how to identify a branding on a horse?

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I purchased a horse at an auction a couple weeks ago. He has a brand on his left hip and was wondering if there's any way I can check on the internet to see where he came from. Anybody out there know these computers well enough to help me find the area I need to be in? What I was told at the auction may NOT be where he came from. I'd like to know more if I could. THANKS ALOT !!!!!!

-- Pat Mikul (pmikul@pcpros.net), May 08, 2000

Answers

Pat, I'm not aware of any brand sites. There may be some that have old brands as part of some historical outlook, but those won't do you any good. Sorry, the best I can tell you is to contact your state brand inspector. If you don't know how to find the inspector, contact your vet, a sale barn, or land-grant university. If you think he's a stolen horse, contact law enforcement with a copy of the brand. Lots of stories at auctions. If he is stolen, he will be taken from you, or you will be morally and legally obligated to return him. You won't get your money back without suing either the auction barn or the person who put the horse up for sale. Even then it will be tricky.

Brands can be tricky to read, especially old ones. Altering brands is also relatively easy to accomplish. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find a book with at least local brands on it at your library. Good luck. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 09, 2000.


To my knowledge, each state has it's own brand registery and is responsible for maintaining it. You could ask the agriculture department of the state the horse is supposed to be from if they have a web site with brands listed.

Gerbil is right. If the horse is stolen, you will be left holding the bag, with litigation being the only recourse.

If a horse has a large white brand on its neck, it may well be a mustang adopted through the federal government from federal lands. The neck is also where horses are branded when they are tested positive for equine anemia (Coggins test). It is illegal for horses that failed the Coggins test to be sold except to the killer.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), May 09, 2000.


Search engine on http://www.aj.com

In a moment I have:

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/aphs/ownsell/appforms.html

http://www.pixelpublishing.com/gourdpatch/archive/vol.1/1477.html

not sure if this will help but worth looking into

-- xrhodes (xrhodes@usa.com), May 09, 2000.


This doesn't sound like it will help Pat, but just in case anybody else has a brand problem, more than just Mustangs may be freeze- branded on the neck. Arabs are also sometimes branded there, and possibly other breeds I don't know about.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 09, 2000.

I'm not worried about him being stolen. The man who brought horses to the auction had a good reputation for quality stock! He's a quarter horse, gelding. Thanks for all the input, I'll see what I can find.

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), May 09, 2000.


The previous answers have been correct. Each state has a brand registry. In some states, a brand inspector does his duties of "approving for sale" livestock before they go through the sale ring. You may be able to contact an inspector at your local auction.

As a former brand holder of cattle, I know from experience that a person selects a particular brand, either made up or from a book of available brands, then submits an application to the state for that brand. A brand may be held by several people because placement of the brand on the animal is also a part of a brand registration. Example, left front, right rear, etc. Once a brand is registered, the registration is only good for a certain period of time, after which the brand must be re-registered or it goes back to the state for re-issue to someone else. I haven't used a brand for many years so am out of the loop as to whether brands might be on the web. From the ol' "Walking K" and the ol' "KP" Happpy Trails to you.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), May 09, 2000.


What does the brand look like? It may be possible to identify the breeding farm your horse is from by recognizing the brand through stock shown in the Quarter Horse Journal. We have two branded horses ourselves. If you can describe the brand then I can possibly ask horse breeders in our region if they recognize it`s whereabouts.

-- Linda Foster (rcfam@csinet.net), May 09, 2000.

The brand is on his left hip. a # 3 laying down with the open ends up and a B lined up underneath the 3. I know he started out in Missouri and ended up in Illinois. What I'd like to know is just for curiosity. What type of ranch was he on that he was branded? I know he's a cow, rope horse but I'm kind of interested to know the size of ranch, etc.. What is he capable of doing, etc. He seems to be pretty good with commands and is used to cars, yipping dogs, kids, etc.. GOOD HORSE !!!

