just_4_kixx
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- Joined
- Jul 19, 2004
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Two weeks ago I took a mare (full size) to training. I made a deal to have my mare broke to ride, for a mare I have that’s already broke to ride. I told the “trainer†that I would sign off on the “red†mare, once the “paint†was broke to ride. I didn’t think that there was going to be a problem.
For the first time in eight months I went to the local monthly horse sale. I was there with a friend, and watched my “red†mare come in the ring. My jaw hit the ground. I got up and walked to the brand office. I asked how my horse was sold with out my permission. That’s when my eyes were opened!
I found out that in the state of Montana that a non branded horse can be sold at any given time. If your horses aren’t branded it’s IMPOSIBLE to prove ownership. I have a list of names I need to turn in like my vet who’s taken care of her, my neighbors, those who were around when I bought her three years ago and so on. I turned in pictures of her at my house, and even still, I wait to see if I’m granted ownership of my own horse.
I found out that having your horses branded is really the only way to own your horse, and prevent it from being stolen and sold at a local auction. Here’s where I was shocked. If my mini’s or my full size horses get out, and someone takes them home, with out a brand on it to prove that I own it, they can claim it. They can sell it. They can do what ever they please with that horse. Even though I have registration papers on it, have the blood type, I don’t have a brand to prove it was from my ranch. I was also told that if I sent a mare off to be bred some place, and they call and say the mare died, with out me having proof of some kind, and just taking their word, they could’ve sold her at the local auction.
Here’s what I was told. BRAND all your horses if you don’t want them stolen and sold. Microchips won’t cut it. The local sale yards don’t have readers to see if they are chipped. Lip tattoo’s are only good for one year, and again most sale yards don’t look at the lips on the horses.
. The “trainer†runs a Rescue. To most of us, Rescue’s mean some one who prevents horses from going to slaughter, and are against abuse of horses. I guess in this case, she forgot that’s what it meant. My mare was very badly beaten prior to getting to the sale yard, and then was sold to a canner. The brand officer went out to take pictures of her for the court case, and said that the mare was freaking out the minute he walked in the pen. When I bought the mare three years ago she was head shy, but over came it with lots of work. I asked the brand office if I could get ownership back on my horse. He said maybe, but it will take months, and he was sure that it’s something that I wouldn’t want to do. He said she was beaten so bad that she probably won’t come around and trust people again, ever.
To make a long story short, I’ve now learned that I will be heading off to Helena to our local brand office to get a brand registered. I will start freeze branding EVERY horse, donkey, & mule on my place. I’ve never been fond of brands on horses. How ever, after the last 24 hours I’ve just had, I will brand them all over if need be to prove they are my horse, and prevent them from being canned.
Please look into your state laws. Find out what is really needed to protect your horses. I don’t wish the last 24 hours I’ve had on any one. I knew that Montana was a brand state. We need a brand inspection to cross every county line. Even if the horse isn’t branded they need the inspection. What I never realized was that I wasn’t protected in any shape or form of my ownership of my horse.
I will be heading off to court, when I’m not sure yet. I will keep posting as things happen. The one good thing was that I went to the sale yesterday. If I hadn’t, she would’ve gotten away with steeling, selling, and beating my horse, and I wouldn’t have known about it.
For the first time in eight months I went to the local monthly horse sale. I was there with a friend, and watched my “red†mare come in the ring. My jaw hit the ground. I got up and walked to the brand office. I asked how my horse was sold with out my permission. That’s when my eyes were opened!
I found out that in the state of Montana that a non branded horse can be sold at any given time. If your horses aren’t branded it’s IMPOSIBLE to prove ownership. I have a list of names I need to turn in like my vet who’s taken care of her, my neighbors, those who were around when I bought her three years ago and so on. I turned in pictures of her at my house, and even still, I wait to see if I’m granted ownership of my own horse.
I found out that having your horses branded is really the only way to own your horse, and prevent it from being stolen and sold at a local auction. Here’s where I was shocked. If my mini’s or my full size horses get out, and someone takes them home, with out a brand on it to prove that I own it, they can claim it. They can sell it. They can do what ever they please with that horse. Even though I have registration papers on it, have the blood type, I don’t have a brand to prove it was from my ranch. I was also told that if I sent a mare off to be bred some place, and they call and say the mare died, with out me having proof of some kind, and just taking their word, they could’ve sold her at the local auction.
Here’s what I was told. BRAND all your horses if you don’t want them stolen and sold. Microchips won’t cut it. The local sale yards don’t have readers to see if they are chipped. Lip tattoo’s are only good for one year, and again most sale yards don’t look at the lips on the horses.
. The “trainer†runs a Rescue. To most of us, Rescue’s mean some one who prevents horses from going to slaughter, and are against abuse of horses. I guess in this case, she forgot that’s what it meant. My mare was very badly beaten prior to getting to the sale yard, and then was sold to a canner. The brand officer went out to take pictures of her for the court case, and said that the mare was freaking out the minute he walked in the pen. When I bought the mare three years ago she was head shy, but over came it with lots of work. I asked the brand office if I could get ownership back on my horse. He said maybe, but it will take months, and he was sure that it’s something that I wouldn’t want to do. He said she was beaten so bad that she probably won’t come around and trust people again, ever.
To make a long story short, I’ve now learned that I will be heading off to Helena to our local brand office to get a brand registered. I will start freeze branding EVERY horse, donkey, & mule on my place. I’ve never been fond of brands on horses. How ever, after the last 24 hours I’ve just had, I will brand them all over if need be to prove they are my horse, and prevent them from being canned.
Please look into your state laws. Find out what is really needed to protect your horses. I don’t wish the last 24 hours I’ve had on any one. I knew that Montana was a brand state. We need a brand inspection to cross every county line. Even if the horse isn’t branded they need the inspection. What I never realized was that I wasn’t protected in any shape or form of my ownership of my horse.
I will be heading off to court, when I’m not sure yet. I will keep posting as things happen. The one good thing was that I went to the sale yesterday. If I hadn’t, she would’ve gotten away with steeling, selling, and beating my horse, and I wouldn’t have known about it.
