It’s been five years in the making, but today the first group of Gentle Spirit horses received our registered freeze brand.
We officially registered our brand a few years ago and purchased the irons two years ago, but yesterday was the first time we finally put them to use. In total, nine horses received the Gentle Spirit heart brand, with Vincent being the very first.
Freeze branding is one of the most effective ways to permanently identify a horse. While we also microchip our horses, microchips are rarely scanned for in our area. A brand, however, is immediately visible and easy to recognize.
Over time we hope people will learn to recognize the Gentle Spirit heart brand and know that horse came through our program. Our local auction house will also be informed that any horse appearing with our brand remains under contract with Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue and that we should be contacted immediately.
We chose the heart symbol intentionally. It builds on the well-known heart brand used by Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue and reflects a hope that more rescues may one day use a heart in their own brands as well. A recognizable symbol could help people quickly identify rescue horses and help ensure they find their way back to safety if needed.
Freeze branding is a simple process done under light sedation and causes far less discomfort than traditional hot branding. Instead of creating a scar, the cold temperature affects the pigment cells in the hair follicle, causing the hair to grow back white in the shape of the brand.
So if you ever see a horse wearing the Gentle Spirit heart brand, just know their story includes a second chance.
Because rescue horses really do wear their heart on their sleeve. 