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), May 09, 2000.

Pat: Try first at the auction, to ask who consigned the horse. Then contact that person, and backtrack from there. If he was registered with the American Quarter Horse Association, they will be able to help you with the name of the last registered owner, and can even put you in contact with them. Sometimes people sell the animal, but don't transfer the papers, and sometimes they are never registered. You can also send a picture of the brand to the American Quarter Horse Association, and ask them if they will publish it in their monthly Journal, asking for information. Someone possibly may recognize the brand and contact you. We have paints, quarter horses, and a couple mustangs adopted from the BLM. They are freeze branded on thier necks, but there are some breeders who always branded on the neck, one well known one was Hank Weiscamp. Good luck, and let us know what you find out. Jan B

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), May 09, 2000.

I just wanted to mention that the freeze branding that all BLM horses carry can also be done on ANY horse. This type brand is composed of a group of letters & symbols which represent the breed & number assigned to that horse. For example, an arabian has a brand which starts with a capital A and a Morgan would start with an M. Grade horses normally have their state code instead of breed. This type of brand is impossible to change due to the nature of the symbols and is normally listed with the registrar of the particular breed in question, the state brand inspector, and the copywrighting agency for the symbols. In fact, I have been contemplating getting my own horses branded after hearing about some local horses that were stolen. After looking into all options, including tatoos, regular brands, microships, etc, I feel that this type freeze brand is the best, and safest means of identifying your horses. I intend to have my mares done after foaling season.

Also, I realize that the horse in the original question is not thought to be stolen. However, some people seemed to be shying away from reporting a horse which was thought to be stolen due to the fact that they might loose their purchase price. Please folks, remember that to some of us a horse is not just livestock, but a treasured friend! My favorite mare is worth a good chunk of change, as well as being a family pet. If she turned up as a stolen horse at an auction I would gladly pay the reporting person back their purchase price. Without papers this mare might bring $800-$1500 at my local auctions, with her papers she's worth about $4500 and if she was in foal it could be even more. But heck, I've seen ads offering $1000 reward for the return of a $200 pony just because he was a childs best friend. Needless to say, paying someone back the auction price would be the least of my concerns.

-- Elle (hotging@aol.com), May 11, 2000.



It`s been a few days since I`ve had a chance to get back to the forum. I wanted to suggest the same thing another contributor suggested as i have not been able to see in the Journal a brand like the one you described.You can contact the American Quarter Horse Assoc. at the following e-mail address with your question: aqhajrnl@aqha.org or, at www.aqha.com for their web address.In addition there is a phone #for records research at 806-376-7415.Good luck! If you find out about your horses background I`d be interested in hearing what you learn.

-- Linda Foster (rcfam@csinet.net), May 12, 2000.

I don't think this will help either, but for other people with branding problems, lip tatooing is expensive, but pretty much permanant. I don't think it hurts the horse.

-- Lizabeth (evelynv@ipa.net), January 17, 2001.

This isn't really an answer, but I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm trying to do research, but it's hard to find answers, so if you find something that works, pplleeaassee e-mail me! I'd be very grateful.

-- Alisha Moore (Babe713@juno.com), May 27, 2001.

This is also not a real answer, but I am also trying to find information about a brand I have seen on the left hip of a supposed Quarter Horse at my stable. The brand is exactly like the symbol for the United States Military Signal Corps (two crossed flags pointing outward with a "US" underneath)....anybody know anything about this? Perhaps it could be a ceremonial horse? I've never heard of anything like that for the Signal Corps....Please help!! Good luck Pat! I hope we both find what we're looking for about these

-- Catherine Magyera (dreampatch9129@aol.com), August 13, 2001.

I also have a branded horse and have had no luck finding any info.It is AMAZING that there isn't a website or publication that list brands.ANyways,if you hear of any solutions for our problem, please let me know!

-- leah Urben (leahchiro@aol.com), March 18, 2002.


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