires several different 'brands' to be applied - I'd guess the actual degree of pain/discomfort is similar, but it lasts much longer, so causes more distress I think. Interestingly, the vet condemning it had only seen video, not an actual live branding - video from where one wonders as that photo next to the article certainly doesn't resemble any UK branding I've seen? Also displayed his total ignorance when claiming that microchipping could replace branding - duh, how will a microchip help you identify a semi-feral pony from 10yds away?
It's the experience of being totally restrained and held still for those few seconds that they object to - the hot brand they hardly seem to notice - mainly because it's SO hot that it kills the skin's heat/pain nerves within fractions of a second.
I do wish guys would actually get all their facts straight before trying to generate emotive media hype to rouse the inexperienced masses to back them.
I think it would be far more telling for the Agisters to write to H&H!
And for video footage taken at the drifts to be made available - which would quite clearly show that it's the 'catching / restraint' they don't like, not the 2-3 seconds of branding (of which only the first fraction of a second can be felt as pain, rather than as pressure), and that most of the ponies actually put up far more resistance to being wormed than they do to being branded!
This message has been edited by SeaSpirit from IP address 79.73.75.48 on May 10, 2009 3:19 PM
Kelly (Login Somer2) NFED Members 2009 78.147.224.251
Re: Have you seen Horse and Hound this week?
May 30 2009, 9:58 AM
Having seen both i would pick hot branding over cold, cold brands take such a long time. Not nice!
jane (Login mopleyoldy) NFED Members 2009 82.25.241.3
Re: Have you seen Horse and Hound this week?
May 30 2009, 5:50 PM
unfourtunally any video evidence! can be misinterperated how does anyone know whos well intentioned and whos an animal rights crank!With computers any picture can changed and rearranged to suit anyone.Hot branding is theleast stressful way of branding.freeze branding entails holding an animal still for a period of time for each letter or number.I am sure our 20year old unhandled mare would love thatand would probally suffer from stress. Branding is seconds and done!
Hot branding is the only way to brand forest stock. It is very quick. they seem to be doing all they can to destroy our way of life and then ultimately the soul of The Forest.
Just watched a programme on Animal Planet about mustangs in Nevada and they were hot branding on the neck. The horses were wild and unhandled but very used to people so didn't actually mind being confined/in close proximity to humans, and when positioned in a crush didn't flinch, squeek or struggle as the hot brand was applied for the count of 1000, 2000, 3000. Less reaction than having a halter passed over their ears. I am convinced it is the being handled/confined that upsets the semi-feral stock, not the branding at all. And if they aren't confined then they can't be wormed either - I'm sure the vets wouldn't want us to stop doing that!
The Peasants Are Revolting...
www.forestuprising.org.uk
forestuprising@live.co.uk
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